Needs Assessment Officer

What will you be doing?

Overall Job Purpose:

In accordance with Care Act 2014 and North Northamptonshire Council’s service plans, eligibility criteria and objectives, to carry out a strength-based assessment, to identify and deliver care needs in conjunction with individuals, carers, and multi-agencies, to ensure people receive the information and the level of support required for them to regain or maintain their level of independence and to be safe within the community.

To be case accountable, to to work independently and provide appropriate and timely support to both Team Leaders and Supervisors.

Main Responsibilities:

• Managing an appropriate caseload of people by undertaking clear and accurate statutory assessments and reviews of individual person, in line with statutory guidance and best practice. Assessments need to be proactive, preventative, and personal and include support from other professional services where required, to ensure people receive the information and the level of support required for them to regain or maintain their level of independence and to be safe within the community.
• Provide goal setting / support plans for individual people as appropriate. Ensuring individuals are supported and encouraged to access any community support that is available and in doing so ensure equality and diversity informs the service delivery and understanding of the impact upon people in the planning process.
• Assess and manage any risks to individuals and others effectively, whilst ensuring positive risk taking is supported and appropriately managed.
• Provide accurate, impartial information, support and guidance to people and their families, including appropriate information relating to financial matters, ensuring any implementation and choice of a support plan is within budgetary constraints.
• To manage own caseload and organise and plan work activities taking into account the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities, to ensure assessments and reviews, support plans are undertaken and updated within an agreed timeframe, to reduce/avoid any adverse impact on the care of the person and delivery of the service.
• To maintain case records where the information is concise, accurate and timely so that customers circumstances are accessible at all times to ensure continuity of provision, maintaining both customer and management information through the use of appropriate IT systems and in line with professional requirements and departmental recording methods.
• Use a person-centred approach, listening and developing creative and personalised solutions, to assist people to manage their lives independently in the community for as long as possible and in doing so w Work in partnership with other agencies to improve collaboration, coordination, and support to achieve and meet each person’s needs.
• To demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs.

About you

• Satisfactory clearance of an enhanced Disclosure and Barring service check.
• Educated to GCSE or Equivalent
• Care Certificate (or willing to work towards)
• Level 2 or above in Health and Social Care or equivalent (or willing to work towards)
• Proven experience in health or care work
• Experience of delivering care services in a community-based setting
• Demonstrate an interest in working in this area and the ability to undertake the role
• Good verbal and written communication skills. Sufficient to write clear, concise, and accurate reports and to enable effective communication with a number of agencies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to listen and interact effectively with and on behalf of customers and to react appropriately to a crisis situation
• Practical approach to resolving problems and achieving results
• Able to travel effectively to various locations, using a vehicle
• Flexible, adaptable, and tolerant to meet the needs of the service
• Able to meet the physical requirements of the role
• Ability to attend, successfully complete and understand the need for mandatory training
• Able to inform customers on benefits and application systems
• Able to work within set procedures and systems
• Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs.
• Understanding of equality standards and diversity issues and their impact in social care services

Our benefits

We offer:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

About us

We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.

Our priorities are:

• helping people live active fulfilled lives
• caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities
• enabling a thriving and successful economy
• leading on a green and sustainable environment
• ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live
• providing modern public services

Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.

Your differences make us different - Achieve Together.