Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationships

On a daily basis communicate with colleagues from the Health and social care team and ensure that relevant information is shared between professionals to aid management of complex clients in the community 

Contact clients on the phone to gather or impart information; this may include people with varying degrees of communication difficulty for example dysphasia, sensory impairment or mental health issues. Ensure empathy, negotiation, tact in these situations and also ensure the ability to manage clients who may be low in mood, lacking in motivation, or angry/upset about their current circumstances

To liaise, work closely and form strong links with all members of the Multidisciplinary team and work closely with outside agencies on a regular basis. For example, communicate the need to regularly communicate with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, community nurses, GPs, staff in acute hospital setting, community mental health nurses, social care workers and private providers of care

On a daily basis communicate medical and social information to the above via various sources including telephone, email or face to face correspondence. This information is always confidential, frequently sensitive and can be contentious and as a result needs to be provided in a professional, appropriate and polite manner in line with data protection and information governance policy.

Planning and Organisation

Utilisation of a range of case finding tools.

To use Paris (social care) IT system, inputting referrals and allocating cases to the triage list.

To use NHS based IT programmes such as icare, IHCS, EMIS to record statistics and check client data

Work in partnership with local primary care teams and specialist staff groups in recording and using information effectively.

Ability to identify urgency of calls for action accordingly and direct calls to the most appropriate member of the team

Responsibility and Accountability

With assistance from professional colleagues, screen and triage referrals to health and social care and obtain further information where required so a decision can be made about the best pathway for new referrals

Awareness and involvement in primary care core group discussions designed to support those clients who are the most vulnerable people living in the community. This may include gathering information updates from any relevant professionals and documenting findings clearly.

As a member of the Health and Social Care team continue developing and expanding on the good working relationships that exist between all services.

To coordinate all referrals appropriately, to participate in local service development activities and help implement change as and when required

To provide a client centred approach to ensure all clients and carer’s views and opinions are considered and all people who are who are given an enquiry are given respect, dignity and understanding. Delivering a high quality, efficient and effective service at all times complying with equality and diversity policies and legislation

The recording of contacts in a consistent manner when reviewing a referral where appropriate.  This may involve taking contacts from other agencies.

The effective signposting of contacts to other agencies or sources of help as appropriate.

To provide feedback to referrers about the outcomes of contacts in accordance with the agreed quality standards. 

To ensure confidentiality process is followed at all times.

Maintenance of IT based information systems and responsibility for key performance data.

To ensure the information governance requirements for recording community health and social care activity are adhered to in collaboration with other team members.

To provide key performance/activity data within the local Health and social care team 

Provide excellent administrative support to the Mental Health Social Care Services.

Maintain and update Client records on database ensuring accurate recording and retrieval of data, produce clear and accurate monthly summaries of required data.

Policy and Service Responsibility

To record, send and store information in line with the Data Protection Act and Caldicott principles.

Maintain a robust and integrated records systems for the Specialist Mental Health Social Care Provision in accordance with Trust policy

The post holder will not have any responsibility for the direct provision of care or treatment to service users.  However the post holder will have some contact with service users/clients/carers , when gathering information to facilitate referral triage process.

To act at all times in an anti- discriminatory manner 

To be able to plan and respond to work load according to operational priorities

To support the delivery of these functions across wider Zone (s) areas where necessary.

To maintain timely and accurate information on local intermediate care, hospital and other relevant service information to support access to urgent care resources. 

To participate in the induction of new staff to the team.

To take part in regular performance appraisal.

To undertake any training required in order to maintain competency including mandatory training.

To contribute to, and work within a safe working environment

To adhere to the TSDHCT policies and procedures.

Assist with the routine review and evaluation of the effectiveness of business support systems for the Social Care Team. 

Alert the Lead of any discrepancies, risks or issues as they arise.

 Information Technology and Administrative Duties

To assist in maintaining local records and systems as necessary, producing performance information as required.

To be able to record clear and accurate information on all systems

Accurate inputting onto relevant It systems to ensure any statistical data is up to date and accurate

Provide accurate, efficient and  flexible administrative support to the Specialist Mental Health Social Care Service

Undertake audits as necessary of own work, e.g.: assist with the routine review and evaluation of the effectiveness of business support systems for the Social Care funding office and make suggestions for appropriate changes to ensure the efficient management of the office.