Social Services Practitioner

Social Services Practitioner - Adults, Health and Wellbeing Department, Llŷn Community Resource Team

This is a temporary post for a year.

The hours are 37 hours (5 days) until 31/03/2025 and then 29.6 hours (4 days) from 01/04/2025 for the rest of the year.

Salary working 37 hours: £33,366 - £35,235

Salary working 29.6 hours - £26,692 - £28,188

Gwynedd Council offers an attractive employment package, for more information please click on this Information Pack

Gwynedd Council operates internally through the medium of Welsh, and offers all its services bilingually. The applicant will be required to reach the linguistic level noted as one of the essential skills in the Person Specification.

We encourage everyone who applies for a job with Gwynedd Council to submit job applications in Welsh or bilingually.

( Applications submitted in English only or Welsh only will always be treated equally, but we ask applicants to consider carefully what the linguistic requirements of the job in question is and if it would be more appropriate to submit an application in Welsh.)

For further information about this post please contact Elin Owen Hildige on 01758704429

Interview date to be confirmed.

Application forms and further details available from Support Service, Gwynedd Council, Council Offices, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH

Tel: 01286 679076

E-Mail: Swyddi@gwynedd.llyw.cymru

CLOSING DATE: 28/01/2025

The Council will request a Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service for the successful candidate.

If you are successful to be short listed for an interview you will be contacted by E-MAIL using the address provided on your application form. You need to ensure that you check your email regularly.

Recruitment Pack Adults, Health and Well-being Department.pdf

Person Specification

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

ESSENTIAL

Good communication skills and ability to deal with people in a sensitive and courteous manner.
Flexible, reliable and able to work effectively as part of a team.
Able to prioritise and complete tasks within deadlines.
Commitment to the values, principles, aims and objectives of Social Services.
Understanding of anti oppressive practice.

DESIRABLE
-

QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT TRAINING

ESSENTIAL
A good level of education to GCSE or higher level to include Welsh and English.
Level 4 qualification in assessing or a higher/relevant qualification in care.
The current acceptable qualification according to Social Care Wales Qualification Framework is 'Open University Certificate in Practicing Social Care' (K101/102 & KZW113). As a requirement of accepting the role, the individual must be able and willing to complete the qualification if the individual does not already have this qualification (or higher qualification).
K101 Health & Social Care or *NVQ level 4 in Care or higher or equivalent qualification in care. The K101 is a basic requirement of the post so agreement and ability to undertake this training and achieve this qualification if not already held (or higher) is a condition of accepting the job.(* Or be studying for these at the time.)
Level 4 Trusted Assessor qualification (or willing to complete the course) in assessing for equipment and small to medium adaptation is a condition to accepting the job.

DESIRABLE

Training in the field of care.
ECDL word processing qualification or similar

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

Extensive experience of working within the care sector and a good understanding of the statutory social services.
Experience of dealing effectively and positively with the public and agencies outside of the council

DESIRABLE
-

SKILLS AND SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE

ESSENTIAL

Ability to listen, discuss and recognise significant information/problems in individuals who maybe in an emergency situation.
Ability to analyse information and respond in an appropriate way following protocols and service procedures.
Computer skills - able to use Microsoft Word and Outlook systems.
Able to work carefully and correctly without direct supervision.
Able to complete initial social care assessments and record information bilingually (in Welsh or English).
Able to deliver on all aspects of the role whist ensuring data protection and confidentiality.
Have basic knowledge of the most common disabilities, illnesses and chronic conditions (e.g. stroke).
Have information about the support that's available within the community to help people continue to live as independently as possible e.g. support for carers or a frail older person that's just come out of Hospital.

DESIRABLE

Knowledge of relevant social care legislation.
Experience of using the Unified Assessment system and recording information to a care data system.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

Listening and Speaking - Higher Level
Able to follow a conversation or discussion through the medium of Welsh and English on a professional level and discuss general day to day topics in the field in order to present information and express opinions. Able to give a pre-prepared presentation and respond to any comments and questions on it in Welsh or English.

Reading and Understanding - Higher Level
Able to understand standard written Welsh and English; both formal and informal. Able to gather information from various sources such as letters, reports, articles through the medium of Welsh and English in order to fulfil the post.

Writing - Higher Level
Present written information confidently by letter, more detailed and technical report formats, and respond to written requests conveying information, ideas and opinion in Welsh and English (help is available to check the work).

The attributes expected of the postholder should be noted. These should be used as assessment criteria for all candidates.

Job Description

Purpose of the Post.

• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
The purpose of the integrated adults team is to:
"to enable me to live my life as I wish".
• Assist vulnerable individuals to live their lives in the way they wish to live them.
• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the centre of everything we do.
• Assess the needs of the individual with less complex needs along with their carers in accordance with the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014 and other relevant legislation and guidelines.
• Provide an Information, Advice and Assistance service to citizens to enable them to meet their personal outcomes.
• Assist people to identify solutions, prevent dependency and promote independence.
• Provide information about the support resources that are available in the community, from the third sector, the Council and the Health Board, to enable citizens to live as independently for as long as possible and to maximise their quality of lives.
• Ensure that individuals' needs are met in accordance with the Council's safeguarding arrangements and statutory responsibilities.

Responsibility for functions . e.g. staff, budgets, equipment

• Staff - No direct managerial responsibility for staff. The post-holder is expected to work as part of the team by supporting colleagues.
• Finance - Provide advice and practical and appropriate guidance to service users in order to effectively facilitate the Service's financial management.
• Equipment - responsibility for any equipment used to carry out the job. Responsibility over assessing, and when appropriate, ordering suitable equipment in accordance with the responsibilities of a Trusted Assessor.
• Adaptations- responsibility for the assessment and recommendations for the provision of small to medium adaptations in accordance with the responsibilities of a Trusted Assessor.

Main Duties

• Support individuals to take an active part in making decisions about care and support in their lives.
• Collaborate with citizens and their carers to identify 'What is important to them' and discover ways of meeting personal outcomes.
• Promote the empowerment of the individual's voice. Support individuals to get advocacy support.
• Collaborate with citizens and their carers to plan a range of services which are necessary to meet personal outcomes.
• Assist citizens and their carers to meet their personal outcomes by providing an Information, Advice and Assistance service
• Provide information and advice to citizens and their carers about the assistance which the service can provide, and also refer them to the wider support services which are available in the community from local and national groups and organisations.
• Receive enquiries and referrals on behalf of the area from citizens, their carers and families or other professional officers in order to ensure an effective service for citizens and their carers.
• Undertake the responsibilities of a case coordinator for adults in accordance with the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014 by 'bringing in' expertise as and when needed.
• Monitor and review the standard and adequacy of the service for adults.
• Commission care and support plans, order specialist equipment and promote opportunities to enable people to live their lives as independently as possible in the community/their homes in accordance with their wishes.
• Assess, advise and, where appropriate, implement a package to support the needs which have been identified in the carer assessments.
• Conform with legislation and the Council's policies which influence the work, including the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014.
• Identify the need for statutory intervention. Work within the statutory requirements of the role.
• An understanding of the role's restrictions, and how it links with other roles within the health and social services authority.
• Practice in a way which is in-line with the principles of the professional code of practice for social care.
• Record information and prepare reports in accordance with the system's requirements.
• Hold regular case and equipment reviews and arrange for the equipment to be collected as required. Assist with monitoring the quality of the service.
• Ensure compliance with any risk assessment arrangements identified in risk assessments that are relevant to the work.
• Regularly input information to the team's systems and update them.
• Identify needs that cannot be met, and input the information to the population needs assessment.
• Collaborate with groups and communities and promote early intervention and preventative work.
• Provide person-centered services.
• Develop and maintain the information and skills which are necessary to practise.
• Develop professional practice through supervision and reflection. Actively participate in regular supervision sessions and in the annual evaluation process.
• Present a professional image and work flexibly.
• Discover solutions to overcome barriers. Report on obstacles that cannot be overcome locally to the leader
• Explain the Council's charging policy for services to all service users. Collaborate with the Income and Welfare Unit to ensure that every service user receives support to apply for financial support from the Council to pay or their services.
• Ensure that a standard agreement is completed between the Council and users for every service provided
• Be aware of the commissioning procedure for adult social care. Contribute information and ideas to the development of the service. Identify improvements to processes.
• Work within an integrated multi-disciplinary team. Work in partnership with other professions and agencies to promote person-centred objectives.
• Collaborate with care providers to commission care and support packages where eligible.
• Establish and maintain positive links with providers and colleagues from other professions within the multi-disciplinary team.
• Participate in discussions on care and multi-disciplinary assessments in relation to specific individuals and community needs as required.
• Participate in a duty system if and when appropriate, with supervision and support.
• Draw the team leader's attention to any priority or emergency cases in order to take immediate action.
• Actively participate in team meetings and other relevant meetings as required in order to contribute to the service's development.
• Give consideration to risk, safeguarding and the protection of adults. Deal with any concerns which are raised in relation to safeguarding adults promptly and appropriately by following the agreed procedure and informing the relevant professional officers without delay.
• Assist individuals to present their needs and to identify the type of provision that would empower them to reduce the risk to independence and promote well-being.
• Promote, support and collaborate with communities to develop care and support services.
• Establish and maintain positive links with other community resources and third sector and independent providers. Research and strengthen information about community resources which exist within the working area to promote the well-being of citizens.
• Expectation to occasionally work beyond the boundaries of the work area - is this needed or is 48 adequate?

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsibility for self-development.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council's Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council's policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council's information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council's carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council's Carbon Footprint.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
• Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.

Special Circumstances . e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.

• Working unsociable hours occasionally as and when necessary.

The above indicates an outline of duties only, in order to give an idea of the level of responsibility entailed. This job description is not exhaustive in detail, and job duties may change from time to time without changing its fundamental nature and level of responsibility.

ny arrangements that are put in place on a rota basis.