Dementia Carer Advice

**JOB TITLE: Dementia Carer Advice & Information Officer**

This vacancy also gives the opportunity for anyone looking for a career change in a role that makes a real difference every day.

LOCATION: Base - Carers Hub at Age Concern Birmingham,

76-78 Boldmere Road, Sutton Coldfield.

HOURS: 30 hours per week - days to be confirmed

Permanent

Occasional evenings and weekend working outside of the above hours in response to the requirements of the service

SALARY: £19,812.00 per annum

**JOB PURPOSE**:
To be a key member of the Carers’ Hub team, by providing specialist information, support and advice to carers of people with dementia. Engaging in the registration and assessment of carers of people with dementia to identify unmet need and improve knowledge, skills and life opportunities around well-being, access to training, education and employment. To be part of a streamlined pathway for carers of people with dementia across health and social care.

**ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:
1. To act as first point of contact with the aim of identifying carers of people with dementia and registering new carers by entering personal details onto the electronic database in compliance with confidentiality, data protection and other relevant regulations

2. To provide statutory carer assessments to registered carers of people with dementia, following the agreed model of a comprehensive conversational assessment with specialist dementia assessment in the home environment or another venue

3. To identify unmet needs with the carer during their assessment and where appropriate to recommend a wellbeing payment to meet an agreed need and to obtain ID proofs in line with our Know Your Customer process

4. To provide ongoing support to carers of people with dementia, linking with other services and groups

5. To support carers of people with dementia through quarterly support groups

6. To support carers to access the Neighbourhood Networks Scheme and develop stronger links and referral pathways with GPs and other health stakeholders.

7. To update existing customer information and carry out regular reviews of carers and to update action plans agreed with the carer

8. To work closely with partners and initiatives such as Ageing Better, PCNs and social prescribing, bereavement and pre-bereavement support, dementia carer support groups, dementia carer navigator service, memory assessment clinics and dementia carer training providers

9. To support carers of people with dementia to access assistive technologies

10. To handle telephone enquiries and provide the appropriate information using the available resources. Ensuring that the carers’ needs are identified and met, by giving the relevant information and advice and/or literature; and/or by referring to appropriate outside agencies.

11. To route calls to the appropriate contact teams, identifying and escalating safeguarding and other priority issues

12. To signpost carers to useful sources of help and support, in relation to caring roles, dementia awareness and carer resilience, including training and online training, welfare entitlement, yoga programmes, mindfulness and breaks away

14. Proactively make contact with registered carers as and when required and/or referred by other agencies such as social workers and health professionals

15. Undertake carer and dementia awareness raising and promotional activities, including outreach events

16. Ensure that all cases, one off queries and contact with clients are recorded on the Advice and Information database system on a daily basis.

17. Research, collate and organise relevant material for the Information Service, continually updating publications and maintaining an information library within the Carers Hub that can also be shared with partners of Forward Carers and with colleagues within Age Concern Birmingham.

18. Undertake any necessary administrative tasks conducive to the day to day running of the Carers’ Hub and Information Service.

19. Produce Carer Hub statistical information on an ongoing basis to be submitted monthly.

20. Always maintain strict confidentiality relating to the affairs of carers and any related matters.

21. To personally keep up with current legislation and guidelines regarding carers’ entitlements to ensure accurate and appropriate information is passed to dementia carers and to undertake ongoing training courses as identified, including distance learning where identified.

22. Comply with Health and Safety arrangements within all places of work and to act in accordance with the Carers Hub and Safety Policy and Procedures.

**PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES**:

- Skills, knowledge and experience in advice provision to carers and a relevant qualification in dementia care
- Detailed knowledge of wellbeing issues, benefits and services affecting carers of people with dementia
- A good understanding of the needs and requirements of carers
- Ability to maintain substantial, detailed information systems inc