About Us:

Connect2Dorset is a managed service agency owned by Dorset Council providing temporary, contract and interim opportunities into the Council. Our service is built on our values of ethical, trustworthy, and caring, and our profits are returned to our Local Authority shareholders.

Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the scheme and for ensuring that it is safe, effective, responsive, caring and well-led. To lead a small team of Shared Lives Officers and provide them with the guidance, assistance and tools they need to ensure that we are delivering care and support of the very highest quality through our brilliant Shared Lives Carers. Compliance with CQC regulations for providers and manager.

The postholder will have responsibility for:

• Providing a high-quality Shared Lives service that supports people who draw on care and support through the scheme to live as independently as possible, and achieve positive outcomes, within a family-based setting.
• Efficiently managing the day-to-day running of the service, including monitoring (and where necessary improving) performance.
• Providing sound leadership to ensure Shared Lives Officers and Carers are clear about their duties and responsibilities and have the support they need to carry out their roles safely and effectively.

The Registered Manager leads a small team who are responsible for attracting new carers and assessing their suitability to provide care and support in their own homes, and then supporting, monitoring and reviewing carers to enable them to provide person-centred, effective and safe care and support. More specifically, the postholder is responsible for:

• Managing the safety and quality of the scheme.
• Being responsible for the safe delivery of the service in line with legislative and regulatory requirements, sector best practice and organisational policy and procedures.
• Undertaking training and development to keep up to date with the law, best practice and changes in organisational policy. Applying this knowledge to day-to-day management and delivery of care.
• Understanding and monitoring health and safety in the workplace and in the carer's homes. Acting as lead for infection prevention and control.
• Maintaining full and accurate records and reporting systems in accordance with legal requirements and to ensure the effective running of the scheme.
• Implementing quality management and improvement systems. Effectively managing complaints and incidents. Carrying out investigations relating to the quality of the service and use findings to make improvements.
• Being prepared to work flexibly to ensure the safe delivery of the service
• Promoting the rights of each person the scheme supports and keeping their wishes at the centre of their care and support.
• Making sure that prior to any placement commencing, a robust and comprehensive carer approval assessment has been completed, and that the carer and their home is considered suitable to provide a Shared Lives service.
• Making sure that prior to any placement commencing, both a care and support assessment and a risk assessment with the person has been completed with the person and/or their representatives, including what the person needs and would like to achieve from their care and support.
• Making sure a written individually tailored care and support plan has been created and agreed, that respects the person's wishes and promotes their dignity and privacy
• Agreeing appropriate risk control measures to reduce identified risks.
• Providing the person, and where appropriate their representatives, with information about the service so that they are clear about what to expect and how they can raise any concerns.
• Applying excellent communication skills with people, their families and representatives, Shared Lives carers, staff and other health and social care professionals to deliver a high-quality Shared Lives services.
• Keeping all information about people and their families secure and confidential.
• Managing the effective recruitment, induction and training of the Shared Lives team members.
• Identifying ongoing training needs and ensure Shared Lives Officers and carers are up to date with current best practice, legislation, policy and procedure.
• Ensuring there are sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff allocated appropriately to meet service needs at all times.
• Implementing organisational policy and procedures in relation to managing absence, disciplinary, capability and grievance matters
• Providing information, guidance and ongoing supervision to enable team members to effectively and safely carry out their roles

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience as Registered Manager of a CQC regulated social care service
• Substantial experience of management and leadership in a social care provider service.
• Proven ability to lead a team in providing high quality, person-centred, care and support.
• Availability to attend monthly in-person team meetings and availability for approx monthly site.
• Excellent communication skills using a wide range of media to a broad audience, including people.
• Must have experience of management and leadership of a CQC regulated social care service. Must have had experienced as CQC registered.
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Adult Care (preferably) or a bachelor's or a Masters degree in a relevant subject (i.e. social care or health).
• Recruit, approve, monitor and review Shared Lives Carers. Provide ongoing support to Shared Lives Carers to enable them to provide caring, safe, responsive and effective care and support to people in their own homes.

Nice to have

Experience of working in a Shared Lives service

• Experience of working within a local authority
• Experience of, and capability in, using electronic social care recording systems, specifically Mosaic.

The post is initially a temporary position but could go permanent for the right candidate.

Travel Requirement

This position has a significant travel requirement. This means that there is a requirement for a vehicle (or transport deemed to be suitable by the Council) to be available on most working days in order to carry out normal duties. Employees in positions with a significant travel requirement are required to provide a replacement vehicle if their usual vehicle is not available over an extended period.

Other information

This role is subject to regulated Adult and enhanced Children's DBS clearances.

Connect2Dorset is a trading style of Dorset & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Dorset Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Dorset is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.