Age UK Teesside is seeking to recruit Dementia Service and MCST Adviser.
This is a split post working 22.5 hours per week delivering the Dementia Advisor Service and 7.5 hours per week delivering the Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Service. Both services will be based in Woodside and will require the flexibility to deliver home visits and support within community hubs where indicated.
Job Description – Dementia Adviser
This 22.5 hours per week role based in Woodside Hub in Middlesbrough will support people newly diagnosed with dementia and living with dementia as well as providing information and advice to the wider community. Delivery will be via drop-in sessions, group sessions, home visits and signposting.
The Dementia Adviser Service provides a highly responsive and individualised information, signposting and referral service to people with a diagnosis of dementia and those that care for them. As a Dementia Adviser you will assist people with dementia and their carer’s in identifying their needs, providing individuals with support and help to maintain their independence, improving their sense of well-being, and putting them in more control of their lives.
It will be important to ensure any helpful information is received and understood by the service user as well as helping them to access the appropriate services and to contact the right people for the help they need. You will develop and contribute to a database of local information, ensuring continual improvement of the service and growth in organisational knowledge.
This role will require you to build relationships with a range of local contacts. You will network with health and care professionals, marketing the Dementia Adviser service to help people with a diagnosis to get referred to the service as early as possible. As well as developing networks with partner organisations who also work in the field of dementia to promote the aim of empowering individuals living with dementia to make informed choices.
The duties will require the post holder to:
Project Delivery
- Develop and maintain a database of opportunities and community groups/activities being offered within the borough of Middlesbrough and signpost accordingly.
- To deliver 2 x Drop in sessions per week for people living with Dementia offering emotional support, signposting, information and advice and internal/external referrals. One session per week to be delivered at Woodside and one session per week to be delivered in a Community Hub- on a rota basis to ensure the service is geographically accessible.
- To deliver signposting and information and advice via telephone, email and zoom.
- To deliver Home Visits supporting people newly diagnoses with dementia and living with dementia.
- Work collaboratively with other providers to achieve best outcomes for clients, with a particular focus on promoting the service to vulnerable minority groups which may otherwise not engage with the service i.e. BAME and LGBTQ+. To provide detailed reporting on engagement of clients from the above groups to inform learning.
- To attend monthly meetings based at Woodside with carers, clients, external organisations and organisations working within Woodside.
- To complete ‘All About Me’, ‘Life Story’ and ‘My Care’ booklets with clients.
Project Management
- Maintain systems necessary to record information regarding the service
- Collect information assist in the evaluation and overall effectiveness of the service against the set outcomes. Prepare information on improvements and future developments
- Develop and maintain a database of service users and the Dementia Advisor service needs, to be accessible to the local authority for monitoring purposes
- Work with other providers and prepare information on improvements and future development
Communication
- To work closely with organisation operating inside Woodside and liaise with all partners and commissioners on a regular basis
- Work with partners and other identified agencies to promote the wellbeing of clients (patients)
- Work within AUKT policies and procedures
Training and Development
- To complete Age UK Teesside’s in house training and attend relevant training courses as required.
Health and Safety and Data Protection
- Work within AUKT policies and procedures
General
- Work in a positive and professional manner will all partners, stakeholders and relevant organisations to promote the project
- Due to the nature of this project certain tasks are unpredictable and varied and the post holder is therefore expected to be flexible and take on tasks which are not detailed in the job description
- Attend all relevant meetings related to this role
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practice
Job Description – Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Service Adviser
The Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Service will be delivered 1 day per week (7.5) hours. It will provide 2 x 24 week courses of MCST per year for people living with Dementia and their Carers. Courses will be delivered at woodside with each course accommodating a maximum of 8 people.
The duties will require the post holder to:
Project Delivery
- Develop weekly course programmes over the 24 week period in line with MCST training and guidelines
- Deliver MCST sessions to clients and their carers recording outcomes, attendances etc.
- To promote MCST sessions to organisations within Woodside and external organisations to encourage participation and ensure the referral process is clear.
- To deliver a 24 week programme of maintenance cognitive stimulation activities (twice per year) that comply with NICE guidelines.
- To ensure an initial assessment takes place to identify the outcomes that both the carer and the client want to achieve through the service.
- To ensure compliance with Age UK national standards and internal quality assurance systems.
- To monitor the progress of clients and carers throughout their journey with the service including a final assessment at the end of the programme.
- To be a key contact person for health colleagues to engage with and refer clients to, set up initial appointments, identify realistic goals and develop actions plans to ensure agreed health outcomes are achieved.
- To assist clients at the end of their programme to engage with other services offered by the organisation, or by partner agencies, and to keep abreast of their progress within these other groups.
- To work with the Chief Executive to develop marketing and promotional plans and materials.
- To maintain the data management information system (Charitylog) for reporting purposes including producing quality reports for our funders.
- Responsible for Recruiting, training and retaining volunteers.
- To lead, motivate and manage the team to develop the service and ensure continuous improvement and best practice.
- Put the safeguarding of vulnerable adults at the heart of the service. Ensuring, at all times, that the team are fully trained, up-to-date and confident with both complying with best practice and using the Charity’s Safeguarding Policies.
Project Management
- Maintain systems necessary to record information regarding the service
- Collect information assist in the evaluation and overall effectiveness of the service against the set outcomes. Prepare information on improvements and future developments
- Develop and maintain a database of service users and the service user’s needs, to be accessible to the local authority for monitoring purposes
- Work with other providers and prepare information on improvements and future development
Communication
- Work with partners and other identified agencies to promote the wellbeing of clients (patients)
- Work within AUKT policies and procedures
Training and Development
- Complete training as required by Age UK Teesside
Health and Safety and Data Protection
- Work within AUKT policies and procedures
General
- Work in a positive and professional manner will all partners, stakeholders and relevant organisations to promote the project
- Due to the nature of this project certain tasks are unpredictable and varied and the post holder is therefore expected to be flexible and take on tasks which are not detailed in the job description
- Attend all relevant meetings related to this role
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practice
The post may involve occasional evening and weekend work for which time in lieu can be claimed.
The above list is not exhaustive and you will be expected to undertake any other reasonable duties that may be required.
A full driving license and access to a vehicle will be essential to carrying out the duties of the role.
The post holder will be required to complete an enhanced disclosure application with the Disclosure & Barring service (DBS).
Requirements
Age UK Teesside are looking for an individual who possess NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) with an understanding of dementia and the needs of those living with dementia and their carers. Your ability to assess client needs along with the understanding of the need for client confidentially is essential to providing a valuable and worthwhile service. To be successful in this role you will have excellent non-judgmental communication
skills as well as strong organisational and time management skills in order to manage your caseload of clients effectively.
Are you someone who can work well as part of a team and are passionate about improving the quality of life for people living with dementia? Then take the first step and apply today.
If this role is of interest please visit www.ageuk.org.uk/teesside to download and complete the application form and return to anne.sykes@ageukteesside.org.uk by 8th October 2021.
Only those candidates who have been shortlisted will be contacted – interviews will be held during October in Middlesbrough.