Job Title: Direct Payment Advisor
Hours: 35 per week Monday to Friday
Salary: £23,362.50
Job Summary:
Working as part of a team you will provide support and advice to those using Direct Payments or Personal Health Budgets.
To provide person centred, holistic support and liaise with other Disability North services and support when required. When needed signpost to advocacy services and other relevant support within the region.
You will work directly with individuals and have your own case load, allowing for effective relationship building and good consistent support and advice.
Main Duties
To provide information and advice by telephone/face to face or virtual platforms on issues related to Direct Payments.
To provide face-to-face information and advice to people at Disability North, their home, or at community venues.
To assist in the preparation of budgets relating to their direct payment
To provide information, advice and support on becoming an employer and support individuals with the process including working with their chosen payroll agency to ensure they have the information they need.
To provide information, advice and support on recruiting Personal Assistants including interviewing, job descriptions, contracts and employment insurance
Produce person centred job descriptions and adverts with employers.
To support with payroll services and processing payments
To work alongside people in a supportive, person centred and co productive manner.
To promote the direct payment support service, attending relevant events either online or face to face.
To provide training, information and advice to social services staff and other health/social care employees in relation to Direct Payments.
To assist in identifying the training needs of employers and personal assistants.
To provide information, advice and support on using domiciliary care agencies.
Keep good open communication with referring social workers.
To keep appropriate, up to date records of advice and case work.
To work effectively in a fast-paced environment, and effectively prioritise a busy workload.
To contribute towards monitoring requirements of Direct Payment Contracts, providing case studies where requested.
To acquire a high level of expertise and knowledge of Direct Payments at both a local and national level and act as a resource for disabled people, family members, personal assistants and statutory/voluntary organisations.
To represent the service and maintain links with other agencies.
To keep up to date with developments in legislation and government policy related to disability and the social care agenda.
To keep up to date with issues affecting disabled people and relevant campaigns
To attend staff, team departmental meetings and other meetings as directed by the Team Lead.
To attend training courses as required.
To observe our equal opportunities and other policies and apply them to your work.
To be aware of and co-operate with the Health and Safety policies and working practices operated by Disability North.
To undertake any other reasonable duties that may be required at the discretion of the Line Manager.
Travel will be required in line with the needs of employers
Person Specification
Direct Payment Advisor: Direct Payment Team
Your values, commitment to person centred working and valuing the people we support are the essential criteria for this role. Awareness of Direct Payments is an advantage, but you will receive full training.
- Values
- Strong commitment to promoting social inclusion and improving the health and wellbeing of disabled people.
- Understanding and commitment to person-centred working, and the importance of independence choice and control.
- Passion for inclusion, equity and diversity. Allowing everyone’s voices and unique skills to be seen and heard.
- Empathy, patience, and understanding when working alongside people.
- To work with empathy, integrity and as part of a team. Ensuring excellence, and determination in the role.
- Skills, Knowledge, Abilities:
Essential:
- Understanding and commitment to the social model of disability
- Excellent Oral and written communication skills
- Ability to remain calm, proactive and professional
- Word Processing and IT skills
- Organisational skills
- Ability to support people face to face and on the phone
- Ability to prioritise workload according to need and urgency
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Excellent people skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Flexible and adaptive approach
- Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
Desirable
- Awareness of the current issues in health and social care and how they impact on disabled people and their families
- Knowledge and understanding of the issues that disabled people and their carers face
- Basic awareness of safeguarding
Means of Assessment: Job Application Form, interview, references, and practical test
3. Qualifications, Training, Experience
Desirable:
- Experience and awareness of the Health and Social Care system
- Experience and awareness of Direct Payments/personal budgets
- This might have been obtained from previous work or from lived experience from either yourself, family member or within your community.
- Working knowledge of the Care Act 2014
Means of Assessment: Job Application Form, certificates of qualification/achievement, interview, and references
- Experience of:
Essential:
- Working with people
- Using Microsoft Office or similar Windows operating system
- Ability to record work
- Being able to conduct meetings via virtual platforms
Desirable:
- Working with databases and spreadsheets
- Knowledge of how to be a good employer/employment law
- Experience of recruitment processes
- Confident in the use of social media platforms
- Experience with payroll
Means of assessment: Interview Job Application Form and references
You must be able to meet the travel requirements of the post.
An enhanced DBS will be required for this role.
For more information, please see the Direct Payment Advisor Job Description
To apply, please complete the DP Advisor application form
Closing date: 4th November 2024
Disability North Vision, Mission and Values Statement
Our Vision
We want a fair and inclusive society that celebrates diversity. Where disabled adults, children, older people, and those who have a long-term health condition have equal choices, control, and opportunities.
We strive to be a leading organisation and voice on disability across the North of England.
Our Mission
Promote inclusion, independence, choice, and control for all disabled people.
Enable all disabled people to lead the fulfilling life that they choose.
Engage with policy makers and networks to get loud, make change, share lived experiences at local and national levels, and be a hub for everything connected with disability.
Remove societal barriers hindering access to opportunities in employment, education, volunteering, and healthcare.
Our Values
- We celebrate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Allowing everyone to come as they are and bring their uniqueness to the table.
- Independence, Choice, and Control shapes everything we do.
- We work with Passion, Determination, and Excellence.
- Our workplace is built on Teamwork and Empathy.
- We demonstrate Commitment and Integrity and work alongside any others who support and uphold our values.