Front Door Information and Advice Officer

J O B V A C A N C Y
Front Door Information and Advice Officer
2 Year Fixed Term Contract (with the possibility of an extension)
35 hours per week, £21,658 per annum

AUKS social prescribing programme the “Front Door Service (FDS)” provides low level community-based support for older people with a focus the preventative agenda. The Front Door I&A Officer will provide practical support to help older people to effectively maximise their income and improve their health & wellbeing.

A good standard of education and sound understanding of GDPR is required as well as the ability to explain complex issues whilst displaying an understanding and empathy for the needs and aspirations of older people.

At AUKS, not only can you expect a competitive salary, generous annual leave and pension entitlement, you can also expect to be supported in your ongoing personal development and work alongside people who are passionate about supporting individuals to achieve good mental and physical wellbeing and to live life to the full.

Must drive and have access to a car for work purposes.

Post: Information & Advice Officer (I&A) AUKS Front Door Service (FDS)

Hours: 35 hours per week.

Salary/benefits: £21,658 pa; access to pension scheme

Location: Bradbury Centre, Stockton Road

Responsible to: Client Services Manager

Accountable to: AUKS

Key working Relationships:

- AUKS Client Services Manager / AUKS FD Manager and service staff
- Sunderland City Council
- Primary Care
- Statutory and Community VCS providers
- Older people
- Carers and Carer Organisations
- Other clinical and non-traditional provider groups as required

Background:
The social prescribing model AUKS “Front Door Service (FDS)” provides low level community-based support for older people with a focus the preventative agenda. This means that older people receive the right support, in the right place at the right time receiving information, early interventions and flexible low-level community-based support to those who do not require intensive or specialised care from statutory services.

The FDS acts as a conduit to community infrastructure support and assets.

Self
- Care and Sustainability

The integration of the self-care agenda will be achieved by working across Sunderland to implement a whole system approach to increase health life expectancy, make every contact count and maximise resources to improve outcomes for older people. This includes:

- Investing in empowering local older people through effective care navigation
- Peer support
- Mentoring/self-management programmes to maximise independence/wellbeing
- Helping to identify/combat social isolation

This will encourage older people to:

- Take more control over their own health
- Achieve maximum independence
- Live longer, healthier more fulfilling lives

The purpose of the FDS is to put older people in personal control of their health & wellbeing and provide them with support in their local community, focusing on prevention of ill health and the promotion of wellbeing.

The FDS will enable older people to have improved health outcomes and independence whilst reducing the burden on NHS & Social Care services in Sunderland.

The FDS will support:

- Residents of the City of Sunderland
- Older people with no formal health & social care support from statutory services or those who would not qualify for local authority social care
- Older people who require low level social and signposting support and practical information
- People who are caring for family, friends and neighbours

The FDS will not work with people who:

- Have complex health and social care needs including those with high level support needs in mental health and learning disabilities whose needs would be better met by other agencies. The FDS will act as a referral agent for this group
- Require high intensity or complex care interventions. These referrals will be passed to social work and community health teams for professional assessment.

Purpose of the I&A Officer post:
The FDS I&A Officer will be responsible for providing first tier advice on all welfare benefits, whilst managing a caseload of individuals supporting the self-management of their needs.

The post holder will work closely with the Front Door Living Well Link workers in the identification of referrals to Information & Advice.

The post holder will also identify unpaid carers and enable access to appropriate services.

Key Responsibilities

The post holder will be an excellent communicator and develop a wide knowledge of the services offered by non-traditional providers in the Sunderland area. The post holder will require strong organisational skills, must be flexible in approach, able to exercise initiative and demonstrate a consistently high standard of professionalism, being aware of the need for confidentiality and integrity.

**Tasks**:

- Provide accurate and timely advice on the entitlement of all welfare benefits, keeping up to date with changes in legis