Social Care Assistant

Location: Bexleyheath

Working Hours: 36 hours per week - 9am to 5.30pm

Purpose

To assess the needs of older people, including those with mental health needs , people with physical disabilities, and their carers needs, within the community following their discharge from hospital under the discharge to assess process. As part of a multi-disciplinary team you will ensure client and carers' wishes are central to the decision making and together formulate and implement appropriate care plans which will maximise their independence and help them to remain living in the community for as long as possible, or assist them to move seamlessly into more appropriate accommodation. To work collaboratively with multi- disciplinary teams both in the community and or within the hospital setting in facilitating timely and effective care and support plans to maximise independence at home or to return home with 'own bed is best' ethos including the development and monitoring of reablement programmes.

Responsibilities:

• Assess, monitor and review the social care/rehabilitation needs of older people, including those with mental health needs, and people with physical disabilities, and find appropriate solutions within a preventative/rehabilitative framework in accordance with eligibility criteria.
• Manage a caseload, as allocated by the Operational Manager/supervisor and work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver appropriate social care services.
• Implement and co-ordinate individual care plans in conjunction with the client, their carers and professional colleagues, providing continual support and advice and monitoring as appropriate.
• Refer service users to social workers/care managers/occupational therapists/nursing staff where specific needs are identified during the assessment, review and/or supervision.
• Assist and support other professional colleagues, by undertaking specific tasks when requested by a supervisor, which may include arranging transport and escorting service users as necessary.
• Provide practical assistance, and signpost clients to other services when appropriate. Provide basic information about welfare benefits and other resources.

Essential

• Demonstrable relevant paid or voluntary experience of working with older people, adults with disabilities and carers Experience of dealing with members of the public in context of Health or Social Care.
• An understanding of the needs of older people, people with disabilities and/or those with mental health issues.
• Ability to work in a community setting, respecting the privacy of people's homes. Ability to travel around the borough including visiting offices and clients homes.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the protection and safeguarding of service users.
• Ability to speak with confidence and accuracy, using accurate sentence structures and vocabulary.
• Ability to choose the right kind of vocabulary for the situation in hand without a great deal of hesitation.
• Ability to listen to customers and understand their needs.
• Ability to tailor your approach to each conversation appropriate to the customer, responding clearly even in complex situations.

Desirable

• A levels or an NVQ Level II In Care or related subject would be an advantage.
• An understanding of the effects of aging.
• An understanding of basic disabling conditions Skills in observing and listening.
• Ability to teach practical skills