Information Officer

The Carers’ Resource

The Carers’ Resource is an independent and nationally recognised Yorkshire charity, established in 1996, which gives tailored information and support to carers, those in need of care and support, and the professionals who work with them. The service supports people to remain independent and have choice and control to improve their lives or situations.

Information Officers will work closely with carers informing, guiding and supporting them, offering basic and in-depth information tailored to the carers needs. The role will include working with carers face to face, over the telephone, at events and workshops, developing fact sheets and briefs for case workers and otherprofessionals.

Location: / Skipon, Ronaldsway House, Brook Street, Skipton, BD23 1PP or Bradford, Unit 15, Park View Court, St Paul’s Road, Shipley, BD18 3DZ
Hours / 30 hours
Contract / Fixed Term Contract for 3 months with a possibility of an extension
Sakary: / £20,763 (salary quoted for 37 hours)
Reporting / Carer Support Team Leader

Role Guide

Through the referral process, assess needs, research and respond appropriately to detailed enquiries from colleagues and users of the Carers’ Resource, both carers and professionals.
Provides a personalised response to carers and professionals in the most appropriate format, tailored to their specific needs.
Promotes the physical and mental health of carers by providing tailored information about local and national health and wellbeing services, signposting as necessary.
Provides information and support for carers to access relevant breaks, education, training, leisure and employment opportunities.
Supports carers and colleagues to challenge decisions.
Gains and maintains an in depth understanding of current and forthcoming legislation relevant to the Carers’ Resource work.
Assimilates relevant new material, policies, legislation etc. and distils down into appropriate training and information briefings for colleagues and carers.
Maintains, updates and develops information resources appropriate to carers and their needs.
Records contact with carers and monitors needs.
Leads talks at groups and supports the organisation of information events and training sessions, seminars and conferences, displays and publicity to promote carer awareness.
Proactively seeks information to enable our database of professionals to remain up-to-date, working closely with colleagues in the administration team.
Identifies trends in requests for information and creates leaflets to respond to these requests – translating these when appropriate using organisational guidelines.
Proactively identifies potential sources and/or locations of information, both locally and nationally
Assists with the production of leaflets, posters, press releases, information sheets and regular newsletters and bulletins and ensures that all factsheets are written to the guidelines established by the Information Standard
Working with others
Demonstrates effective team working skills, participates in team meetings and training.
Interacts well with other departments.
Encourages and supports all volunteers and supervise identified volunteers.
Displays self confidence, initiative and flexibility.
Empathic and able to develop relationships with clients with relative ease.
Makes a positive contribution to The Carers’ Resource, is willing to function as a member of a small team and proactively assist in the development of the organisation.
Accepts and learns from feedback.
Encourages and supports all volunteers and supervises identified volunteers.
Understanding the organisation
Assists with the analysis of trends and recommendations for service improvement.
Follow West Yorkshire Multiagency and North Yorkshire CC Safeguarding policies and procedures.
Acts as ambassador for The Carers’ Resource, protecting and promoting its good name and reputation at all times.
Maintains confidentiality over personal information relating to individuals.
Acts confidently on behalf of The Carers’ Resource
Works within all the policies and practices of The Carers’ Resource, follows health and safety procedures.
Contributes to The Carers’ Resource development.
Participates, as a representative of The Carers’ Resource, in multi-agency meetings, voluntary fora and other events, feeding back appropriately to your line manager and the team.
Assists with the analysis of trends and recommendations for service improvement.
Will work from any office base if requested by the organisation.
Developing personally
Takes responsibility, in consultation with your line manager, for personal development and progression, participating in performance reviews.
Undertakes any training deemed necessary by your line manager
Keeps up-to-date about services, benefits and organisations available to carers.
Good timekeeper and good attendance.

Person Specification

Experience / Essential / Desirable
An understanding of carers' needs and awareness of current issues affecting carers / 
A background in information, advice or advocacy / 
Supporting people over the telephone / 

Skills and abilities

Able to manage complex workload / 
Skilled communicator and negotiator / 
Organisational abilities, an ordered systematic approach to work and an eye for detail / 
Ability to produce clear and appropriate written material with a high standard of written English, grammar and punctuation / 
Need to be self motivated, to organise time effectively, to manage workload, to prioritise tasks and to work to agreed targets. / 
Ability and commitment to working as part of an extended team / 
Knowledge
Educated to degree level / 
A legal or social work qualification / 
IT literate – a confident user of Word, email, excel, databases, PowerPoint, Intranet/internet / 
Experience or knowledge of the role played by statutory, private and voluntary sectors and the way they operate and of community care issues. / 
Other requirements
An understanding of the need for confidentiality, sensitivity and a non judgemental attitude. / 
Own transport and clean, current driving licence.

Information Officer – November2016 Page 1 of4