Dementia Support Coordinator

**Dementia Support Co-ordinator**

**21 - 28 Hours per week**

**£26,734 (Pro-rata)**

We are seeking a part-time Dementia Support Co-ordinator to join our growing team. The Dementia Support Co-ordinator will have two roles within our team.

They will manage a small caseload of people living with dementia and their family carers, assessing their needs and interests, giving expert information and advice, finding services for them and then being their point of contact throughout their journey with dementia. They will also assist another DSC in running a group for our members with dementia regularly.

The post holder may also be seconded to work 2 days pw in a south Manchester carers’ support team, with colleagues from other charities. This work will involve outreach into the communities to find more carers and link them to our services and also to run carer wellbeing events and trips.

Together Dementia Support is passionate about improving quality of life for people affected by dementia. We provide a range of high-quality activity groups for people with dementia, helping them to maintain skills, physical health and emotional wellbeing. We provide a befriending scheme for those people unable to attend groups. We also provide a range of individual and peer support services for carers.

Hours

**Role description**

This role requires someone with energy, ideas, and a good understanding of dementia and the needs of both people who live with it and or their family carers. You may have this knowledge through personal experience of dementia or caring, or because you have worked in the care sector.

The post holder is required to work within two teams, managing their work tasks and priorities for the different teams and liaising with colleagues.

The DSC will assess the person with dementia and their family situation and then provide or arrange support for family carers of people living with dementia.

Our groups offer a range of high-quality therapeutic activities as part of an empowering, supportive environment in which each individual is celebrated. The Dementia Support Co-ordinator plans the group session, supervises the volunteers, manages all aspects of health and safety and arranges the transport either in our own in-house bus or using taxi services.

The DSC must be able to quickly build rapport with people and encourage them to access our services whilst assessing their strengths, interests and support needs. The DSC works in partnership with the family carer and may invite them to a group or Dementia Cafe.

The DSC will also get involved in dementia training and other projects that TDS runs. They will contribute to our information, advice and support service to carers and so will need to have a good knowledge of dementia and the relevant support services, whilst continuing to research information and increase their own knowledge.

For the two days of work within the Carers Manchester South team, the DSC will be allocated events and support groups to run with a colleague. They may also attend multi-disciplinary meetings to discuss the needs of carers to their professionals there. They will need to collect data and write reports about the outcomes of events.

**Qualifications**

Educated to A Level or above, or relevant experience

A full UK driver’s licence and access to a vehicle

**Experience & Knowledge**

Experience of working with people living with dementia

Experience of working with / supporting carers

Experience of working face to face with older adults

Comprehensive knowledge of Dementia and the needs of people with a diagnosis and carers

Understanding of person-centred / client centred ways of working

Knowledge about the welfare benefits, mental capacity, POA and Social Services entitlements

Experience of working within, assessing and developing risk assessment procedures

Knowledge and understanding of diversity and equality issues

Understanding of health & safety issues as they affect clients, volunteers and staff

Experience of running group activities (to educate, train or entertain)

**Skills**

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Organisation skills to manage and prioritise own workload

Ability to engage with service users and professionals at all levels

Strong IT skills, particularly in the use of Microsoft Office

Ability to self-support administratively and manage own time

Ability to create and lead imaginative, participatory activity sessions, using music/drama/movement/art

Able to motivate, encourage and support staff & service users

Experience of evaluation and reporting

Able to present / speak to small audiences

**Qualities**

Able to work independently on own initiative and as part of a team

Able to work flexibly and respond to the needs of the organisation

Commitment to professional and personal development

Commitment to the empowerment and support of people with Dementia and their carers

**You must provide a cover letter which thoroughly explai