JOB DESCRIPTION

POST:Self Direct Support Coordinator (2 days per week)

Salary:£25,000 pro rata

RESPONSIBLE TO:Services Manager

PURPOSE OF JOB:To be responsible for the development and management and co-ordination of the Self Directed Support project, working with older people to raise awareness, overcome barriers and support them to employ personal assistants.

To work with sheltered housing and the residents to develop and trial PA pools working within the units.

To develop a pool of committed and reliable PAs, providing the necessary support for the pool to work effectively together.

AUKLS enjoys an open and participative working environment. We work to our core values of being supportive, professional and person centred. These are reflected in the way we work with each other, witholder people and with our partners. Teamwork, collective responsibility, delegated authority are central to this process. A key element of all roles is to develop and maintain the organisation’s working ethos and culture.

AUKLS strives to provide a supportive working environment for all staff and volunteers in order that they can develop personally and professionally and acquire new skills. The contribution made by staff and volunteers in achieving the organisation’s goals is recognised by all.

This job description does not provide an exhaustive list of tasks and activities as all posts within the organisation are subject to evolution as the organisation develops and grows.

Key Result Areas

  1. Work with Southwark Council and other sheltered housing providers and social care professionals as required, to establish the use of self directed care services within Sheltered Housing.
  1. Organise and deliver meetings and workshops with older people in sheltered housing to generate interest about self directed support and PA and personal budget pools.
  1. Work with Sheltered Housing Scheme Managers to identify older people who are in receipt of domiciliary care services and engage with them to discuss the pros and cons of employing Personal Assistants
  1. Create, design and distribute a range of publishable materials that informs and promotes the flexibility of Self Direct Support to enable older people who receive support, whether by statutory services or funded by themselves, to have choice and control over the shape of that support
  1. Develop and provide a relevant toolkit for older people interested in employing a Personal Assistant or creating a PA pool.
  1. Offer one to one advice, guidance and support to Self Directed Support customers in relation to choosing a Managed Account Provider; Employing a Personal Assistant; Processing Timesheets; Raising Invoices and Issuing Payslips

This will include the following:

Recruitment of Personal Assistants/Agencies/Services

Contracts

Advertisements

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Tax and National Insurance

Payroll Services

Budgeting

Administration

Signposting

  1. To work with the AUKL&S Finance and Help at Home to ensure, where people to choose to use the above AGE UK services, they receive a quality service.
  1. To recruit reliable and committed PAs and work with them to establish a PA pool that is able to operate and communicate effectively to provide cover for one another and enable the provision of good support for older people.
  1. To facilitate meetings for the PAs/Pools to come together to discuss issues arising from their work, including identifying the outcomes older people may wish to achieve from their personal budgets in order to help shape the future personalised market supporting older people..
  1. To identify sources of training for PAs to ensure they are able to maintain their knowledge and best practice.
  1. Establish a relationship with a reputable local agency to source reliable Personal Assistant bank staff for as a contingency for older people using the service.
  1. Work with older people using the Self Direct Support service to evaluate its effectiveness.
  1. Ensure identified safeguarding issues relating to older people using Self Direct Support are appropriately alerted to relevant agencies, professionals and Services Manager.
  1. To research and identify new developments and best practice in Self Directed Support
  1. To share best practice in relation to the pilot service with the council and sheltered housing providers.
  1. Prepare and provide reports on Self Directed Support to the Service Manager as and when required.
  1. Keep abreast of current and relevant legislation on Personalisation, research and developments in relation to Self Direct Support Payment Service.
  1. Ensure appropriate record keeping concerning Self Direct Employer and Personal Assistant is maintained.
Organisational Responsibilities
  • Meet legislative and regulatory requirements.
  • Carry out administrative duties in connection with the post
  • Provide statistical information in relation to monitoring requirements
  • Contribute to the overall achievement of AUKLS mission, and objectives
  • Provide a supportive working environment to all staff, personal assistants
  • Ensure the values of AUKLS are upheld across the organisation
  • Attend regular supervisions, staff and team meetings as requested
  • To participate in networking activity at local and national level.
  • To undertake research and contribute to reports
  • Undertake any other duties as determined by the Service Manager and Chief Executive of Age UKLewisham and Southwark
  • Carry out duties in accordance with Age UK Lewisham and Southwark's policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Confidentiality, Equal Opportunities etc

Promotion of a Supportive Working Environment

A supportive working environment can be defined as an environment where contribution is recognised, encouraged and rewarded. Staff and volunteers alike expect to be encouraged to develop personally and professionally and to acquire new skills at a pace that is suitable to them. All staff and volunteers must promote this environment as part of their roles and responsibilities.

Training and Development

Training and development of staff and volunteers is a key expectation of all staff employed by the organisation. They will demonstrate their commitment to staff and/or volunteer development by assessing skills, planning development activities, discussing outcomes and evaluating effectiveness. They will be expected to motivate, encourage, coach and support staff and/or volunteers towards the outcomes agreed.

Person Specification

The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate a good understanding of Self Directed Support and be committed to the promotion of a supportive and person centred working environment.

All posts within the organisation are subject to change as the organisation grows and develops. Staff must be able to adapt to change and, therefore, flexibility is a key attribute required of all employees.

It is essential that the postholder possess the following personal qualities: i.e

  • Drive, energy and enthusiasm
  • Ability to prioritise your workload
  • Self motivated and able to motivate others
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Good team working skills
  • Commitment to achieving the core aims of the organisation
  • Able to work as part of a highly diverse staff and volunteer work force

It is essential that the postholder has the following experience and knowledge:

  • Experience of Self directed support, the Personalisation Agenda and 2012 White Paper
  • Knowledge and understanding of Legislation and Models of Best Practice applicable to working with Self Directed support and Personal Budget Holders
  • Direct project management experience.
  • An awareness of and sensitivity to the needs of Older People and an understanding of the cultural and religious needs of people from under represented groups.

It is essential that the post holder has the following skills and abilities

  • Ability to develop new initiatives and to respond to the changing needs of the organisation
  • Ability to run workshops and market the concept of self directed support to older people
  • Ability to support older people to be employers.
  • Ability to build long lasting relationships with the local authority and sheltered housing schemes in the borough
  • Ability to engage with PAs and support them to provide services.
  • Ability to develop and maintain best practice policies and procedures for working with Self Directed Support customers.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • The ability to produce concise reports and documents
  • Ability to develop effective monitoring and evaluation processes.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and manage and prioritise your ownwork load
  • Good numeric and accuracy skills and ability to maintain and monitor budgets.
  • Computer literate (knowledge of WP, Database, Spreadsheet and Internet systems).
  • .

Other

Able to travel within LB of Southwark

The successful applicant will be required to have an enhanced CRB Check