Independent Living Service Coordinator - Belfast

About the role
This is a great opportunity to join our Independent Living team.

The Independent Living Service Co-ordinator will be responsible for building strong, positive relationships, liaising with hospital staff and other medical professionals in the community, including GP surgeries, to receive patient referrals. Thorough records will be required to evaluate and analyse the outcomes of the services, and this will be the responsibility of the Service Co-ordinator.

Other responsibilities will include assigning incoming referrals to a Support Assistant, monitoring the service delivery, ensuring service health and safety, evaluating progress, overseeing record-keeping, recruiting, engaging and managing volunteers, attending hospital meetings, and ensuring the team works together seamlessly.

The Service Coordinator will be expected to carry out needs and risk assessments, and for drafting support plans with service users which promote independence.

The post holder will also be required to:

• Develop and maintain effective and productive relationships with potential referrers. This will involve representing the service at external meetings relevant to the promotion and development of the service as required.
• Assess referrals against service criteria and accept those that meet the criteria.  Liaise with the Service Manager where referrals do not fall within the scope of the service.
• Ensure that the service is efficient, reliable and delivered consistently with national and local guidelines, using the Quality Standards Framework as a basis for assessment.
• Collaborate with colleagues within the area to establish effective working relationships through regular contact and meetings.
• Provide support to the volunteers delivering the Support at Home Service.
• Work with relevant business partners in the recruitment, induction, development, training and engagement of volunteers providing the service.
• To be a contingency for other Service Co-ordinators during periods of absence.

About the organisation
The British Red Cross helps millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, disasters and conflicts.

Our volunteers and staff help people in crisis to live independently by providing support at home, mobility aids and transport. We also teach first aid skills.

We are part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian network. We refuse to ignore people in crisis.

About the team
The Independent Living (IL) & Crisis Response (CR) service (IL/CR) supports people in the space between hospital and home and responds to the needs of people in crisis following an emergency; maintaining an extensive network of external relationships across health, social care, and emergency services.

About the person
We keep the service user at the heart of what we do, working to understand their needs and the differences we can make. The successful applicant will be/have:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Managing time and responding to and prioritising a range of competing demands through time management.
• Able to plan own workload.
• Ability to deal with queries in a diplomatic, professional and confidential manner.
• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent by experience.
• IT literate.
• Knowledge of people management.
• Understanding of how to improve service quality for the benefit of users.
• Knowledge of services provided by the NHS and Social Care.
• Full driving licence holder and access to vehicle.
• Leading people: Motivating, directing and supporting others to achieve the Red Cross vision, mission and strategy.
• Willingness to work flexible hours.

[Please click here to view the full job description and person specification for this position.]

Closing date for applications is (23:59), Wednesday 22nd March 2017.
Interviews will take place weeks commencing 3rd April 2017.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, these include:

• 36 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• Up to 6% contributory pension
• Childcare vouchers

Should you have any questions on this role please contact Marina Kelly Independent Living Operations Manager on [email protected] or [email protected] quoting reference REQ0000012XA

The British Red Cross is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences - including disabled and ethnic minority candidates. This is to contribute to the breadth of experience we need to respond to people in crisis.

As part of its recruitment and selection process the British Red Cross undertakes Access NI checking of all individuals who regularly work with or have access to children and vulnerable adults. The cost of this will be met by the organisation.

The British Red Cross, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738).

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Refusing to ignore people in crisis.