Social Care Practitioner

Human Resources & Development - Form 35 Version 15- Issued October 2022 JOB DESCRIPTION AND PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT ▪ Job Title: Social Care Practitioner Integrated Community Services ▪ Post Number: P16814 ▪ Grade and SCP: Band 7 12 - 17 ▪ Directorate: Corporate Where your role fits at Shropshire Council As Shropshire Council we are rightly proud of our achievements and we have proven to be a resilient local authority in our response to the many challenges we overcome, particularly over recent years. We will be continuing this momentum with ambition and a focus on delivering our four key priorities outlined within the Shropshire Plan: Healthy People, Healthy Environment, Health Economy and Healthy Organisation. We are committed to achieving this by aligning everything we do to our vision 'Shropshire - living the best life'; to tell everyone that Shropshire Council is a great place to be. We will enable a skilled, happy, healthy, diverse, inclusive, empowered, and proud workforce that influences and leads change, addressing any inequalities. As a member of the Integrated Community Services within Adult Social Care, you will support the achievement of these key priorities, making a real difference to the lives of people in Shropshire. The service is responsible for a range of services based on the over-riding principle that older people, people with a physical disability and adults with learning disabilities are entitled to the same dignity and respect and to the same quality and range of services that are available to others. The overarching aim of the service is to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital and to facilitate safe discharges from hospital. Overview of your role The ICS Social Care team works closely with colleagues in the ICS Health (community based) teams and alongside health colleagues within the hospitals. The team provides a discharge to assess and admission avoidance service within Shropshire, operating with a home first and strengths-based philosophy, the team works to maximise independence and reduce reliance upon paid services where possible. ICS is a countywide service facilitating discharges from the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital, Ludlow Community Hospital, Bishops Castle Community Hospital, Bridgnorth Community Hospital, Whitchurch Community Hospital, the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and Redwoods Mental Health Centre. The team also responds to referrals for Shropshire patients admitted to out of county hospitals, usually in neighbouring counties. The team also manages a community caseload reviewing and assessing post discharge and responding to admission avoidance referrals. The team promotes reablement, the use of assistive technology and equipment and home adaptations to maximise independence and choice and encouraging service user involvement at all times. You will assist the delivery of assessments in accordance with The Care Act 2014 and the Council's core values and service standards, ensuring that it is delivered (and underpins) the following: • The Care Act 2014 • Early intervention and prevention model • The Vision and Values of the Council • The Council's commitment to openness and transparency and that it: • • is supported by a comprehensive data base and provides "real time information", is responsive to changes in legislation; national; regional and local priorities, Provides the mechanisms to deliver continuous improvement. Each member of staff will receive induction training to provide basic knowledge of their job and the organisation. On-going training will also be offered in the form of in-house training or attendance at external courses for skills and personal development as individual's needs are identified. Who will your manager be and what will you be responsible for? You will be: ▪ The post holder will be responsible to the ICS Senior Lead Practitioner and the relevant Lead Practitioner who will be in turn responsible for the post holder's supervision, managing and monitoring performance and appraisal, health and safety, training and development. On a day-to-day basis the post holder's work will be monitored and supervised by an ICS Lead (Social Work) Practitioner. ▪ Expected to lead and/or contribute to a range of projects and build relations with both internal and external partners in order achieve specified outcomes but will not have direct authority over those involved. What will you be doing? The above duties are an illustrative outline and are not an exhaustive list. You will be expected to become involved in a range of work to enable the service to respond effectively to the changing requirements of the Council and changes affecting the workforce. • You will be expected to value and respect diversity and always apply anti-discriminatory practice. • You will be expected to provide a service to older people, people with disabilities and their carers in the community or on discharge from hospital within the framework of relevant legislation, Council policies and procedures. This follows an early intervention and prevention model so advice, information and the least restrictive options are considered first. • The service and intervention is person-centred and aims to support people to maintain their independence and where possible remain living in their own homes and communities. • You will hold a caseload with appropriate supervision and advice. • Based on an assessment of need you will devise and implement an appropriate care plan including where appropriate local services from the voluntary and private sector. • Working alongside health and community colleagues to support people to remain in their own homes, within their own communities and avoid hospital and residential home admissions. • Working alongside health and community colleagues to support discharge from hospital. • Ensuring your individual and service performance targets are met. • Working with colleagues you will ensure that the team functions successfully in support of the Council's corporate and service objectives. • Documenting decisions and assessments accurately - both manually and electronically (making use of the Council computer systems as directed) - recording accurate, relevant, objective, and detailed information in a timely manner and in accordance with departmental policies and procedures. • To attend meetings which will include team, peer sessions, legal planning, case review meetings etc. • To attend and participate in team meetings, supervision and performance and appraisal and any quality assurance processes. • To attend training sessions and contribute to team training sessions, as appropriate. • To take part in duty systems, as required. For example, same day response, admission avoidance, emergencies, monitoring the referral inbox. • To liaise with other statutory and voluntary agencies, as appropriate. • To comply with safe systems of work in accordance with the Department's Health and Safety and Welfare policies and procedures. • To develop an understanding and awareness of issues related to equal opportunities, valuing people and anti-discriminatory practice and to demonstrate this in carrying out your duties. • You will need to be prepared to undertake other duties as may be allocated from time to time by your Team Manager or Senior Social Worker • The post holder may be required, from time to time, to undertake other duties, not specifically mentioned in this Job Description. The above duties are an illustrative outline and are not an exhaustive list. You will be expected to become involved in a range of work to enable the service to respond effectively to the changing requirements of the Council and changes affecting the workforce. What we expect of you You will: ▪ adopt a customer focused approach when delivering your service, ensuring engagement with service users and maintenance of an appropriate personal profile, ▪ act as an advocate for your service and work collaboratively with colleagues across the whole Council to meet the needs of the people of Shropshire, ▪ meet individual, service and personal development targets agreed through the Personal Development Review Process, learn from experience and are committed to continuous improvement individually and as an employee of the Council, ▪ work with colleagues to meet your team's key performance indicators, support a culture of team working and ensure the team functions successfully in support of the Council's corporate and service objectives. ▪ meet the behaviours and competencies adopted by the Council in the way in which they achieve their objectives and carry out their work. What are your conditions of Service The conditions of service are those laid down by Shropshire Council, which have been adopted and amended as necessary from those laid down by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services. Your primary work base will be at TBC with the requirement to regularly work from home, if you are based within an area team, if you are based in our acute team the expectation is you are in work within the hospitals. Your post is subject to the following: ▪ The post is Permanent, for 37hours per week, ▪ Normal office hours are 7am - 7pm Monday - Friday and 9am - 1pm Saturday with a minimum lunch break of 30 minutes. Occasional evening work may be required, ▪ The post is subject to the Council's annualised hours scheme as implemented within the ...