Best Interests Assessors

This is an exciting opportunity to join a specialist and established Mental Capacity Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Team in Adult Safeguarding and Quality Assurance, Adult Social Care in Essex County Council. Senior Best Interests Assessors carry out assessments and reviews under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (Amendment to Mental Capacity Act 2005). The role will have an understanding and respect for individual's qualities, abilities and diverse backgrounds, promote the rights, dignity and self-determination of individuals who might be deprived of their liberty to identify, challenge and redress discrimination and inequality in all its forms. The role involves supporting staff with technical and professional advice in matters of safeguarding including best interests assessments and being the link between Adult Operations and the Mental Capacity and DoLS Team in Adult Safeguarding. The postholder will model good practice, setting expectations for others and taking responsibility and accountability for the practice of others and provide quality assurance. This may include contribution to the assessed and supported year in employment programme and supervising the work of junior staff. The role also requires the post holder to build on existing relationships with strategic partners as well as across functional areas, undertake capacity-building with individuals, families, communities, user groups and voluntary organisations, and contributing their views on service provision to commissioners. Responsibilities will include…

• Supporting staff and partner agencies (including providers) by offering professional subject matter expert advice in matters relating to the Mental Capacity Act, within the context of safeguarding, best interests and protecting human rights.
• Utilising knowledge / experience effectively in completing assessments and investigations within a legal framework to ensure a clear understanding of the implications for people who use services (families and carers).
• Evaluation and analysis of complex evidence to ensure robust decisions underpinned by detailed evidence. Ensure detailed record keeping, clarity and professional reasoning in reports to meet legal requirements and professional standards.
• Taking the lead where a social work perspective is required to drive decision-making ensuring that a legally based, human rights perspective is applied to when and how interventions are made in the lives of individuals, families and communities experiencing complex social and family problems
• Presenting cases at legal hearing and exercise the appropriate level of independence, authority and autonomy to inform practice / outcomes
• Ensuring the quality of data and information recorded is timely, accurate and complete to ensure the service meets all statutory recording requirements
  
  To apply, you must be an experienced social worker and able to practice independently, with a level of autonomy, demonstrating expert and effective practice in complex situations, assessing and managing higher levels of risk, striking a balance between support and control, liaising with a wide range of professionals, including senior levels. You will be a qualified Best Interests Assessor with current Social Work England registration.
You will also bring:
• Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2007, Mental Capacity Act 2005 , Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007), Human Rights Act 1998, Care Standards Act 2000 , national and local policy guidance and ability to apply Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards procedures to assessment role.
• A good working knowledge and ability to use information technology and related systems
• Minimum 3 years relevant experience in Social Care setting.
• Evidence of working with a complex caseload that is underpinned by evidence-based practice.
This role involves travelling around Essex. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found on https://www.workingforessex.com/working-here/pay-reward, Why Essex? Essex County Council covers 1,300 square miles from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary. From the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. We celebrate difference and work to ensure that no one is disadvantaged when accessing services, employment or public life in Essex. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We're also committed to interviewing all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Free to deliver big We recruit creative, ambitious, talented people, and free them up to think - and deliver - big. We've made substantial changes in recent years, reorganising how we're structured and how we work, so we can protect the most vulnerable and enable our economy to grow. Join us and you'll be trusted to take control, manage change and make a lasting impact. You'll be able to call upon external partners and suppliers to help you deliver. More importantly, talented, trailblazing colleagues - including many industry-leaders - will be right by your side to share ideas, knowledge and experience. Find out how Essex County Council is changing, and how you'll fit in. Employee Recognition & Engagement Here are some of the things we have in place to give our employees a sense of belonging, involvement and recognition. Employee Networks:
• Ethnically Diverse Employee Network (EDEN)
• Carers Forum
• Christian Network
• Disabled Employees Network
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Network
• Parents Network
• Women's Network
• Men's Network
• Young People and Apprentice Network.
You Make The Difference' Awards - giving employees the opportunity to nominate individuals or teams who go above and beyond for our residents. Employee Surveys - where we listen to the voices of our people and take action on what we hear. Employee Panels - giving you the opportunity to feed back on a range of policies and initiatives, network with colleagues and influence far-reaching changes., At Essex County Council we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our people. We work closely with our employees to provide wellbeing support based on their needs. We strive to enable the right environment, conditions, and behaviours so individual and organisational wellbeing is embedded in everything we do.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. What We Offer In Return We'll support you to be your best…
• Training and development to empower you from our award-winning Essex Social Care Academy.
• With us you can make your career work for you with flexible working options
• With us you can get the support you need with employee wellbeing and counselling
• Lease Car scheme
• Up to £8000 for relocation
• With us you can have peace of mind with life assurance of three times annual salary
• Payment of professional fees for approved professions
• Local Government Pension Scheme. View Key Facts and FAQ's about the LGPS.
• Volunteering leave
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with service
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
• Employee Networks - communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC
Whatever you want to achieve in your social care career, you can do it here., We have developed diverse learning opportunities to support our people to grow both personally and professionally. This includes:
• A large suite of online training and tools
• Dedicated learning events such as 'LearnFest' - our flagship annual celebration of learning
• Apprenticeships for both new and existing colleagues
• Financial support to achieve professional qualifications
• Support from subject matter experts
• The opportunity to share your own expertise to up-skill colleagues
• Leadership and executive coaching
• Learning on demand
• Career pathways
Rewards and Benefits
• Family Friendly flexible Working
• Generous holiday and special leave allowances (including the option to purchase extra holiday)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance of three times annual salary
• Volunteering leave (up to 4 days per year)
• Employee wellbeing and counselling
• Travel discounts & season ticket loans
• Learning and Development opportunities/coaching & mentoring
• Payment of professional fees for approved professions
• Eye care vouchers
• Lease car scheme (dependent on business needs)
• Up to £8,000 relocation package (subject to terms and conditions)
You'll also have access to MyReward, a unique platform for Essex County Council employees to gain various discounts and savings. Your Wellbeing