Senior Best Interests Assessor

Description:

Senior Best Interests Assessor
Newham
Up to £35/hr
Hybrid working
Duration: 3 months
Skill: On-site Assessments (Hospitals / Care homes / Re-habilitation Centres etc.)
Preferable own mode of Transport (mileage will be covered)

AKTON Recruitment is working closely with the local authorities and we are looking for an experience Senior Best Interest Assessor in the Newham area. 3 - 6 months contract.

Overview
Are you an experienced, registered Social Worker/ Occupational Health, with Best Interest Assessor qualification who is passionate about protecting Human Rights of adults at risk and residents in optimising the safety, well being and quality of life of residents? An exciting opportunity has arisen to the post of Senior Best Interests Assessor within DoLS Team, Safeguarding, Quality, and Workforce Development service area.

The DoLS Service manages London Borough of Newham's statutory responsibilities in relation to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. This includes ensuring practice improvement in the area of Consent, Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, arranging the required professional assessments, dealing with any challenges or complaints as well as managing increasing numbers of legal challenges to The Court of Protection for individuals where there is an objection to any Standard Authorisation.

The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the service, including workflow and referral management and the line management of staff members. A key part of the role is working collaboratively across the Adults and Health Directorate, the Local Authority and with our local partners both in borough and in neighbouring boroughs.

About the Role
The Senior Best Interests Assessor conducts assessments and reviews under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to assess mental capacity for relevant decisions and establish if a person is being deprived of their liberty and ensure decisions made are in their best interests. Utilising expertise to obtain, evaluate and analyse complex evidence and differing views to arrive at robust decisions.

Part of this role is to provide quality assurance of assessments completed under the legislation to ensure timely authorisation. This will involve addressing practice issues to ensure person centred and legally compliant practice based on evaluation and analysis of complex evidence. Ensuring detailed record keeping, clarity and professional reasoning in reports to meet legal requirements and professional standards.

This role must be an experienced practitioner, able to practice independently, with a level of autonomy, demonstrating expert and effective practice in complex situations, assessing and managing higher levels of risk, striking balance between support and control, liaising with a wide range of professionals, including senior levels.

Overall Purpose of Job

Utilise knowledge/experience effectively in completing assessments and investigations within a legal framework of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) carrying out complex and detailed assessments of vulnerable adults in care homes and hospitals and in other settings to determine whether they are being deprived of their liberty and if so whether this in their best interests.

Work collaboratively to model good practice, setting expectations for others, taking responsibility for the practice of others. Provide quality assurance, through supervision of colleagues or students and /or local leadership of practice.

To work with the Team Manager Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2008 to ensure the efficient operational management of the MCA DoLS service and the delivery of high quality, responsive, and safe best interests assessments.

Responsible for evaluation and analysis of complex evidence to ensure robust decisions underpinned by detailed evidence. Ensure detailed record keeping, clarity and professional reasoning in reports to meet legal requirements and professional standards.

Responsible for supporting staff in the London Borough of Newham and partner agencies (including providers) by offering professional subject matter expert advice in matters of the Mental Capacity Act in law and practice, promoting high professional standards and compliance with the Act, deprivation of liberty safeguards, protecting human rights and local procedures, facilitating development of best practice amongst BIAs and workers with Adult Social Care