To work within the Adult Social Care Team, Mental Health Services, undertaking direct work with customers who have a significant mental health condition, that requires specialist social care interventions. The main aim of the service is to enable people to live safely in the community, maximising their strengths and abilities to live as independently as they can, and supporting carers in their supporting role as long as they wish to do so. 

Purpose of the role

To work within the relevant legal frameworks, guidance and policies and procedures to provide interventions, undertake assessment, reviews and care and support planning with individuals and their carers, promoting well-being, independence and protection. To enable people to identify their needs and outcomes and to implement and review support plans to meet them, liaising with other professional/agencies as required.

Main Accountabilities

1 To work in accordance with the Care Act 2014 to assess, review or reassess complex needs of customers and their carers, offering advice and guidance and access to support services in line with their eligible needs, with an emphasis on health, safety, and wellbeing for vulnerable individuals and those that care for them.

2 To adopt a strengths-based approach to the role and maintain a professional and respectful working relationship with individual customers and carers. To adopt a personalized approach, to ensure that dignity is maintained, cultural background and communication needs are addressed, and choices and aspirations are listened to and acknowledged.

3 To undertake risk assessments and formulate risk management plans, having regard for the safety of customers and others, whilst promoting independence and supporting positive risk enablement where appropriate.

4 To identify and/or make enquiries concerning any allegations of potential abuse or neglect of adults with care and support needs with a view to the development and implementation of safeguarding plans which maintain their safety, and the safety of others, within the multi-agency safeguarding adults procedures.

5 To liaise with the Adult Social Care Occupational Therapy Team where individuals require manual handling risk assessments, interventions and equipment; thus, adhering to relevant Health and Safety legislation, local policies and procedures and adhering to best practice manual handing regulations.

6 To carry out specialist functional assessments to include but not limited to; activities of daily living such as meal preparation, shopping, money management, communication, motivation, readiness for employment/training, engagement in meaningful activities, carers assessments, physical and mental health well-being, ability to access transport, assessment of adaptive technology in the home, and sensory processing screening. 

7 To have a working knowledge of adaptions and promoting accessible environments. This will include liaising with Adult Social Care O.T colleagues/joint-working on aspects of relevant building regulations, housing adaptions and relevant legislation, guidance and local policy. E.g. Disabled Facilities Grant

8 To interpret and analyse varied and complex information or situations and to work with relevant others (i.e. agencies, teams) to create solutions

9 To work collaboratively with individuals, their carers, families and other stakeholders to gather

information for the purpose of assessing and reviewing the individual’s needs and in order to identify the best options available to meet the identified needs

10 To develop and maintain an understanding of legislation, policy, procedure and guidance relevant to the role and to apply these to all work undertaken.

11 To effectively manage time, priorities, workload and conflicting pressures and escalate concerns where appropriate

12 To establish professional relationships with relevant stakeholders including voluntary services to enable collaborative multiagency working, exploration of new innovative ways of working, and encourage an open and transparent dialogue.

13 To be accountable for completing and maintaining accurate and up to date records by using electronic case recording systems to ensure that records are maintained in a timely manner and in accordance with Council procedures, statutory legislation and General Data Protection requirements.

14 To consider and maximise the use of assistive technology, including Telecare as an option to maximise independence

15 To maintain continuous professional development and uphold professional standards in accordance with the standards set by the professional governing body, and to maintain appropriate professional registration.

16 To proactively engage in relevant meeting and 1:1’s and contribute to the development of the service.

17 To have awareness of the social, political and financial environment the council operates within and appropriately respond to this.

18 Where mutually agreeable, and as part of a personal development plan or professional development, some staff may undertake supervision of less experienced staff

19 To work across the ASC service as needed to meet the demands of the service.