Best Interest Assessor – DoLS

Overview

How you’ll make a difference

As an Advanced Social Worker, Best Interests Assessor, DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) you will make a difference by giving people a voice and helping protect their human rights.

 

We are looking for either a Trainee BIA or fully qualified Best Interest Assessor to join our team. Salaries are offered at points within these bands depending on experience:

 

Best Interest Assessor Trainee: £35,235 – £37,938
Best Interest Assessor Advanced Grade Practitioner: £39,513 – £42,708

What you will be doing

Best Interest Assessor (BIA):

• It will be your responsibility to carry out DoLS assessments in hospitals and care homes, completing them in a timely manner to support South Gloucestershire Council with its functions as a supervisory body. 
• You will assist in raising awareness of the MCA and DoLS, encouraging their effective use in health and social care settings. 
• When required, you will support with the organisation and delivery of MCA and DoLS related events, bringing together relevant professionals, service users and carers with a view to providing up to date information and networking opportunities. 
• Regularly, you will participate in both DoLS team and best interests assessor meetings and will contribute to team and service development.

 

As a Trainee Best Interest Assessor, you will be required to:

• Under the supervision of the Senior Practitioner, you will work as a Trainee Best Interest Assessor with adults who have been identified as being deprived of their liberty in a variety of settings.
• You will be working towards a best interest assessor qualification with the expectation that you will qualify and be approved by the council to carry out the BIA role.
• When required, you will participate in both DoLS team and best interests assessor meetings and will contribute to team and service development. 
• Assisting in raising awareness of the MCA and DoLS, you will encourage their effective use in health and social care settings. 

What we need from you

Best Interest Assessor:

• You must have an accredited qualification as a DoLS Best Interests Assessor and be a registered professional in either social work, occupational therapy, nursing or chartered psychology.
• You will have significant post qualifying experience in adult social care or mental health with experience of complex MCA and DoLS cases and working across partner organisations. 
• Given the elements of the role, you need to have strong interpersonal skills with the ability to complete quality and outcome focused assessments, communicate findings and keep detailed and accurate records.   
• It is key that you have a thorough knowledge of current MCA and DoLS legislation, case law and practice guidance.
• You will have the ability to keep appropriate records and provide clear and reasoned reports in accordance with legal requirements and good practice, with the necessary skills to evaluate and analyse complex evidence and differing views. 

 

As a Trainee Best Interest Assessor:

• You must have an accredited qualification as a registered professional in either social work or occupational therapy.
• You will have the willingness and ability to complete or are currently undertaking a period of study to achieve a qualification as an accredited Best Interest Assessor.
• We require you to have two years post qualifying relevant experience of working with a broad range of people including families in a social services care setting and applying the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• It is important that you’ll have evidence of on-going continuous professional development and knowledge of current legislation and practice relating to the Mental Capacity Act, DoLS and social care.
• Given the elements of the role, you need to have good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate findings and keep detailed and accurate records. You will be required to provide clear and reasoned reports, with the necessary skills to evaluate and analyse evidence and differing views. 

What you need to know

 

• This is a part-time role, working 30 hours per week. Your salary is pro-rata to hours worked.
• This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Yate and working from home.
• You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.
• Business insurance will need to be added to your insurance policy.
• You can claim back mileage expenses.
• Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.

 

Interviews anticipated early April.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

 

• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
• We trust our team to work in the way which allows them to make the biggest difference, and we continue to invest in technology to help staff do their jobs to the best of their ability and celebrate innovation. 
• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. 

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. 

• We’re building and shaping communities which people are proud of. 
• We’re working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life. 
• We’re investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.   

We’ve achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference. 

We’re making a difference, be part of it! 

To view the full job description, please click this link:  Advanced Social Worker Best Interest Assessor and Best Interest Assessor Trainee CAS07