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JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: / Carers’ Support Worker for Carers of an Adult with Autism
Responsible to: / Carers Service Manager /Area Team Leaders
Salary: / £16,431 per annum - pro rata (£9,859)
Hours: / 21 hrs per week
Location: / Home based
Contract: / To 31 March 2014

The postholder will be employed by the CRCC under its normal terms and conditions. All workers will follow its policies and procedures. Overall management of the project and formal supervision of the post will be undertaken by the designated Area Team Leader.

1.The postholder will be responsible for:

  • Providing support, information and advocacy to carers of an adult diagnosed with autism, along with promoting independence of their carer.

○Referral or signposting carers to other organisation which can provide additional service to them or the cared for

  • Enabling and supporting GP practices and other professionals to identify this group of carers.

○ Receive referrals from GPs, healthcare staff, Adult Care and Support, Voluntary Organisations and individuals including carers through the Helpline.

  • Raising the profile of the Cornwall Carers Service and carer awareness, in particular early identification and intervention in GP practices, Adult Care and Support, Health Care agencies in particular Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, voluntary organisations etc.
  • Ongoing updating of the database with client details and Carers Support Worker interventions so that the service can be monitored to provide statistics, information and reports
  • Developing, organising and where necessary facilitating peers support groups (whilst encouraging carers to eventually take the lead in running groups)
  • Ensuring Carers are aware of the Cornwall Carers Service complaint policy
  • Support the Forum and Events Co-ordinator to develop events for Carers Week and Carers Rights Day
  • Encourage carers to take part in the Carers Forum for their hub area

2.Key Result Areas

The worker, working with professionals from health and Social Care and other relevant agencies, will enable identification of people who need to receive relevant information, and support to carry on in their caring role. This will include:

  • Promoting the use of the help line and referral system for carers support
  • Ensuring distribution of leaflets and other publicity for the Cornwall Carers Service the carers forums and groups in their hub area
  • Presenting information to Health and Social Care Team meetings regarding carers and support provided by the Cornwall Carers Service
  • Alerting GPs as to which patients are carers and how to refer for support services
  • Providing information, practical and emotional support to carers either, by telephone, personal visit to their home or in other venues of their choice
  • Providing Drop In sessions at venues including G.P surgeries, One Stop Shops and other community venues
  • Improve financial circumstances for carers following benefit checks and assistance in accessing benefits, grants and funding from other sources
  • Referring carers to appropriate service providers/support services and/ or Adult Care and Support for a Carers Assessment and assistance with this assessment form.
  • Helping to establish new links by working and liaising with all members of multi-disciplinary teams associated with the hubs and other agencies providing support to carers.
  • Liaising with the Access Team and other Adult Social Care Teams to ensure carers assessments are completed and followed through.
  • Maintaining up to date database entry so that the project objectives can be monitored through relevant statistics, producing monthly statistical summaries and a short report on progress to date for the use of the Carers Service Manager, Carers Partnership Board and commissioners of the service and also tracking and evaluating carers progress through the service

3.Job Activities

The postholder is responsible to the Carers Service Manager and Team Leaders

  • Maintaining a high profile for the Cornwall Carers Service, at local level, e.g., making presentations to local groups, training presentations as required.
  • Participating in appropriate training and keeping up to date with legislation, local policies and services.
  • The establishment and support of dedicatedCarers Support Groups.
  • Partnership working and liaison with health and social care professionals to identify and support carers
  • Working with the BME specialist worker to encourage carers from these Communities to access the service
  • Complete and update database files and carer records
  • Support carers to access advice and treatment for their own physical and mental health
  • Undertaking other duties appropriate to the level of the post as required.

4.Key contacts:

  • Carers of an adult with an autism spectrum diagnosis
  • Carers Service Manager/Team Leaders
  • GP's
  • Primary Health Care Teams, Community Teams and Community Mental Health and Learning Disability Teams
  • Adult Care and Support staff including Social Workers, Case Co-ordinators etc
  • Voluntary Organisations, e.g., West Cornwall National Autistic Society, Jellybean etc
  • Other carers organisations

5.Decisions:

The postholder will take decisions in line with instructions and guidance from the Carers Service Manager. The postholder is responsible for making decisions on day to day problems. More complex issues should be referred to the Team Leader which may be referred to the Carer Service Manager. The postholder is expected to exercise a fair degree of judgement before referring matters upwards.

6.Supervision

The postholder is responsible to the Team Leader, who will undertake regular formal supervision as regards the post holder’s overall performance and progress and issues in their work and an annual appraisal. The postholder will manage their own workload and will need to make 'on the spot' decisions. Where matters relate to ‘safeguarding’ or fall outside procedures or guidelines they would be referred to the Team Leader or Carers Service Manager for advice and guidance.

7.Work Complexity

The postholder requires a working knowledge of external Carer Support and other health and Social Care Agencies in order to maintain a database of information to assess the appropriate provision of information and support. The postholder will need to develop skills to deal flexibly and effectively with carers of varying abilities and needs, and who, on occasions, can be distressed or difficult. The postholder will need to deal with these situations in an appropriate manner and in accordance with agreed guidelines and procedures.

The postholder will have a variety of departmental and external contacts, will make home visits and will be expected to complete benefit and Carers Assessment forms with the carers, compile written and verbal reports, and give presentations in relation to their work and individual carers. The postholder will need to demonstrate sound interpersonal skills in order to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels.

The job description outlines your main tasks and responsibilities but you may be asked to undertake further duties when necessary.

Signed:………………………

Date:………………………..