Optimised Handling Associate Practitioner

Do you have experience in the moving and handling of people? Following successfully securing funding for a 12 month trial, this post is a newly created role for Adult Social Care in Hull. This role is to support moving and handling risk assessments, plans and reviews for Adults. The post holder will work as part of a small team delivering moving and handling advice and guidance, assessment and review of moving and handling.

The post holder will complete Care Act Needs Assessments and Reviews where Moving and Handling is a key need, order equipment and request adaptations in relation to moving and handling. You may be asked to provide advice and guidance to care providers, and support the delivery of training to other individuals and groups. The Associate role will be supported by clinically experienced assessors.

We are looking for a keen and proactive individual, to actively participate in service development. You will need to have experience in the moving and handling of people and using a range of equipment. It would also be beneficial that you feel comfortable in completing risk assessments and making recommendations independently within your skill level. Full training will be provided including access to the Key Trainer level 4 moving and handling qualification.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

The Adult Social Care vision in Hull is of 'a life not a service'. Adult Social Care is person centred and focuses on individuals' strengths to support them to take control of improving their own health, resilience and wellbeing. We want to maximise people's independence so individuals can achieve their goals and aspirations and live life to the fullest. We work creatively with individuals, local communities and our partners, empowering them to deliver the best possible outcomes for people and to create a positive Adult Social Care culture.

The purpose of this post is to complete moving and handling assessments, and reviews, for adults with care and support needs to optimise their care. The post holder will work within an optimised handling team in the delivery of meaningful, person centred and solution focused interventions which identify the person as the expert in their life. To optimise the moving and handling of individuals to maximise their independence and dignity. Provision of a range of standard moving and handling equipment. This may include advice and provision around beds and seating.

The post holder will manage their own clinical case load under the supervision of a more senior practitioner and will be able to prioritise and manage their case load. This will include being able to proficiently use a range of IT systems relevant to the role. To actively work as part of the whole service system, supporting colleagues in the day-to-day running of the service area including undertaking duty, triage of new referrals, RAG rating, and other duties in line with business needs.

The post holder will undertake an accredited 'Key Trainer/Train the trainer' Moving and Handling course, to enable them to provide specialist advice and support to care providers, formal and informal carers, and deliver classroom based training as required.

In addition to the core role, the post holder will work independently at the level of trusted assessor level 3 and 4 (minor adaptations/ equipment/ non-complex major adaptations), or with support of an appropriate clinician for complex cases. Work with confidence to undertake or contribute to, the Statutory Assessment and review of individuals with care and support needs, Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest Decisions. To access community resources and social prescribing for information and advice about community groups and voluntary organisations, and to assist people to do so. The post-holder will apply the principles of trauma informed practice, rights based practice and promote equality.

To support others through the sharing of technical information, advice, support and training to the wider staff group within personal skill set. Providing Moving and Handling support across the teams. Support progression of other staff, students within this area of skill, and to contribute to a learning culture.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• To promote and safeguard the welfare of vulnerable adults and children.
• Statutory Obligations - To have knowledge of the Key Legislation e.g., Mental Health Capacity Act, Human Rights Act, Care Act, Health and Safety at Work Act and Housing Regeneration Act and be able to apply these in practice. Be fully cognisant of Making Safeguarding Personal.
• The post holder will be an ambassador for safe, efficient and innovative ways of working, adhering to legislation and promoting evidence-based practice and musculoskeletal health. Challenge poor moving and handling practices and unsafe risk management decisions or escalate appropriately.
• The post holder will enable people to maintain their independence, wellbeing and access to community organisations. Support the individual to develop relationships with friends and family members and, where appropriate, undertake assessments for provision of standard equipment and adaptations. The post holder will carry out moving and handling assessments for a range of standard situations appropriate to level of the role. To complete more complex work with direct support and guidance, if appropriate to skill level or to recognise when a case should be passed over to a higher level practitioner.
• When equipment is assessed as being necessary, it must be provided in a timely and responsive way. This includes completion of a risk assessment to ensure suitability, safety and effectiveness of equipment. They will engage and instruct the person and carers in the safe use of equipment and adaptations.
• The post holder will work closely with relevant parties to provide advice, information, instruction and training in all aspects in relation to the persons moving and handling needs.
• Manage and prioritise an individual case load activity on a regular and agreed basis with their line manager. The post holder must seek advice and support from Optimised Handling Practitioner and Optimised Handling Lead Practitioner / other members of multi-disciplinary teams and line manager wherever needed and for complex situations or people who will need bespoke or specialist solutions. The post holder must operate at all times in a person-centred way, coproducing solutions as far as possible face-to-face with the person who will use the services. Use relevant IT systems for recording and ordering of equipment.
• The post holder will actively contribute to a fundamental shift in enabling people to maintain control and independence whenever possible. They will be required to complete supported self-assessment where appropriate, providing simple equipment to promote early help and prevention. They should support people in the wider context with a strengths based approach through confident, dynamic provision of information and advice help people connect with their communities and increase people's choice and options.
• The post holder will work with other professionals such as Care Providers, care staff, Social Worker Assessors and OTs. Building relationships with other professionals, service users and their families are an essential part of your role.
• Supporting in the triage and prioritisation of straightforward referrals where an assessment is identified as needed. Passing of complex duty decision making to a more senior practitioner.
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation places responsibilities for health and safety on Hull City Council, as your employer and you as an employee of the council. In addition to the Councils overall duties, the post holder has personal responsibility for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of other employees; additional and more specific responsibilities are identified in the Council's Corporate HS policy.

Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.

£26,824.00 - £29,064.00

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:

• A competitive salary
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We adopt a 'name blind' approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.