NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board

DoLS Assessor

This job is now closed

Job summary

An excellent opportunity has arisen to join the NHS Frimley ICB East Berkshire Continuing Healthcare Service (CHC) as a Mental Capacity Act & Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessor. We are looking for a dynamic and committed individual to become part of a supportive team completing assessments under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and helping to support and develop excellent MCA practice across the CHC service in East Berkshire.

You will show an ability to analyse information and make independent, professional decisions along with excellent report writing and communication skills. The postholder will be required to develop good working relationships with colleagues, service users and carers alike. And will be working alongside a skilled practitioner who will provide you with support and supervision to promote the best possible outcomes to our residents in need of assessment under the Mental Capacity Act (DoLS). You will uphold the strong emphasis on safeguarding the rights of service users and upholding the key principles of the Mental Capacity Act.

Closing Date: 16/07/2023

Shortlisting Date: 17/07/2023

Interviews: 25/07/2023

Main duties of the job

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) is the procedure prescribed in law when someone requires care and treatment but lacks the capacity to consent whilst being deprived of their liberty. The purpose of this role is to identify and support the Continuing Healthcare Team (CHC) by ensuring that Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) is meeting its legal responsibilities in terms of DoLS. The DoLS Assessor would undertake and manage CHC eligible complex cases and judicial applications ahead of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) guidance coming into being.

The post holder will work with the Band 8a MCA/DoLS & LPS Lead and support the Associate Director of All Age Continuing Care to deliver an effective and safe Continuing Healthcare Service, ensuring Mental Capacity is considered and adhered to as an integral part of the CHC service.

The post holder will need to have extensive experience and in-depth knowledge in respect of mental health legislation, including the Mental Capacity Act, its application and implications for both the patient and organisation if statutory legislation is not adhered to. The post holder will be required to write and deliver a training package which will positively engage all staff across the ICB.

About us

NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board was formed on 1 July 2022 under the Health and Care Act 2022, replacing NHS Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group.

NHS Frimleyis the new statutory NHS organisation responsible for planning and delivering health and care services. It will work collaboratively with partner organisations including the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, people and communities across theFrimley Health and Care Integrated Care System (ICS).Integrated Care Boards are the bodies responsible for the NHS functions within the wider integrated care systems.

Frimley ICB covers around 800,000 people across the following five areas:

Bracknell Forest

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Slough

Surrey Heath

North East Hampshire and Farnham

Date posted

30 June 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

495-ICB-5773HB

Job locations

King Edward VII Hospital,

Windsor

SL4 3DP

Job description

Job responsibilities

Contribute to continual service and performance improvement, taking a lead for identified areas where agreed.

Act as a key resource for DoLS and the anticipated LPS implementation arrangements across Frimley ICB/ICS.

To work autonomously, being accountable for direct delivery of knowledge and assessment within the specialty, including implementation of statue, case law, local and national policies and procedures and the evaluation of service delivery.

Provide quality training for staff regarding Mental Health Law: Mental Capacity Act, Liberty Protection Safeguards, and the Mental Health Act, incorporating the Human rights Act.

Provide CHC Community DoLS Assessments and applications to the Court of Protection where appropriate.

Working in partnership with colleagues within the ICB, IMCAs, patients, families and within the Court of Protection. To meet legal and professional standards in providing safeguards for all.

To facilitate the legal requisites with patients that have unpredictable physical limitations and difficulties with understanding, due to physical, psychological, cognitive, or social problems.

Provide mentorship, support, and legal/practice knowledge for the CHC team and for colleagues across Frimley ICB.

Advise and support families and carers who take on the role of the Appropriate Person.

Collaborate and liaise with other professionals and agencies in the community and hospitals to ensure that the ICS has a good body of knowledge around the Mental Capacity Act.

Contribute to and participate in multidisciplinary working with site-specific groups to ensure knowledge and standards are being met.

Identify the potential for service development in collaboration with Clinical Leads, to inform quality improvement and maintain safe legal literacy and service delivery.

Work as an effective member of the multi-professional care team, participate in multidisciplinary working initiatives and contribute to the development of organisational change as appropriate.

Provide professional expertise and clinical leadership, acting as a resource to other professionals.

Ensure the recording and reporting of assessment activity as a base for contract information.

To comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Code of Practice on confidentiality and data protection.

To participate in ongoing professional development and clinical supervision in line with NMC guidelines.

To ensure revalidation of own professional registration is maintained.

Provide relevant and timely specialist advice and guidance on functional and information matters relating to the service.

To provide accurate and legible recording of information.

To ensure that communication always remains professional and appropriate.

Deliver against objectives, achieving quality outcomes, prioritising own workload, and working to tight deadlines.

Support training and induction of new staff.

Undertake research and development as directed.

To ensure compliance with all statutory and mandatory training.

The post holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.