Independent Living Advisor; Self-Directed Support Service Job London area,Greater London England UK,Social Work

Position: Independent Living Advisor (Self-Directed Support Service)
Location: Greater London

Independent Living Advisor (Self-Directed Support Service)

Salary: £30,000 per annum

Hours:

35 hours per week

Contract:

Permanent

Location:

Action on Disability, Mo Mowlam House, Clem Attlee Court, London, SW6 7BF

Action on Disability (AoD) is a charity founded in 1979 that provides a range of services for disabled people, including an Independent Living Service (Self‑Directed Support Service) in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Purpose of Post

To work with individuals, their families and friends to provide information, advice and assistance enabling them to access and manage a Direct Payment (DP) and recruit and manage a Personal Assistant (PA).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Provide information and advice on becoming an employer and the role of the Personal Assistant.

Ensure that clients understand their legal obligations and responsibilities as employers.

Help clients set up a profile on the Find‑a‑PA website, advertise and recruit a PA, create a personalised job description and specification, and identify required experience and training.

Advise on PA salary calculations and costs (full training provided).

Support clients through the interview process and sit in during interviews if necessary.

Assist with reference checks, legal status verification and DBS checks of support workers.

Help clients set up induction plans and identify training needs for their PA.

Support clients to complete payroll and insurance documentation.

Draw up a Statement of Particular (contract) for the employed PA (templates provided).

Encourage DP employers to seek advice from ACAS, Fish & Premier Care helplines and to use them.

Ensure clients have a back‑up plan for emergencies.

Encourage DP employers to be assertive and proactive with their Personal Assistants.

Coordinate with agencies for clients who prefer not to employ a PA directly.

Ongoing Support to Individuals in Receipt of Direct Payments

Provide advice on employment issues.

Assist with practical problems such as staff lateness or changing needs.

Support recruitment of new staff when required.

Review budgets, training and job descriptions as needs change.

Ensure continued management of Direct Payments or budgets.

Assist in making informed choices.

Meet regularly with the DP Support Group.

Develop training and resources to support employers managing Direct Payments and PA relationships.

Build professional relationships with Social Work teams to support referrals.

For all work

Work in a person‑centred way.
Comply with AoD’s policies and procedures.
Participate in the development of the service and contribute to service improvement.
Be computer literate and administratively self‑supporting.
Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Self‑Directed Support Service Lead or line manager.

Special Requirements

Ability to travel within Hammersmith and Fulham.
Some attendance at meetings and events outside normal office hours.

Person Specification

Good standard of education.
Experience recruiting volunteers or staff.
Knowledge of employment law.
Understanding of social care and Direct Payments legislation.
Experience supporting individuals to recruit and manage employees.
Experience working with clients with support needs.
Experience using a person‑centred approach.
Creative thinking and solution‑finding skills.
Information gathering and assessment skills.
Numeracy skills and budgeting knowledge.
High‑standard Word and Excel skills.
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
Flexible approach and working on own initiative.
Good communication skills – interpersonal, written, presentational and spoken.
Sensitive guidance skills.
Assessment of matching skills and personalities to individual needs and preferences.
Commitment to the Social Model of Disability and promotion of choice, independence, rights and inclusion.
Understanding and commitment to AoD’s aims.
Practical understanding of confidentiality requirements.
Understanding of equal opportunities and anti‑discriminatory practice.

Desirable Qualities

Experience working with disabled people.
Lived experience of disability.

Closing Date:
Friday 10th July 2026

EEO Statements

We welcome applicants from all walks of life. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and people with long‑term health and mental conditions. We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme in that we will guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. Please state in your cover letter if you wish us to consider you for this guaranteed interview scheme.

AoD is a Living Wage Foundation registered employer and all employees, casual workers and contractors are paid above the London Living Wage.

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