Direct Payments Monitoring Officer

Direct Payments Monitoring Officer

Fixed Term, Full Time

Up to £30,678 per annum

Location: Countywide

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Please note this is a fixed term contract / secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months.

ECC Adult Social Care is making a transformational shift from a focus on long-term care support, to a model with four key principles: prevention, early intervention, enablement and safeguarding. Enabling people, to live independently and allowing a positive response to growing service demand in a sustainable way, within the financial constraints of ECC.

All adults assessed as meeting the requirements of care and support under the Care Act 2014 have the option to receive funds in lieu of services.

You will be responsible for financially monitoring and reconciling accounts and service user returns of direct payment recipients to ensure funds are being used appropriately. Ultimately, ensuring direct payments are being used to ensure service users are receiving the best care for them. You will be one of the advocates for service users flagging any concerns about the way that funds are utilised by providing accurate, relevant and timely information to support operational control. You will play an integral role in helping prevent potential financial abuse and fraud.

Accountabilities

• Communicate and plan statutory financial reviews of all direct payments as set out in the Care Act 2014, translate to regulation to direct payment recipients and others.
• Monitor individual direct payment accounts to review direct payment usage and ensure spend complies with support plans and agreed outcomes. Resolve discrepancies, inappropriate usage and identify potential fraud in the utilisation of the direct payment by liaising with appropriate services. Set review timetable based on risk assessment in conjunction with Adult Social Care.
• Identify any issues/problems in the direct payment process, and where required, work with the appropriate services to support the delivery of necessary improvements in practice and process.
• Adhere to the requirements of National Direct Payment statutory guidance together with any Essex County Council statutory requirements.
• Ensure all direct payment monitoring records are accurate, complete and well maintained for each individual in the appropriate systems and stored securely in line with the Council's and the department's relevant policies and procedures.
• Responsible for communicating and providing advice and support to direct payment recipients and others as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with the wider Adult Social Care function and finance to ensure budget recovery and savings exercises are progressed to maximise delivery and commissioning opportunities.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Experience within a social care setting an NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent is desirable.
• Experience of communication (including face to face) and undertaking direct work with adults.
• Proven track record of building working relationships with adults, partner organisations and external agencies
• Proven extensive knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite of programmes, particularly Outlook and Excel with excellent numeracy skills.
• Knowledge of Mosaic and A4W would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of legislative and policy guidance applicable within Social Care settings.
• Evidence of experience in monitoring and coordinating budgetary and financial information
• Be self-motivated, with the ability to work to strict deadlines with minimal supervision and maintain a high degree of accuracy at all times.
• The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

To read more about us please visit: Adult Social Care

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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