Job Description
Floating Support Co-ordinator (FSC) - Western Area
Introduction
Autism Initiatives is committed to working in partnership with service users, their families, commissioners and others to provide a specialist, autism specific, person centred and outcome focussed service for people with autism spectrum conditions.
All staff are expected to: Work in the context of Autism Initiatives’ Vision, Mission and Philosophy and to use our ‘Five Point Star’ approach in order to support service users in achieving their goals. Work to develop their abilities in line with the Autism Initiatives Competency Framework. Recognise the positive abilities of service users and support our shared belief in life long learning. Adhere to the Autism Initiatives’ Code of Conduct and the NI Social Care Council’s Code of Practice (NISCC), showing a high degree of professionalism, resilience, and a willingness to remain committed during particularly demanding times.
Location
The FSC will be based at the Western Area Floating Support Offices in Derry/Londonderry and will also manage the Omagh office. The FSC will be expected to attend meetings/training in any area where (or close to where) Autism Initiatives provided or may potentially provide services in Northern Ireland.
The FSC will be expected to attend events, activities in relation to their job role as required. The appointed person may also be required to work at other locations, either temporarily or permanently, or may be recruited for across services.
Line Manager
The FSC will be managed by the Housing Manager.
The appointed person will be accountable to their line manager for the overall management and quality of the service, in keeping with AI philosophy, aims and objectives. The FSC will also be expected to work directly with a small number of the service users.
Line Management may change depending on any changes within the organisation.
1 Purpose of the Job
The Floating Support Coordinator (FSC) will be responsible for the management of our Floating Support Service in the Western Trust locality, which has a housing specific focus. You will manage resources and supervise a staff team ensuring the delivery of high quality housing support for individuals with ASC who require housing support to help them maintain or attain a tenancy:
Ensure that the FS service operates at full capacity.
Ensure that the FS service remains strategically relevant for Supporting People funding.
Ensure that the FS service operates within the contract management framework with Supporting People including meeting the objectives and standards of the Quality Assessment Framework
Ensure that the service is fully promoted with relevant external stakeholders and the wider community.
Develop and extend Autism Initiatives service provision within the Western Trust locality.
Main Duties, Responsibilities and Objectives:
1. Person centred autism specific practice The FSC will:
1. Ensure all new referrals are assessed in a timely manner and the appropriate selection procedures are followed and that service users meet the eligibility criteria. 2. Undertake assessments of new service users and continue a process of reassessment and review incorporating these in the Service Users About Me. 3. Ensure service user confidentiality is maintained at all times. 4. Ensure that all documents to support person centred outcome focussed autism practice, as contained in their files, are appropriate and up to date and all plans being used and reviewed effectively. 5. Ensure the fair distribution of clients to the Support Workers and provide direct housing support for a small caseload of clients as necessary and when required. 6. Ensure that all records are maintained in an efficient and professional manner and in accordance with the Data Protection Act. 7. Adhere to all safeguarding requirements and any procedures aimed at the protection of the adult in need of protection.
2. Resources and systems People/Staffing
The FSC will:
1. Recruit and interview staff, maintaining the required staffing levels for the contracts
2 and service user support, in accordance with organisational procedures and current legislation and in liaison with the HR department. 2. Ensure all absence is managed according to the Absence Management Policy and the absence information is forwarded to the HR department without delay. Ensure absence triggers are acted upon and long term sick is managed in liaison with the human resources department. 3. Hold regular team meetings and support effective teamwork and ensure clear, positive communication channels. Organise and chair monthly team meetings within the service. 4. Keep your knowledge on chairing meetings, teamwork, leadership and management skills up-to-date by attending management training courses as required. 5. Offer day-to-day advice and guidance to staff, giving formal supervision and appraisal as required according to policy to ensure best person centred autism practice by the staff team. Forward appraisal details to the HR department in a timely manner. Ensure your service has an acceptable level of appraisal/support/NISCC completed on the monthly traffic light system. 6. Ensure that all staff access mandatory and development training and that learning is transferred to practice. 7. Plan and deliver any training that you have competence to educate/train others in as required. 8. Participate in any investigations, grievances, complaints or disciplinary actions, in accordance with the organisation’s procedures and in liaison with the HR department. 9. Compile and prepare salary returns for the staff team and submit them to the finance department for processing; also forward these to your Area Management for inspection by the designated dates. 10. Maintain managerial observation of staff in your service paying particular attention to the following aspects: o Policies and procedures are followed at all times.
o Housing support is person-centred: holistic, guided by power-with and not power-over & is empowering with choices offered to service users; is underpinned by empathy, compassion & dignity.
o Service users’ needs are to the fore in the support/practice in your service.
o No staff display behaviours of any kind, or any form of communication that is derogatory or shows a lack of respect to any service user.
o That all records such as assessments, support plans, daily records, evaluations and reviews are kept up-to-date
o That you act at once to deal with any observed practice that falls short of AI required standards across all services. Depending on issue observed your action will be anywhere on a continuum from education, support, guidance to taking disciplinary action if needed.
o That you also provide regular positive affirmation of positive support
3 celebrating good support when observed.
3. Quality The FSC will:
1. Facilitate and encourage effective customer participation, consultation and feedback within the service. 2. Ensure performance information is returned in timely basis to Supporting People. 3. Liaise with Supporting People representatives for the purposes of Contract Management and to ensure that all requirements for Supporting People are fulfilled. 4. Ensure all Supporting People Quality Assessment Framework standards are met in the service. 5. Ensure the service remains strategically relevant for the purposes of Supporting People and that the actions of the improvement plan are met. 6. Ensure all actions arising from inspections and monitoring are recorded, acted upon, and improvements evidenced and forwarded to your Line Manager in a timely and efficient manner. 7. Monitor service provision on a regular basis and provide outcome reports to line manager on a quarterly basis. 8. Maintain all written records relating to the service as required, ensuring all are up-to- date and reviewed as required. 9. Ensure all organisational policies and procedures are in line with best practice and staff adhere to them. 10. Share good practice and learning, bringing to your line manager’s attention any innovative opportunities and practice that may enhance this service. 11. Contribute to the development, implementation and review of operational policies and procedures ensuring staff are kept informed of any changes. 12. Record and report any incident / accident or concern to your line manager immediately. 13. Actively promote effective and inclusive internal and external communication such as attendance and participation at staff meetings, meeting with key Trust personnel and others as appropriate to the service. 14. Ensure that a comprehensive support plan based service is provided to customers of the service in line with policies, procedures and ethos. 15. Participate in matters concerning discipline, grievance, incidents and complaints as required. 16. Ensure that all reports required by senior managers are completed in an efficient and timely manner, using electronic systems where appropriate and that these are forwarded to designated Senior Manager and other head of departments as required.
4. Finance The FSC will:
1. Monitor project budget and monitor performance against budget. 2. Liaise with the Finance Manager, Line Manager and finance team in the preparation of the annual budgets, and participate in budget review.
4 3. Work within budget, maintaining and recording all financial information, including the petty cash for Derry and Omagh and managed within the organisation’s procedures. 4. Ensure that travel claims are appropriate and that car sharing where appropriate is utilised.
5. Health and Safety The FSC will:
Ensure that the potential hazards in all areas are assessed and that action is taken to minimise any identified risk.
1. Ensure that any equipment is used, stored and maintained in accordance with Health and Safety regulations. 2. Ensure Health and Safety policies and procedures are adhered to in the course of your duties, including assessments for lone working. 3. Ensure that all work carried out by the team meets Health and Safety requirements. 4. Observing Health and Safety regulations, ensure the security, health and safety of all individual service users, staff and persons visiting Autism Initiatives services is protected. 5. Ensure that the offices are maintained to an acceptable standard; being clean, comfortable and safe and equipment is stored in accordance with Health & Safety requirements. 6. Ensure that Health & Safety checks occur as required at designated times by yourself or a designated member of your staff. 7. Work with the Housing & Development Manager to maintain safe, legal and effective H&S standards. Following H&S monitoring by the H&D Manager undertake all actions required within the specified time frame. 8. Ensure that a record is maintained of all accidents / incidents / near misses for staff and services users and any visitors to the offices and ensure these records are forwarded to Head Office as per procedure. 9. Any breaches or reduced standards related to H&S should be reported to your Line Manager as soon as you become aware of such issues and a plan put in place to deal with the issue. 10. Compile a Business Continuity Plan for the Offices and review 6 monthly to ensure it remains appropriate and effective.
6. Working Together The FSC will:
1. Work with Service Users and their families in a person centred way in decisions that impact on the Service Users life. 2. Build and maintain a positive relationship with external stakeholders, commissioners, health professionals and other agencies whose work impacts on the lives of the service users.
5 3. Engage with and contribute positively to local groups, creating and maximising opportunities for service users to be a part of the community. 4. Attend and report on local provider and other relevant forums as required. 5. Ensure that all feedback, including compliments and complaints and suggestions is encouraged, recorded, reported and used to improve the service. 6. Deal with any staff conflicts as soon as you are aware of these, achieving resolution to facilitate team cohesion. Make your Line Manager aware of any conflicts or staff difficulties and seek your Line Manager / HR support if you find you require assistance to deal with staff issues.
7. Autism Initiatives Service Development The Floating Support Coordinator will seek opportunities to further develop Autism Initiatives services across the Western Trust locality.
8. General The FSC will:
1. Shall not, at any time, not act in such a way as to bring the organisation into disrepute. 2. Will undertake any other duties as reasonably requested, relative to the objective of the post. 3. No job description can be considered complete and this job description will be subject to review and may be amended following consultation to reflect any changes that may occur and to meet the needs of the service, AI and its service users. 4. Confidentiality must be maintained.
9. Personal Development
The FSC will:
Maintain their personal skills and development as required and attend staff training as requested or directed by line management. Please note that you will be expected to complete and fully participate in continuous mandatory training as required.
Other Duties:
This job description indicates the main areas of responsibility of this post; the above list is not exhaustive. Therefore, other tasks and or duties may be required of you, but these will fall within the general areas of the responsibility of the post. Any changes, which are of a permanent nature will, following consultation with you, be included in your job description in
6 specific terms and will be formally issued to you.
This job description is not definitive and may vary in accordance with changing needs.
JOB CRITERIA
ESSENTIAL
Working knowledge of supporting people who have ASC, communication difficulties and associated complex needs. Working knowledge of Supporting People framework and the Quality Assessment Framework. Working knowledge of team work and coordinating others. Experience of developing new services. Experience of Housing Support. Full UK driving licence, held for a minimum of one year, with access to their own car with business insurance on appointment. Knowledge of statutory and legislative requirements and application of a ‘rights based ethos’, in line with Domiciliary Care Agencies Minimum Standards. Proficient in daily application of Microsoft Office packages.
DESIRABLE
NISCC registration or working towards this.
Higher Education Degree in Management, Leadership, Quality Improvement or a related area. Or at least 3 years working at a management level / supervisory role.
Person Specification
Job Title: Floating Support Co-ordinator ESSENTIAL HOW ASSESSED
Ability to show compassion, enthusiasm, Application form, interview and empathy and warmth. references.
Able to work effectively in partnership with Application form, interview and
7 service users, families, colleagues, and other references. professionals.
Clear verbal communication. Interview.
Recognition of the importance of active Interview. listening.
Good written communication and Application form and interview. understanding skills.
Ability to understand and complete relevant numeric and written documents and reports. Application and interview.
Professional approach and positive attitude. Interview.
Knowledge of current legislation and quality standards for Supporting People. Application form and interview.
Knowledge of welfare reform. Application form and interview.
Working knowledge of national standards. Application form and interview. Understanding of what ‘a person centred approach’ means. Application form and interview. Ability to work effectively as part of, and to manage a team. Application form and interview.
Flexibility and resilience: The ability to meet Application form and interview. the changing needs of service/service users.
Other assessment methods may apply in addition to interviews.
December 2017
Post: Floating Support Co-ordinator - Western Trust Area
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
8 Starting Salary: £19,539 to £22,854 per annum
Contract: Permanent full-time
Leave: 20 Days Annual Leave per year pro rata
Bank Holidays: 10 Days per year pro rata
Occupational The organisation operates an Occupation Health Benefit: Health Benefit scheme, Additional Annual leave and Maternity pay, dependant on years of service.
Pension: Auto Enrolment
Equal Opportunities: Autism Initiatives is committed to equal opportunities and as such welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Probation: This post is subject to a six months probationary period.
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