CARER SUPPORT AND ASSESSMENT CO-ORDINATOR

(KENT)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Hold in house expertise on behalf of Carers FIRST engaging in national best practice, working collaboratively with statutory and voluntary sector partners
  • Build an understanding of Carers issues and keep abreast of changes within this field of support
  • Attend training opportunities to broaden skills and experience
  • Network within the locality to gain a knowledge of the support available to Carers in the wider community

Actively identify Carers through partnerships, outreach, community connections, and networking. Raise awareness of Carer issues and co-ordinate the support available
  • Work with community partners to raise the awareness of carers and the challenges they face in maintaining their caring role
  • Work in the community to champion the needs of Carers
  • Attend networking opportunities as guided by your line manager to promote joined up working with voluntary and statutory partners

Provide a personalised service to Carers based on the principles of trust, respect and dignity
  • Provide Information, Advice and Guidance to Carers to enable them to make informed decision about their caring role
  • Using assessment and triaging tools provide Carers with support that is proportionate to their needs
  • Maintain a professional relationship with Carers enabling the Carers to build trust in the quality of the services Carers FIRST provides

Conduct carers assessments and other initial assessments to identify need and provide appropriate support planning and reviews
  • Using a variety of Assessment tools, assess the needs of the Carer, providing support that is appropriate and proportionate to their needs
  • Provide Carers with high quality Statutory Carers Assessments that assess their eligibility for support
  • Utilise non Statutory assessment tools (Carers Star) to understand the needs of the Carer and provide them with support and guidance
  • Provide Carers with appropriate support plans that enable them to access support in their caring role
  • Conduct reviews of the assessments and support plans that allows changes in the Carers needs to be recognised and relevant support put in place

Provide information, advice, guidance, emotional and practical support that responds to identified Carer need
  • Ensure that knowledge of the support available to Carers is to a high level in order to offer Carers quality advice and information
  • Engage with Carers to empower them to make choices around their caring role
  • Engage with the Carer using a strengths based approach to identifying needs

Advocate on behalf of Carers and empower self-advocacy and carer contributions to local decision making processes
  • Provide appropriate support to Carers to enable their views to be heard
  • Encourage Carers to have a voice around caring issues and to inform the decisions around their caring role
  • Assist with the facilitation of Focus Groups and opportunities for Carers to discuss their caring role with professionals

Work within the South West KentOperational Team to Identify the need and run/facilitate Carers support groups, training and forums
  • Attend locality team meetings to discuss and assess the support needs of Carers within the locality
  • Facilitate a monthly Carers Support group
  • Work with Carers and the Operational team to identify training needs for Carers
  • Facilitate Carer training sessions, providing in house Carer Support expertise, if required

Use a range of outcome based tools to evidence your work, identify gaps in provision and support continuous service development
  • Develop an understanding of an outcome based approach to providing support to Carers
  • Utilise the available outcome tools to identify the needs of the Carers and empower them to see appropriate support
  • Ensure that outcomes for Carers are recorded on the database to enable the use of intelligent data to evidence benefit of the support given to Carers

To work on a rota basis to deliver the Carers Hub triage system as required
  • To work within the Carers Hub to build an understanding of the triage and assessment done at the first point of contact
  • Support colleagues in the Hub at times of reduced staff capacity to ensure that Carers receive a timely response to their enquiries

Develop a strong understanding of the database to enable accurate reporting, ensuring that accurate database records are maintained and provide evidence to report on the services we provide
  • Record all contacts with Carers onto the database daily to ensure that information about the support given is up to date
  • Utilise the database to build an understanding of the support given to the Carer and the identify areas of need

Keep appropriate records and take part in regular supervision, appraisal and training
  • Accurate and factual accounts of interventions and support given to Carers are maintained at all times
  • All contacts with Carers are recorded on the Blue Box database
  • Records are updated in a timely manner, where possible within 48 hours of support given
  • Participate in a monthly supervisions with line manager to discuss workload, the support of Carers and potential role development
  • Participate in yearly appraisal
  • Maintain personal development and knowledge by attending relevant training
  • Use outlook calendars and emails to maintain contact with colleagues within the Community Working Model

To work as part of the Carers FIRST organisation and from time to time undertake work as directed by line manager
  • Carers FIRST expects all staff to be flexible to the needs of the service
  • As the needs of the organisation change from time to time, staff are expected to be open to changes in their work to support such changes
  • Staff are expected to be supportive of their colleagues and, if appropriate, to take on additional tasks to support the team

Work within all Carers FIRST policies, procedures, accreditations and standards
All staff should work within the ethos of the Charity, showing respect to staff, professionals, carers and members of the wider community

PERSON SPECIFICATION

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
A good all round education including GCSE’s (or equivalent) or NVQ level 2 or have extensive experience in a similar role. / Essential
Working knowledge of social care and health, particularly as it relates to working with carers and adults / Essential
Knowledge and experience of working with adults and children / Desirable
Experience of conducting holistic or person centred assessments / Essential
Experience of supporting people 1-1 and in groups / Essential
Experience of providing emotional support / Essential
Ability to work within professional boundaries / Essential
Ability to work as part of a team / Essential
Highly competent in own use of IT (Microsoft Applications Word, Excel, Outlook) and mobile telephony / Essential
Experience of multi-agency working / Essential
Ability to compile records and reports and gather data as evidence to develop services / Essential
Good geographical and working knowledge of Carer support within the locality / Essential
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Self motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy / Essential
Excellent interpersonal skills / Essential
Good public presence / Essential
Able to stay calm in a crisis and be measured in your response / Essential
Good organisational and time management skills / Essential
Commitment to excellence / Essential
Values people and the contribution of all stakeholders / Essential
High expectations of self and others / Essential
Non-judgemental / Essential
Supportive / Essential
Commitment to values / Essential
Focussed / Essential
Proactive / Essential

REQUIREMENTS OF POST

Ready access to own transportation & driving licence
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check
Supply a minimum of two references, one being immediate prior employer
Ability to work flexibly as agreed with line manager
Ability to use technology to work from any location as required by the organisation (Remote Working Policy)

Carer Support and Assessment Co-ordinator –October 2016Page 1