Job responsibilities
Senior Social Care Practitioners are expected to work in line with the requirements
described in the Workforce Quality Assurance Framework.
Senior Social Care Practitioners carry out the following tasks under the Care Act 2014:
- Assessment and review of complex customers needs and outcomes Co-ordination of
the customer/carer journey in identifying eligible needs and outcomes.
- Where applicable, work in partnership with the customer and other agencies in
compiling an appropriate support plan.
In addition, they also carry out the following tasks under the Mental Health Act 1983.
- Assess and review customers aftercare needs under Section 117 of the Act.
Senior Social Care Practitioners will also work under and/or be conscious of other relevant
legislation such as the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Human Rights Act 1998 etc.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
Provide support to social care practitioners; the postholder is required to have excellent
knowledge and ability in relation to supporting adults with care and support needs.
Actively engage in individual and group / peer supervision and embed learning in
practice.
Mentor Level 2 social care practitioners, to ensure they are empowered with good
decision-making abilities.
Support quality assurance work across all social care practitioner colleagues.
To have excellent understanding of assessment, support planning and the
management of risks for individuals and to be able to apply council policy and support
customers to manage risk appropriately.
To undertake person-centred work with customers and to plan for the provision of
support and/ or services with customers with more complex needs in order to assist
them to meet their outcomes and to live as independently as possible, giving
consideration to whether the person needs support to fully participate in the
assessment and support planning process.
Providing more specialist / professional advice and guidance to colleagues where the
situation and outcome are not straightforward or well established.
Undertake review of risks within the assessment and support planning process, to
ensure that risk appraisal is imbedded in all interventions as required.
To consider whether there is a concern about an individuals capacity to make a
specific decision, including restrictions placed on an individual which may amount to a
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) or Liberty Protection Safeguard (LPS) (i.e.,
they are subject to continuous supervision and control and are not free to leave.
Gathering information to support the Mental Capacity Act process, as required to
ensure that adults with care and support needs are supported within the correct legal
framework.
Support and undertake non-complex mental capacity assessments as and when
required.
To take responsibility for making accurate and timely recording of all information and
activity onto the social care records database in accordance with work targets set by
the Team Manager and Supervisor.
To identify and support carers to continue in their role by identifying their needs for
support, referring them to Carer Support Wiltshire for a carers assessment and other
action as appropriate, giving consideration of the impact on the whole family of any
caring role and responsibilities.
To identify where adults may be at risk and to act in accordance with safeguarding
policies and procedures.
To gather sufficient information about complex customers to be able to accurately
assess their needs against the national eligibility criteria within the Care Act 2014 and
S117 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This includes working creatively to identify sources
of support to improve the individuals well-being and independence and making a
determination about eligibility for support.
To contribute to gathering and updating local knowledge about universally available
services including what is available locally within the voluntary and community sector,
as well as the service areas commissioned and contracted services and to
signpost/advocate for customers accordingly.
Manage complex and contentious issues in a calm and professional manner, ensuring
information is shared when appropriate and that feedback on improvements to service
delivery with recommendations to improve are made to ensure service delivery is of a
high standard. The postholder will be required to make quick decisions sometimeswithout full information. They will need to draw on their past experience, strong
knowledge of operational working practices and legislative guidelines.
To practice in a manner which fully complies with council corporate and service policies
and procedures at all times.
To write support plans for individuals which reflect the individuals eligible and non-eligible needs and what outcomes they wish to be achieved, in a manner which
complies with Care Act requirements and S117 of The Mental Health Act.
To carry out support plan reviews in a timely and person-centred way, as required and
identified by departmental targets, taking a view on whether agreed outcomes have
been met.
To evidence need for continuing support at all times in accordance with eligibility criteria
and to work with customers and care providers to identify promotion of increased
independence.
Demonstrate strong performance in terms of responding to demand within the team and
role model expected behaviours relating to caseloads and work completed.
To represent the council and support colleagues at inter professional and interagency
meetings, for example multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings as required.
To fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation,
ensuring that continual professional development is evidenced.
To be an ambassador for the council and the department at all times, always
representing the council positively, professionally and appropriately at meetings with
customers, external partners and agencies.
Attending Civil Emergencies when a Rest Centre is set up (happens rarely)
