Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living

Job Description:Inclusive Living Adviser

Grade:AP4/5 (spinal point 29 – 32)

Service:Take Ctrl (East Dunbartonshire)

Location:Offices of Take Ctrl, East Dunbartonshire,

Enterprise House, SouthbankBusinessPark, Kirkintilloch

Accountable to:GCIL Board of Directors.

Reporting to:Self Directed Support Co-ordinator

Overall Objectives

The Inclusive Living Adviser will assist individuals in East Dunbartonshirein receipt of Self Directed Support (SDS) funding from Social Work Services to manage their own support arrangements effectively. Initially, this will include people with physical, sensory and/or cognitive impairments, mental health service users, and parents of disabled children. Other groups of community care service users may be included in the future. When appropriate, the Adviser may also be required to provide a service to people appointed by or for individuals.

Main Tasks and Duties

1 Assist people who have an individual budget, or who are eligible foran individual budget,in developing appropriate support systems to achieve their identifiedoutcomes.

2Provide ongoing support to people with an individual budget to enable them to manage their support arrangements effectively.

1Assist people who have an individual budget, or who are eligible for an individual budget, in developing appropriate support systems to achieve their identified outcomes.

1.1Assist individuals in identifying their own support needs and desired outcomes.

1.2Assist individuals in making informed choices about the support options available.

1.3Assist individuals in developing support systems that achieve their identified outcomes.

1.4Assist individualsto identifyrelevant training needs for themselves or those who support them.

1.5Develop and maintain information on relevant local services, facilities, resources and networks.

1.6Assist individuals who wish to employ their own staff to recruit staff safely, establish contingency plans, and put in place appropriate payroll arrangements as required.

1.7Assist individuals who wish to use services or agencies to identify and contract with appropriate providers.

2Provide ongoing support to people with an individual budget to enable them to manage their support arrangements effectively.

2.1 Provide information and support as and when required to individualsmanaging their own support arrangements.

2.2 Support individuals in purchasing goods or services to meet agreed identified outcomes.

2.3 Encourage individuals employing PAs or other staff to adopt good employment practice.

2.4Liaise with other relevant organisations and provide referrals when appropriate.

2.5Ensure that information is provided in accessible formats according to individual requirements.

3General

3.1Develop awareness ofSDSoptions amongst individuals, groups and the Third Sector.

3.2Be directed, as necessary, by the SDS Coordinator in relation to tasks, workloads and priorities.

3.3Maintain accurate records.

3.4Collect information for the purposes of statistical monitoring and evaluation.

3.5Ensure that services are provided in accordance with GCIL's Confidentiality, Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety policies and any other relevant policies.

3.6To undertake such other duties as may be required by the SDS Coordinator, Support Services Manager, or GCIL’s Board of Directors that are consistent with the overall aims of the post.

The post may include attending some meetings during unsocial

hours as agreed in consultation with the SDSCoordinator.

GCIL’s staff are expected to work on their own initiative and to be able to plan and prioritise their own work.

GCIL’s staff operate as a team and, from time to time, at the discretion of the Board of Directors through the Chief Executive, it may be necessary for staff to assist each other in their roles. A collective approach to work is, therefore, essential although members of staff have their own specific areas of responsibility.

Person Specification – Inclusive Living Adviser (East Dunbartonshire)

Skills and Abilities / Essential / Desirable / Method of Assessment
1. Ability to establish empathetic and productive support relationships with individuals /  / Interview
2. Enthusiastic, self-motivated and used to working on own initiative /  / Interview
3. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, and ability to interact effectively with people at all levels /  / Interview
4. Works concisely to a high level of accuracy and displays attention to detail /  / Interview
5. Proven ability to prioritise a complex workload and meet tight deadlines /  / Application Form
Interview
6. Shows a flexible attitude to team roles and works effectively within a team to meet shared objectives /  / Application Form
Interview
7. Shows initiative and creativity to resolve complex issues /  / Application Form
Interview
Exercise
8. Works with an attitude of continuous self-improvement /  / Application Form
Interview
9. Experience of using a range of software packages in an office environment for example Microsoft Office, internet, email applications and knowledge of social media /  / Application Form
10. Excellent facilitation and negotiation skills /  / Application Form
Interview
Knowledge and Experience / Essential / Desirable / Method of Assessment
11. Understanding of and commitment to the principles of inclusive living, the social model of disability and the empowerment of disabled people /  / Interview
12. Experience of providing information, support and advice on a group and one to one basis /  / Application Form
Interview
13. Good understanding of SDS and personal assistance /  / Application Form
Interview
Exercise
14. Knowledge of funding and administration mechanisms for inclusive living, direct payment and personal assistance packages /  / Application Form
Interview
15. Personal experience as a disabled person of the barriers faced by disabled people /  / Application Form
16. Personal experience managing a support package. /  / Application Form

17. Previous experience of working with a user led organisation

/  / Application Form
18. Basic knowledge of employment law and tax procedures /  / Application Form
19. Basic knowledge of the benefits system /  / Application Form
20. Understanding of needs-led assessment procedures /  / Application Form