Shared Lives Area Coordinator

About Shared Lives:

Established in 1954, Camphill Village Trust is a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health challenges.

Shared Lives is sometimes described as being similar to providing ‘foster care for adults with additional/complex needs’, but it is so much more than that as we enable people to take control of their lives and make informed choices to maximise independence.

There are approximately 8,500 adults being supported by around 7,500 Carers in Shared Lives households across England.

Shared Lives is beneficial for everyone. As well as consistently achieving greater outcomes for adults with additional needs, Shared Lives also has the lowest number of safeguarding enquiries in comparison to all other forms of Adult Social Care.

A recent survey of people using Shared Lives concluded that:

• 97% felt they were part of the family.
• 91% were involved with their community.
• 83% had improved social life.
• 76% made new friends.
• 81% had more choice in their daily life

Camphill Village Trust’s communities and services are spread across England. Our West Midlands Shared Lives Scheme operates from within our Stourbridge community, but works right across the Dudley Borough, City of Wolverhampton and surrounding Black Country area.

Stourbridge acts as a hub to a network of Shared Lives Arrangements across the surrounding Black Country region, where everyone can have access to resources, activities and social events.

We support anybody from the age of 18 and will undertake preparatory work with young adults who are making the transition from Children’s Services.

Whilst Shared Lives is traditionally a service for people with learning disabilities, we have experience of setting up Arrangements for people with mental ill health, early-onset dementia, hospital discharges, older people, physical disabilities, people on the Autistic Spectrum and other complex support needs.

Purpose:

Are you ready to step up into your next role?

Do you have a passion for working in Social Care?

You will support in the delivery of a high-quality Shared Lives Scheme for the Camphill Village Trust across the Borough of Dudley, City Council of Wolverhampton and surrounding Black Country/West Midlands area.

You will have an allocated caseload and have day-to-day responsibility for the supervision and monitoring of the respective Shared Lives Carers and the people we support in each Arrangement.

The role is to maintain the compliance of the Shared Lives Scheme with all Care Quality Commission (CQC) Fundamental Standards for Regulation and Inspection and work in accordance with the required Shared Lives Plus Quality Framework, Guidance Notes and Trust Policies and Procedures. You will ensure the scheme meets all Local Safeguarding Adults Board requirements.

The role will support in the marketing, recruiting, assessing, inducting and training of all new Shared Lives Carers. It will develop and maintain positive working relationships with health and social care practitioners/care managers/commissioners at an operational level and work where relevant in partnership with existing Shared Lives Schemes within the Region.

The role will work collaboratively with other Trust staff members to find ways in which the regional Shared Lives Scheme can contribute to the local community for mutual benefit and to promote and positively represent the Shared Lives Scheme within the Trust, the region and nationally.

Location & Travel:

The role will be based at our office within the Dudley Borough. Please note, our location will change in the coming months, TBC.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Main responsibilities:

• To support the continued growth and development of the Shared Lives Scheme across the region, through marketing, recruitment and matching processes.
• To hold an allocated caseload and have responsibility for the supervision and monitoring of the respective Shared Lives Carers and the people we support in each Arrangement.
• Develop, agree and implement care/risk management plans and reviews that will ensure the safety and well-being of all those involved in the Shared Lives Scheme.
• To support the service in the recruitment, selection, assessment and induction of Shared Lives Carers.

• Work to local and wider policies, procedures, systems and processes and record all information correctly and in accordance with data protection protocols.

•   Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of legislative and national/regional policy developments.
• To develop and maintain positive working partnerships with relevant agencies, organisations and teams.
• To undertake regular training and supervision/appraisal, working towards NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care as a minimum.
• To support the organising and attendance of regular Carer Forums and social events for the Shared Lives Scheme.
• To provide regular Out-Of-Hours support to all Shared Lives Carers and immediately report any serious concerns to the Head of Service/Care and Support Manager and CQC if necessary.

• Work in a way which promotes diversity, equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Operate at all times in a way that is consistent with the Trust’s legal responsibilities including health and safety legislation and guidance.
• Work in accordance with the Trust’s aims and objectives and policies and procedures and promote a positive image of the organisation at all time.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Camphill Village Trust is an equal opportunity employer.

Camphill Village Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to complete the relevant pre-employment checks including a DBS check.