Social Care Assessor

Staffordshire County Council, The First Contact Team, engages with citizens of Staffordshire, carrying out strengths based, outcome focused assessments via the telephone and some in person assessment work across the county for carers and young carers. The Care Act 2014 compliant assessments determine citizens assessed eligible needs while promoting their assets and facilitating their independence. The team is part of the wider Adult Social Care Team within the council.

All that we do focuses on how we will develop the right culture, support and skills to keep making a difference for Staffordshire’s communities. The role is a hybrid / remote working role requiring a minimum of two days per week in the office, full time office attendance is required during onboarding. At present there is no requirement to participate in a weekend rota, however, should weekend working be required in the future, participation in this rota would be required.

• Take responsibility for the provision of assessments under the Care Act inclusive of all statutory functions
• Develop a collaborative relationship with adults and their circles of support in order to promote positive expectations of what they can achieve, understanding their talents, wishes and feelings.
• As part of the assessment process, undertake purposeful interaction with individuals, families and other professionals to understand the needs and strengths of the individual, their network of relationships and their capacity to consent.
• Analyse information to understand risks and develop strategies to explain, avoid or manage risk appropriately.
• Negotiate and agree appropriate, tangible and realistic outcomes with individuals and families.
• Collaborate with other professionals, within Adult Social Care or other organisations, in order to fully understand need and enable individuals to achieve their outcomes and to be as independent as possible.
• Maintain appropriate professional records of all key discussions, findings, assessments, opinions (including factual basis) and decisions, including electronic client records and necessary performance data, in line with policies and procedures.
• Use research findings, service principles and case discussion with peers to inform and develop your professional practice.
• Contribute to the shaping, continual improvement and promotion of Adult Social Care.
• Actively participate in peer and reflective supervision, analysis of performance data, learning from complaints and compliments, personal development and continuing professional development.
• Through regular case reviews with social workers and other specialists in the team, identify when these colleagues need to be involved and facilitate their introduction to the individual and their family, as soon as possible.
• Flexible working in response to business demand and the ability to work weekends. Undertake any other duties required by Management which are commensurate with the grading of the post.

• Understanding of the legislative and policy context of services for adults (Care Act), and findings from enquiries.
• Understanding of disability, older persons, carers and young carers and the impact, for and the impact, for individuals, their families and society
• Knowledge and some experience of applying the Mental Capacity Act.
• Experience of using Information Technology to create documents, data records, diary records, communication and reports.
• Able to develop collaborative relationships with adults with a learning and or physical disability, older adults, carers and young carers and their families relationships with adults with a learning disability and their families, to enable choice and independence.
• Able to promote effective verbal and…