Shared Lives Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

The emphasis of the post holders work will be on recruiting, training and assessing, supervising and supporting Shared Lives carers across Wiltshire to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable adults placed in their care. The whole team have a responsibility to ensure the service is CQC inspection ready. The post holder will work proactively and in partnership with care management teams to plan and deliver Shared Lives arrangements that promote positive outcomes for both the customer and the Shared Lives carer. Recruitment of Shared Lives Carers The whole team is responsible for continuously promoting the work of the service, exploring carer recruitment opportunities and ensuring as many effective placements are arranged as possible.

The post holder needs to take a creative approach to meeting need and to ensure local provision, wherever possible, in order to meet identified need within available resources. This may involve looking at demographic data to focus recruitment of carer efforts.

Develop and expand methods of attracting Shared Lives carers through the press, public relations, liaison with voluntary organisations, etc. Review recruitment methods to assess which are most effective, whilst continuously exploring new ways to promote the service.

Arrange and/or participate in meetings with people interested in learning about or using the Shared Lives service.

Provide information about the Shared Lives service to care managers, people wishing to use the service and to others, as necessary.

Promote the development of links with relevant teams and external organisations (e.g. Wiltshire Council care management teams, Shared Lives Plus, MENCAP, MIND etc). Training and assessment of Shared Lives Carers

Deliver preparation and induction training to prospective carers through implementing The Care Certificate model as required by the Care Quality Commission; this will involve training the prospective carer in 15 Standards of Care. Delivery methods will vary to suit the needs of the prospective carers and need to be reviewed to ensure they are effective and timely. Training targets may be discussed with and set by the Registered Manager.

Assess prospective Shared Lives carers in accordance with legal requirements and the services Shared Lives Carer Approval policies and procedure, producing comprehensive assessment reports for the Shared Lives Approval panel.

Ensure reports are with the panel in advance of assessments. Attend the panel to provide further information where needed. The post holder will not be a member of the panel. Setting up Shared Lives Arrangements

Oversee referrals from care managers, ensuring that sufficient information is gathered about the prospective customer to decide whether they appear suitable for Shared Lives.

Review the referral process to ensure that it is effective at gathering the required information. If it isnt, make improvements to the referral process and communicate this to the relevant parties.

Using the information gathered above, match prospective customers with Shared Lives carers by arranging and overseeing the process of introductions to each other.

Following successful introductions draw up and implement, with the customer and their family/carers where appropriate, a person-centred Shared Lives Support Plan that identifiesthe customers preferences, choices, wishes and needs, and assists them to meet their desired outcomes and maximises their opportunity to fulfil their individual potential. The Shared Lives Support Plan will also set out the arrangements for the Shared Lives carer to provide support to the person to meet these, as far as possible.

Identify and assess risks and create risk assessments, making referrals to specialist services, as necessary, to manage risk effectively.

Ensure that each Shared Lives Arrangement contract sets out the respective contributions of each party towards the Shared Lives carers fee.

Inform care management teams about required payments to the Shared Lives carer, where required. Supervision and support of Shared Live Carers

Throughout the duration of Shared Lives arrangements, the Assistant Shared Lives Officer will provide supervision to Shared Lives carers. Where an issue is identified, the Assistant Shared Lives Officer may escalate to the postholder for assistance in addressing issues arising, agreeing strategies and plans to meet objectives and requirements as necessary, monitoring progress and reviewing outcomes.

Undertake annual reviews of placements, support plans and risk assessments to ensure all are effective and fit for purpose. Outcomes of reviews must be recorded, and revisions made to plans and documentation where needed.

Make sure accurate records are kept and maintained and that accidents and incidents are properly recorded.

Ensure that alternative care arrangements are made for Shared Lives customers when their Shared Lives carers take respite breaks etc.

Provide Shared Lives carers with information on tax, national insurance and public liability insurance arrangements for Shared Lives carers. General

Provide day to day informal supervision to Assistant Shared Lives Officers, giving guidance and advice as necessary.

Carry out all duties and ensure that Shared Lives carers perform their role in accordance with the requirements of the Care Quality Commission and relevant legislation including: The Care Act 2014, The Mental Capacity Act 2005, The Data Protection Act 1998.

Contribute to reviews and quality audits of the Shared Lives service, including assisting in the production of business plans and reviewing policies and procedures.

Stay up to date with practice developments, national guidance, new legislation and procedures, including the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Implement changes where required based on new information / guidance.

Follow both council and service policies and procedures, including, not lot limited to maintaining confidentiality whilst promoting a safe and effective service. Take appropriate action where any concern or risk to adults or children is identified.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications or equivalent level of skill or knowledge.
• A relevant qualification at HNC level or above: e.g. a social work qualification, a diploma in
• social care or related profession, a degree in a relevant field (e.g. psychology).
• Advanced knowledge of regulations and standards for social care, especially the Care Act
• 2014.
• Advanced knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with and the
• safeguarding of children/vulnerable adults.
• Good understanding of the needs of vulnerable adults and the issues likely to impact on
• their lives.
• Understanding of the provision of care in a family/domestic setting and of the relationships
• and dynamics between the carer and the person receiving care or support.
• Experience
• Minimum of 3 years working in social care or a related field or ability to demonstrate
• equivalent skills and experience.
• Experience of providing care to people with learning disabilities, or mental health issues, or
• older people.
• Experience of evaluating the performance of care providers, addressing this with them and/or offering them guidance and support.
• Skills
• Ability to communicate effectively, confidently, sensitively and diplomatically with people at
• all levels, and particularly with vulnerable adults, Shared Lives carers and stakeholders.
• Ability to consider and reflect upon situations from a range of perspectives including that of
• others.
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing (required for written contacts with colleagues,
• members of the public).
• Excellent IT skills, especially use of Microsoft Word and use of Microsoft Excel for recording
• data.
• Ability to work effectively in a team as well as using own initiative.
• Literacy and numeracy
• Ability to write clear, detailed, well-written care plans, monitoring and support reports and
• other formal records.
• Ability to speak fluent English.

Desirable

• Experience of working in accordance with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Understanding of the various monetary benefits available to people in Shared Lives
• arrangements.
• Experience of promoting the development of skills in people who provide care.

Experience

Essential

• High level of relevant and practical experience acquired on.
• An advanced understanding of relevant procedures and working practices.
• Advanced knowledge of specialist function relevant to service area.
• Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
• Significant experience of working with clients and client groups with complex needs.
• Proven ability to carry out client risk assessments to identify eligibility for service provision
• and/or risk of harm.
• Proven ability to advise and guide clients to encourage development and to access services to
• which they are entitled.
• Ability to build trust and confidence with clients, client groups and colleagues.
• Proven ability to interpret situations, analyse behaviours to make judgements and deliver
• interventions to achieve outcomes.
• Proven ability to deliver training.

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

Wiltshire Council

Address

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)