Shared Lives Worker

**About the team**
An exciting opportunity has arisen in our Shared Lives Team; this service supports adults with a care and support need, to live in the local community within a family home. The role will be based in Ware Road Day Centre, with the opportunity for hybrid working.

Shared Lives, which is also known as Adult Placement in some areas, is a UK form of support and accommodation for adults with a care need wherein approved individuals or families open their lives to aid older or disabled persons. Shared lives can help tackle loneliness, reduce isolation, help people recover after hospital treatment or mental ill health. Please see website for more details: Sharing a home (Shared Lives) | Hertfordshire County Council
**About the role**
To support the aims and objectives of Adult Care Services in delivering an effective Shared Lives Service for Hertfordshire residents. To support the development of the Shared Lives Service across all client groups.

To provide professional support and supervision of independent Shared Lives Carers contracted with Adult Care Services. To work in partnership with operational teams, care managers and organisations within Hertfordshire and with other Local Authorities.

To support Shared Lives Carers to promote safe, independent, and meaningful lives for people living with them in their local communities.

**Main Areas of Responsibility**

**Recruitment, Assessment and Supervision of Shared Lives Carers**
- Provide a professional response to identify support and assess prospective Shared Lives Carers.
- Produce and present reports to the Shared Lives panel and provide additional information and professional view as required.
- Provide regular support and monitoring of Shared Lives Carers as individual contractors for Shared Lives Hertfordshire.

**Ensuring safe and effective care is provided in relation to safeguarding and risk management.**
- To maintain professional awareness and practice to identify and take appropriate safeguarding action when required.

**Service development.**
- Promote the services offered by through networking and promotional events.
- Make home visits to people interested in being shared lives carers and those interested in using the service

**About you**
Essential:

- A qualification or relevant work experience
- Experience working with adults with a care need within a health and social care setting.
- Experience or working with complex situations.
- Knowledge of safeguarding adults and mental capacity.
- Good written, verbal and IT skills.
- Driving licence and access to vehicle.

Desirable:

- Knowledge and understanding of Shared Lives
- Worked within Shared Lives or similar placement services.
- Proven experience of carrying out assessments and care management / casework.
- Motivated, reliable, dependable, self-confident with an ability to work autonomously where necessary.
- Promotes independence and community-based solutions.

**How to apply**

**Secondment**
**Additional information** Disability Confident**

**Safeguarding**
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

**Driving required**
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

**English Fluency**
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.

Job Reference: HCC27398