Specialist Adviser in Continuing Healthcare

We have an exciting opportunity for someone with excellent communication skills and a working knowledge of NHS Continuing Healthcare to join the staff of a social enterprise on an NHS-funded advice project now in its seventh year. The core function of this role is to provide an independent and comprehensive remote advice service to individuals in England who are navigating the NHS Continuing Healthcare system, as part of an established national specialist advice service with a great reputation. With big plans for the future, we want you to be part of a strong team committed to delivering excellence and achieving success in line with our social and commercial objectives.

You will be an excellent communicator with good interpersonal skills and experience of working in a continuing healthcare-related role. A proven ability to understand, digest and reflect back information about complex matters via the telephone in a way that is accessible to a broad client base is essential.

In return, you can look forward to working with a small but highly-skilled and dynamic team, and having influence over the future strategic direction of the company. We also offer a competitive salary with performance-related bonus and an excellent benefits package.

**MAIN DUTIES**:

- To provide specialist remote information and advice to our clients, tailored to their specific situation and needs, from a sound working knowledge of the national policy and assessment framework. This includes the accurate interpretation and explanation of a primary health need from a thorough understanding of relevant criteria which are based upon case law.
- To keep informed of issues, policies, guidance and legislation affecting clients ensuring that the information provided is relevant, current, complete and accurate.
- To respond to new referrals by making prompt initial contact with the client following referral from the Tier 1 adviser within appropriate timescales.
- Keep operating procedures under review to identify areas of potential development and / or improvement and make recommendations.
- To research topics relevant to continuing healthcare as directed, providing advice to colleagues.
- To develop and maintain working relationships with health and social care colleagues within the field of Continuing Healthcare in order to promote trust and influence best practice.
- To work with partner organisations and stakeholders to share knowledge, make appropriate referrals, maintain consistency and draw upon each other’s expertise, always striving to improve the quality of both services and provide a better customer experience.
- To keep relevant and sufficiently detailed case records following each advice session, ensuring that all client information is kept up to date in line with Beacon’s systems and procedures, including data protection (GDPR) policies.
- To work cooperatively with Beacon’s private casework team so as to provide clear, transparent and appropriate information to clients about Beacon’s casework services in line with company procedures.
- To provide a high standard of client care by working with skill and competence thereby ensuring clients are able to place their trust in you.
- To uphold organisational values, promoting Beacon’s social goals through each area of your work.
- To manage your time effectively and work independently within the boundaries of Beacon’s policies and procedures.
- Attending line management, supervision and team meetings as appropriate and to play a full part in the development and success of Beacon.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your developing role and the overall objectives of the companies.

**STAFF BENEFITS**: Pension Scheme, Generous Annual Leave Entitlement, Death in Service Benefit 4x salary, Flexible Working, Health & Dental Care Plan, Professional Development Plan, Employee Rewards Scheme (Perkbox) and Performance-Related Bonus.

**Background Information**

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is the name given to a package of healthcare that some people need to receive due to disability, accident or illness. People who are eligible for CHC have the full cost of their care and accommodation funded by the NHS. This relieves families of sometimes astronomical care bills.

The criteria for determining who is eligible for CHC are highly complex and can be very difficult to understand. The assessment process is lengthy and detailed. Likewise, the appeal process can be very daunting and perplexing.

Beacon’s roots are in a service provided by Age UK Oxfordshire, to provide free advice and support to families trying to navigate the CHC system. Beacon is a social enterprise that spun out of this service nine years ago and has supported over 50,000 families across England.

Beacon provides a free CHC advice service, funded by the NHS, as well as advocacy and representation charged at a fraction of the cost of