Carers Adviser - Oxford City

As a Carer Adviser, you will work directly with unpaid adult carers to provide high-quality information, advice and practical support. You will support carers to access appropriate services, engage with their communities and continue in their caring role.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with adult unpaid carers, meeting them in person, by telephone and online to build positive, trusting relationships.
• Provide clear information, advice and practical support to carers.
• Complete statutory Carer Assessments in line with the Care Act 2014.
• Work collaboratively with carers to develop personalised support plans that reflect their individual goals and aspirations.
• Identify and address carers' needs to promote and improve their mental, physical, emotional and economic wellbeing, enabling them to sustain their caring role.
• Adopt a preventative and flexible approach to reduce the risk of carer breakdown and respond effectively as carers' needs and circumstances change.
• Empower carers to identify, make and maintain positive lifestyle choices that enhance their health and wellbeing.
• Provide ongoing support to help carers achieve agreed outcomes.
• Offer additional targeted support to carers with significant needs, including those experiencing loneliness or social isolation, by supporting them to build and maintain social networks and community connections.
• Support carers who balance caring alongside paid employment or volunteering, providing information about community support options and carers' rights in the workplace.
• Help carers sustain both their caring responsibilities and wider life commitments.

Locality based working

• Be embedded within a defined locality, developing a strong understanding of local services, community resources and support pathways to provide informed, responsive and joined-up support to carers.
• Maintain a visible and proactive presence within the community, ensuring full awareness of what support is available locally and effectively connecting carers to the right services at the right time.
• Attend carer support groups (both online and in person) to share information, answer queries and follow up on carers' needs where required.
• Promote awareness and understanding of unpaid caring by engaging with local groups, communities and organisations, helping to raise the profile of carers and strengthen partnership working.
• Contribute to service improvement and participate in initiatives, such as Carers Week, supporting the development and delivery of enhanced support for carers across the wider system.

Partnership working

• Work collaboratively with health, social care and voluntary sector partners including GP's, Social Prescribers and Adult Social Care to support a holistic, person-centred approach that promotes carer wellbeing and independence.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements

• GCSE grades 4-9 (Maths and English).
• Experience in using email, databases and the ability to keep accurate and timely records.
• Ability to work in line with organisational policies and procedures including safeguarding and confidentiality.
• Work to deadlines.
• Prioritise and work well under pressure.
• Work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Deal appropriately with sensitive and confidential matters.
• Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Willingness to participate in training and development to ensure knowledge remains up to date.

Desirable Requirements

• Relevant qualifications in health, social care, information and advice.
• Experience working in health or adult social care.
• Community outreach and/or community development experience.
• Experience working in the Charity environment / working with volunteers.
• Ability to speak a second language.
• Effective presentation skills.
• Knowledge of the locality, passionate about unpaid carers and understanding of the challenges they face.
• Strong values of dignity and respect for people and their right to choice and control over their lives.
• Having a whole-family approach to providing services and support.
• Emotional resilience.
• Prepared to work flexibly and undertake occasional evening and weekend work.
• Ability to travel across Oxfordshire.
• Ability to speak to groups and organisations.

About the Organisation

Age UK Oxfordshire is the parent organisation of Action for Carers Oxfordshire, a local charity delivering Carers Oxfordshire, a service that has supported and represented unpaid adult carers since 2012. We are here to support, recognise, value and empower adult carers, providing them with the practical, emotional and social support they need to maintain their own wellbeing while caring for others.