JOB DESCRIPTION POST: Social Worker- Learning Disabilities POST NO: GRADE: SCP 32 to 41 SERVICE AREA: SECTION: REPORTS TO: Adult Social Services Islington Learning Disabilities Partnership Team Manager or Deputy Team Manager PRIMARY JOB FUNCTION To promote a model of self directed support with service users with global learning disabilities and their carers to enable them to determine their own solutions, which are outcome focused. To deliver exceptional social care to adult service users with global learning disabilities and their carers which enables them to make their own decisions To conduct assessments and reviews that are proportionate to need. To identify risks to the individual and respond appropriately thus ensuring any safeguarding issues are addressed. To enable individuals to identify appropriate outcomes which will meet their needs and aspirations and work with them to achieve these, through an agreed support plan. To operate within an agreed performance management and budgetary framework DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic responsibilities To help develop and implement strategies for the delivery of personalisation, selfdirected support and well being. To keep abreast of latest developments, thinking and innovation in adult social care and learning disabilities in order to improve services in Islington. Resource Management and Planning To optimise opportunities for users/carers to seek out alternative solutions to Council funded care. To maintain accurate and comprehensive records and ensure that service users have the required information about their assessed need and agreed support plan. To have a sound knowledge of performance indicators, targets and standards and
to perform to a high standard within a challenging performance management culture. Operational responsibilities To facilitate user choice and control throughout the self-assessment, support planning and review process by promoting independence and wellbeing and applying the principles of personalisation. To provide advice and information to any member of the public requesting this (via the telephone, letters, email, or personal callers). To provide information and signposting advice to enable individuals to increase their sense of well-being and to access to a range of resources that do not require a social care assessment including following up with the individual to ensure that the information provided was satisfactory To apply the FACS eligibility criteria and give information about any likely cost of services as well as giving appropriate advice on welfare rights entitlements and maximisation of income. To enable service users to undertake un/assisted self -assessments to identify needs and outcomes. This will include taking account of existing forms of support and identifying, recording and managing any potential risks, e.g. Mental Capacity Act and Safeguarding. To enable the service user to identify outcomes and undertake un/assisted support planning. Where appropriate, present ideas and solutions as to how these could be achieved including, identifying contingency arrangements to cover any unexpected circumstances. To facilitate support planning by providing services users with the fullest possible information about the range of support options available. To advise and where appropriate refer service users to support brokers or advocates to help them with the planning of their care needs To work with service users to document support plans and collate any additional reports, which represent service user/carer needs and aspirations and records identified risks. To facilitate validation of support plan and record unmet need To present relevant information to senior management if required To carry out a review of the support plan, proportionate to need and risk ensuring agreed outcomes are being met.
To ensure all documentation is in a format accessible to the individual/s concerned and that service users are routinely sent a copy of their care plans and reviews. If required undertake training to assess for equipment and minor adaptations as required and order same through appropriate means. To keep accurate records of all work undertaken, including updating electronic care records and ensure that all correspondence meets with corporate guidelines. To ensure compliance with Safeguarding procedures Care co-ordination and joint working To work in a collaborative way and seek advice of other staff within the multidisciplinary team, or other appropriate professionals, to promote the well being of the individual and ensure they have access to the required level of co-ordinated care. To act as the Care Coordinator to ensure a seamless service to individuals with complex needs and avoid unnecessary admissions to institutional care. To refer on to other health, mental health or social care services e.g. Sensory Team, Children and Families, District Nursing and work in partnership where this is required. To use and assist others to use information technology. Performance and Legislation To keep up to date and act in accordance with good practice, current legislation and Council and Primary Care Trust Policy including Health and Safety, Manual Handling, Data Protection Act, Community Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and other relevant legislation and guidance. To ensure that the requirements of Health & Safety legislation and the Council s relevant policies are carried out in relation to the job. To undertake any prescribed mandatory training. To assist with the development of links with Registration and Inspection Units where appropriate for the service area To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as agreed with the line manager.
Additional To perform any other duties as may be directed by your manager as appropriate to the post. To adhere to the Code of Conduct of the General Social Care Council. To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder. The title of the post to which I normally report is: Signed: Date:
PERSON SPECIFICATION The person specification is a picture of skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out the job. It has been used to draw up the advert and will also be used in the shortlisting and interview process for this post. You should demonstrate on your application form how you meet the following essential criteria. Service Area: Adult Social Services Section: Localities Designation: Social Worker/ Care Manager Grade: SCP 32 to 41 E1 E2 REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE Professional Social Work qualification, such as DipSW or CQSW, and registration as a Social Worker with HCPC. Experience of working with adults with global learning disabilities or similar field involved in assessment of needs, care/support planning and case management. /T E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 Experience of working with people from ethnic minority communities and from inner city environments. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES A working knowledge of relevant legislation relating to the provision of services for adult client groups, including people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties, mental health problems and older people. Ability to develop effective working relations with internal departments and external agencies. Ability to facilitate assessments and record key information which represents user needs and to carry out community care assessments including co-ordinating multidisciplinary input. Ability to undertake support planning, taking into account eligibility criteria and cost guidance, and to negotiate packages of care with LBI and independent sector providers to meet assessed care needs. E8 Excellent communication, report writing and IT skills. E9 Ability to chair and attend reviews and other meetings. E10 Ability to deal with referrals within the team and to other teams. E11 Ability to adhere to the Council s Equal Opportunities and other relevant policies to ensure that services are developed and delivered within this framework and according to the Council s standards.
This role will require you to obtain an Enhanced satisfactory clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service formally known as the Criminal Records Bureau(CRB). This role will require you to have live registration with HCPC. E= Essential D= Desirable Assessed by: A= Application I= Interview T= Test