MCA and DoLS Lead/Team Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) are seeking to appoint a lead professional for Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). You will lead a team comprising Senor Practitioners, Best Interest Assessors and Business Support to respond to requests for authorisations of Deprivation of Liberty in a timely and compliant way .  

The DoLS Team Manager will: • Lead teams of Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) and DoLS coordinators, along with any BIAs sitting in the wider organisation, BIA input commissioned externally and section 12 doctors to ensure compliance with our responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Human Rights Act, and other relevant legislation. • Provide strong practice leadership alongside effective management of workload and resource across the teams to ensure timely completion of assessments and management of risk • Work with other agencies to ensure practice and procedures remain current and compliant, upholding the rights of people deprived of their liberty. • Embed and constantly strive to improve best practice across our DoLS team and work with other internal teams to achieve best practice and a sustainable high quality service.

Take an active lead on the Quality Assurance and promotion of good practice in the application of the wider MCA across the wider organisation and partner agencies.

As an experienced practitioner you will bring both practice expertise and management skills to the role. You need to be able to supervise and support the practice of the team as well as manage performance and ensure compliance. You’ll have strong relationship building skills and an understanding of the role of other organisations that will enable you work effectively with external partners. For more information or an informal chat about the role, please contact Karyn Yee-King, Head of Service for Mental Health Karyn_Yee-King@bathnes.gov.uk  

Interview date: TBC

Please note the Council operates a policy of prior consideration for roles for any individual on the Council’s at-risk register. This means should a redeployee express an interest in this role, providing they meet the essential criteria for the role they will be considered.

Why Bath & North East Somerset Council?

We offer a wide range of benefits, to ensure that you are paid fairly for your work, have the flexibility to enjoy a great work/life balance, and have the support you need. Go to https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/why-work-us/our-benefits

At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve peoples live. Find out more about our values at https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/why-work-us/our-values

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. Find out more on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/equality-and-diversity

We are a Disability Confident Employer – find out more at https://shorturl.at/ajrsW

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Safeguarding Statement: The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment anyone working in a post with children or vulnerable groups will be expected to undertake an Enhanced DBS check with/without barred list checks.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Expertise, knowledge and experience of working with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards including triaging referrals from a wide range of providers, allocation of work in a timely way, ensuring effective authorisation processes and being accountable to senior leaders in respect of the risks associated with a waiting list.
• Expert in the field and high level of legal literacy in area of MCA and wider social care legislation, and council policies and procedures in relation to this
• Ability to manage limited resources

Desirable

• Lead teams of Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) and DoLS coordinators, along with any BIAs sitting in the wider organisation, BIA input commissioned externally and section 12 doctors to ensure compliance with our responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Human Rights Act, and other relevant legislation.
• Provide strong practice leadership alongside effective management of workload and resource across the teams to ensure timely triaging of referrals, completion of assessments and management of risk
• Work with other agencies to ensure practice and procedures remain current and compliant, upholding the rights of people deprived of their liberty. This will include having up to date knowledge of case law and to be able to keep ahead of any new legislation or national policies that will impact on the work of the dols team. to brief relevant senior leaders and elected members where appropriate.

Experience

Essential

• Expertise, knowledge and experience of working with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards including triaging referrals from a wide range of providers, allocation of work in a timely way, ensuring effective authorisation processes and being accountable to senior leaders in respect of the risks associated with a waiting list. Expert in the field and high level of legal literacy in area of MCA and wider social care legislation, and council policies and procedures in relation to this
• Ability to manage limited resources

Desirable

• Lead teams of Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) and DoLS coordinators, along with any BIAs sitting in the wider organisation, BIA input commissioned externally and section 12 doctors to ensure compliance with our responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Human Rights Act, and other relevant legislation.
• Provide strong practice leadership alongside effective management of workload and resource across the teams to ensure timely triaging of referrals, completion of assessments and management of risk
• Work with other agencies to ensure practice and procedures remain current and compliant, upholding the rights of people deprived of their liberty. This will include having up to date knowledge of case law and to be able to keep ahead of any new legislation or national policies that will impact on the work of the dols team. to brief relevant senior leaders and elected members where appropriate.

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

Bath & North East Somerset Council

Address

The Hollies

Midsomer Norton

Bath and North East Somerset

BA3 2DT

Employer's website

https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)