Post: Community Practice Worker

JOB DESCRIPTION

Salary: £24,480 per annum, pro-rata

Responsible To: Team Leader

Location: High Wycombe

Hours of Work: Full-time, 37 hours

Overall Purpose of Role

Community Practice Workers (CPWs) are critical to the successful delivery of the Prevention Matters agenda, a major funding initiative aimed at increasing clients’ independence and reducing impact on social care services. CPWs carry out direct work with clients, and work in partnership with health and social care professionals to support vulnerable people to increase their independence, improve their well-being and to increase the effectiveness of local services.

CPWs require strong assessment skills to identify client need and make a difference through time limited interventions. This could be by providing information, advice or by signposting to appropriate services. The post holder will need current knowledge of local service provision. CPWs liaise with their Community Link Officer so that any previously unidentified gaps in provision can be addressed. CPWs accept referrals from and meet regularly with GPs, social workers and other referral agencies to share client information as appropriate. They also accept self-referrals.

CPWs need to have experience of working with vulnerable people, be enthusiastic, creative, with a strong empathy for clients facing challenging issues. They also need to be able to demonstrate their own knowledge of good practice in working with the Community Links Officer and relevant professionals/referrers. Being able to motivate clients through using a person centred approach which meets the needs of the individual will be key to the success of this post.

Key Duties

· To carry out effective initial assessments with clients which enable individual needs to be identified and addressed.

· To have a solution focussed approach with clients which is creative and makes a positive difference.

· To maintain an appropriate level of follow up with clients so that goal setting is monitored and achieved.

· To be able to use and develop knowledge of the local services and support available for clients.

· To successfully network with relevant agencies and organisations which support work with clients.

· To have an understanding and respond accordingly to any client issues concerning risk and/ or safeguarding effectively.

· To maintain professional relationships with GPs, social workers and other referral agencies.

· To provide tools and awareness of holistic needs assessment to frontline workers to increase awareness of the prevention matters agenda.

· To liaise with the Community Link Officer in terms of support available locally and identifying where there are possible gaps in provision locally for clients.

· To accept referrals from GPs and other statutory services as well as self-referrals.

· To organise training events about prevention for professional groups when there is an identified need.

· To accurately record client interventions and ensure that follow-up work is carried out in a timely manner.

· To maintain a database of groups, networks, activities and services to support effective client work.

· To ensure the highest quality of service provision to clients.

· To ensure adherence to organisational policies and procedures.

· To engage in training and professional development as agreed with line manager

· To undertake any other duties as reasonably required for the success of the role.