Best Interest Assessor

About The Role Job Title: Best Interests Assessor Contract: Permanent Location: Hybrid Hours: 2 posts available. 1 FT and 1x 18.5hrs Salary: HC08 £35,235-£39,513 pro rata Closing date: Sunday 16th February 2025 Interview: week of 17th February 2025 The role We are seeking 2 qualified Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) to join our Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Team. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals who lack the capacity to make decisions for themselves within a well-established and supportive team. You will be working across care homes and hospitals to assess mental capacity, provide independent scrutiny of the care plans in place for those deprived of their liberty and ensure they have the legal safeguards in place. The role involves being allocated typically 3-4 assessments a week (for full-time) including urgent and complex cases, completing in person high-quality assessments and making well-informed, best interest decisions within the framework of the DoLS Scheme, with recommendations about the authorisation of care arrangements amounting to a deprivation of liberty. You will also be providing advice to service users and their families, professionals and partner agencies about the Mental Capacity Act and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. You will be mainly working from home but available to travel across Herefordshire and will have opportunity to work from the office whenever needed. You will have access to both informal support throughout the week and monthly supervision, monthly in person team meetings and bi-monthly DoLS forums. You will also receive BIA update training and other training relevant to the role. About You You need to be a Qualified social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist or nurse and a qualified Best Interest Assessor with recent experience of carrying out Best Interest Assessments. However we will also consider newly qualified BIAs. You will need to have maintained update training since qualifying. You will need to have in depth knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and relevant case law. You will need to have confidence in assessment and decision-making skills including experience of completing mental capacity assessments and the ability to produce high quality reports to meet deadlines. You will need to have good verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly with a clear focus on the rights of individuals under assessment and ability to communicate with a range of professionals and care providers. Access to/use of a vehicle is an essential requirement for this role. We Offer A competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes: Starting Salary

of £37,035 Relocation Payment

Relocation package of up to £5,000 available Pension

Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS) Career progression:

clear pathways to progress Annual Leave:

31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum with line manager approval. Flexible working:

flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home working Employee Assistance Programme:

24/7 access to support and counselling Payment of

professional membership fees Pick your perks

– our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts. How to apply To apply for a position, please upload an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. If you are successfully shortlisted, Hoople Resourcing will contact you via email to arrange your interview and/or assessment. They will confirm the date, time and location of your interview, so please keep an eye on your email inbox. Good luck, we’re looking forward to meeting you! Reasonable Adjustments Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email: enquiries@hoopleresourcing.co.uk. Creating an inclusive workplace Employee Network Groups play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council. Embedded in the Council's values is a commitment to listen to people's views and needs. Safeguarding Commitment Herefordshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks. Stronger Together, Building brighter futures #J-18808-Ljbffr