Community Care Officer

Job Advert

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Business Services Operational Support and Finance Team, we are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who is willing to embrace new challenges. As a Community Care Officer, you will be responsible for monitoring the financial and contractual aspect of care plans, working across multi agency boundaries, communicate effectively with care managers and setting up packages of care within the principals of best value.

You will provide financial administration and advice for the direct payments scheme to clients, practitioners and agencies. You will contribute to the improvement of processes relating to the purchase of services, workflow, systems, administration procedures and by reviewing/ updating associated paperwork and guidance.

Educational:

The minimum level of education is HNC in Business Administration or Finance although Jobholders must be able to demonstrate and ability to research, analyse and draw conclusions. Previous experience of working directly with people with a mixed level of abilities and the ability to elicit and explain information is also essential.

Jobholders must have a sound knowledge of funding sources and the various criteria applied by the social work division and funding organisations.

A working knowledge of a wide range of relevant legal and financial frameworks is required, e.g.

• DWP allowances and benefits in connection with the completion of financial forms and income maximisation is essential and Verification Training will be a requirement.
• The Community Care (Direct Payments)(Scotland) Act is essential.
• The Independent Living Fund and the impact of interagency funding levels is essential for calculations and in order to give advice.
• The National Assistance Act is required to advise on financial assessments and contributions and for complex financial queries, e.g. property and disposal of assets.
• The Community Care & Health (Scotland) Act is required to advise on criteria for personal/nursing care and charging issues.
• The jobholder must keep abreast of legislative and statutory changes to all the above.

In order to be competent in the role the Jobholder requires knowledge of a wide range of roles and organisational activities in addition to procedural knowledge of their own role and understanding of the work of others, ranging across admin, finance, funding sources and service provision.

The administrative and reporting aspects of the work requires an understanding of office procedures and organisation, particularly within Social Work and it is essential that jobholders have good IT skills, particularly the establishment of spread sheets and development of reports. The jobholder must be able to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of client need and an awareness of the context in which Community Care operates.

CLOSING DATE - 8 October 2023 

INTERVIEW DATES – 16 and 17 October 2023 

Vacancy Information

Position Title: Community Care Officer

Position Number: S22310

Directorate: Place

Location: Fairfield House/Hybrid

Contract Status: Permanent

Hours of Work: 36 

Work Pattern: Monday to Friday – 7 hours 12 minutes per day

Weeks per year: 52 weeks per year

Please note that it is Midlothian Councils policy that successful applicants will be appointed to the first point on the salary scale.

Based on you working 36 hours over 52 weeks per year the minimum actual salary for this position is £26,918.62 per annum.

Requirements

Compliance with the mandatory Cabinet Office PSN (Public Sector Network) Code of Connection requires the Council to meet a baseline personal security standard. This requires completion of a disclosure check for all employees who can access official information. The fee for this PSN Disclosure check will be met by you.

Additional Information

If you have difficulty applying for this post or accessing attached documents, or if you have a disability and reasonable adjustment is required, please email recruitment@midlothian.gov.uk to speak to a member of the Recruitment Team stating the post reference number.

Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian. As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations. Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you. Thank you for your patience in this matter.