Equipment and Adaptations Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

Promote independence and reduce risk for people with disabilities who are living in the community. Work with the social model of disability and use evidence-based practice to carry out person centred assessments of people and their carers to identify needs and take appropriate action.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1) To assess the needs of people in their own home, by considering the effect the home environment has on their ability to perform daily living tasks and to explore desired outcomes and agree an action plan.

2) Assess level of risk to the person and their carers in relation to the home environment, suggest methods of reducing or managing the risk and be aware of circumstances that require involving the Senior Occupational Therapist in case management. Know when to bring a situation to the immediate attention of the Occupational Therapist.

3) Provide advice, arrange provision of equipment and minor adaptations and demonstrate the safe use of equipment to users and formal and informal carers and check that assessed need has been met by the minor adaptations.

4) To have own caseload and be responsible for own time management following case prioritisation.

5) Following assessment seek professional advice of the Senior Occupational Therapist

Before arranging provision of major adaptations

To establish the appropriate priority for action in individual cases

To establish appropriate action in; complex social situations, complicated family dynamics, any suspicions of abuse.

6) Work in close co-operation with colleagues in other agencies (Health, Social Services, Housing, Voluntary and Independent Sectors).

7) Keep clear, factual and accurate records and prepare reports on housing and major adaptation needs across all housing tenures for Berneslai Homes Housing Panel and BMBC Grants Agency.

8) To undertake relevant training and development opportunities to meet identified service needs.

9) Participate in providing training to students and other staff groups as required.

10) Participate in regular supervision and personal development review process.

11) Provide information to Support performance management systems of the Trust, BMBC Social Services and Berneslai Homes.

12) Following intervention carry out reviews according to National Standards of Assessment and Care Management.

13) Undertake any other duties as appropriate to the post.

COMMUNICATION WITH OTHERS:

With service users, their carers and relatives mainly face to face but also phone, written and other relevant communication methods specific to the type of service provision.

Utilise various methods including detailed and complex written reports to communicate frequently with:

Colleagues across health services and social services

Regular contact with voluntary organisations

Independent sector; suppliers and contractors

Housing officers, surveyors, architects and buildings officers of Berneslai Homes, the Disabled Facilities Grants Team, BMBC Direct Works and Housing Associations.

Use IT and electronic communication where appropriate and support electronic record keeping

Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respectat all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

Honest, open, transparent

Respectful

Person first and in the centre

Improve and be outstanding

Relevant today, ready for tomorrow

Families and carers matter

Safeguarding:

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;

maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;

understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Trust Data Protection Policy;

comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;

receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;

understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;

recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;

ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participatingin relevanttraining;

comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);

demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;

abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;

work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;

being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;

Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly;

In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people with disabilities in work, voluntary or other capacity.

Desirable

• Knowledge of building construction and practical or theoretical understanding of construction issues.

Special Knowledge/Skills

Essential

• 1.Excellent observational skills.
• 2.Ability to analyse and accurately record observations and translate into action plans.
• 3.Good communication, interpersonal and negotiating skills.
• 4.Knowledge and understanding of the differing needs of people with disabilities and the effect of the built environment on disability.
• 5.An understanding of the roles of other agencies and the relevance of joint working.
• 6.Able to make decisions and act on them.
• 7.Able to work as a team member and recognise the advantages of team working.
• 8.Able to produce clear factual written and oral reports.
• 9.Basic IT skills.
• 10.Able to produce realistic though not to scale line drawings of building/property layouts with measurements.

Desirable

• 1.Risk management.
• 2.Able to read and understand plans.

Training

Essential

• Commitment to own development and on the job training.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Qualifications

Essential

• ONC/City and Guilds or equivalent qualification in trade or craft related to the building and construction industry.
• PLUS substantial experience working in the building and construction industry.
• AND Experience of working with people with disabilities in work, voluntary or other capacity.
• OR NVQ III in Care Management or able to demonstrate competencies and experience working at that level in social or health care promoting the ability and potential of people with disabilities.
• PLUS Commitment to intensive on the job training to achieve technical competency.
• Knowledge and experience of applying building regulations particularly Part M.
• OR Knowledge of the law and government guidance relating to social services work with people with disabilities and their carers.
• Experience of using IT as a work tool.

Desirable

• 1.Access Audit Certificate.
• 2.Understanding of manual handling.
• 3.Experience of working with or in partnership with housing providers.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

The Hoyland Medical Centre

High Croft

Hoyland

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S74 9AF

Employer's website

https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)