**This is a Part-Time role, 26 hours per week***

This role offers a highly competitive salary, flat rate allowance payable at 10% (dependent on hours) and excellent training opportunities to support individual and service develop.

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change.

The Role

The Adult Social Care function supports vulnerable people, their families and networks. This role delivers direct provision of services to people with a learning disability and/or autism and their families and reports to an experienced registered home's manager. This is a great opportunity to make a difference to people's lives and work in a dynamic and person-centred way.

The Advanced Skills Worker role is a new and exciting opportunity. The worker is responsible for leading on practice, both facilitating and supporting people with a learning disability and/or autism to live safe, healthy and meaningful lives as part of their communities from a CQC registered residential short break home setting. They work as a key part of a supportive and diverse team and have excellent skills to work independently alongside people, their families, networks and communities.

The role is responsible for the effective practice in a residential home environment, providing support and guidance to adults and their families to ensure robust support through excellent adult social care practice. It is essential that a caring, safe and secure environment is created on a day to day basis alongside specialist expertise to enhance the opportunities to improve outcomes for people.

As an experienced and professional practitioner, the post holder will utilise their expertise in care planning and work directly with adults and colleagues to meet individual outcomes. They will also provide day to day practice guidance to other residential home staff and will formally supervise other residential workers and assistants as determined by the Homes manager.

Role Specific Accountabilities

* Responsible for leading and managing shifts effectively to ensure you create and maintain a suitable safe and secure home environment for adults. Contributes to the progressive living and working environment which balances opportunities and risks within a therapeutic culture.

* Develops and supports trusting relationships between staff and adults and ensures that the service is able to provide progression and development of independence within a residential setting that links with the local community.

* Responsible for ensuring adherence to a quality and policy framework in day to day practices. Work collaboratively with managers and appropriate stakeholders to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulations as relevant to residential homes.

* Responsible for ensuring outcomes for people are developed on an individual basis whilst being proactive in identifying and monitoring risks and reviewing support plans.

* Responsible for supporting meetings both in the home and outside to ensure that they are beneficial to staff and the residents, supporting a positive learning culture within the home.

* Support the development of staff across the service, ensuring building specialist knowledge and expertise to enhance the capability of the service.

We are seeking people who are committed to enabling people with a Learning disability and/or autism to live meaningful lives, they will be:

* Educated to RFQ Level 3 or 4 Caring for adults and/or willing to attain this within 24 months and/or equivalent by experience.
* Have an excellent understanding of the range of strengths, assets, risks and opportunities for people with a learning disability and/or autism.
* Experience of continued professional development and knowledge in a relevant professional setting.
* Have excellent communication and listening skills and the ability to engage with others effectively at all levels
* Knowledge of a broad range of theories and practices together with relevant policies and legislative framework.
* Experience of using relevant technology and supporting others.
* Experience of leading shifts and providing sleep-in cover at residential homes together with experience of leading and facilitating adult group meetings.
* Experience of using and supporting others to use person centred approaches and respect for dignity, privacy and promoting choice.
* Willing to undertake mandatory training and lead on areas of practice.