Senior Social Care Practitioner

Whole Life Pathways - Supporting Mental Health

We are looking for a dedicated Senior Social Care Practitioner to join our Mental Health Team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to progress into a senior role within our supportive team. This is a locality-based team supporting adults over 18 to recover from mental health challenges and live as independently as possible. Our work is person-centred, giving people choice and control in their lives.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in peoples lives while developing your career in a forward-thinking environment.

We are seeking someone with significant experience working with adults with complex needs. You should hold an NVQ Level 4 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent) or be willing to work towards it.

You must have a strong understanding of relevant legislation, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload.

If you're ready to grow your career and make a real difference in peoples lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will carry out complex assessments and reviews, develop support plans, and work closely with individuals, families, and partner agencies.

You will provide statutory support under the Care Act 2014 and Mental Health Act 1983, including Section 117 aftercare.

You will also be expected to apply knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Human Rights Act 1998 in your daily practice.

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.
- Coordination of the customer/carer journey in identifying eligible needs and outcomes.
- 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.

About us

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. That's why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right.

The council is committed to creating an environment of positive working relationships where everyone feels engaged, supported and able to thrive. Our Identity is a framework which sets out how we are all expected to lead, work and act to deliver our services. We will not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment of any kind. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect which is underpinned by our vision and Our Identity framework.

This role may be subject to certain successful security checks; please see the role description for more information.

Job responsibilities

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 embedded 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 sometimes without 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).

Person Specification

Qualifications

- Significant experience of working with clients and client groups with complex needs.
- NVQ level 4 in Health and Social Care or Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care or equivalent, or the ability to demonstrate the skills required and a commitment to work towards a relevant qualification as defined by the council within an agreed timeframe.
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation including the Care Act 2014, the Mental Health Act 1983, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Experience

- Ability to utilise a range of Microsoft and electronic social care record software.
- Significant contemporary knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and the safeguarding of, vulnerable adults.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with people in a variety of ways and levels.
- Proven ability to advise and guide clients to encourage development and to access services to which they are entitled.
- Proven ability / knowledge to carry out client risk assessments, to support effective appraisal of to identify risk and impact of harm.
- Ability to prioritise tasks, work on own initiative against deadlines and plan and organise own work. Experience of working without direct supervision and the ability to work on own initiative.
- Proven ability to interpret general guidelines to resolve issues.
- Ability to interpret situations, analyse behaviours to make judgements and deliver interventions to achieve outcomes.
- Significant experience of developing appropriate support packages and care plans through the accurate identification of clients needs, monitoring and reviewing the needs and services as required.
- Good understanding of the national agenda for Transformation in Social Care.
- Ability to work in a person centred way to meet individual outcomes.
- Fully fluent in spoken and written English.

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.

#J-18808-Ljbffr