Care Broker

Key Duties / Responsibilities 1. To gather information from operational teams (childrens and adults) in respect of the needs of children / adults who require a placement / care package 2. To work alongside social care staff, residents and families, as necessary, to understand fully care needs to be sourced and to help the professional or individual to articulate the need in terms that can be used to source an appropriate care package/placement 3. To appropriately maximise use of in-house provisions then to utilise frameworks, where these are available, to source placements and care packages from. 4. To make appropriate recommendations for care provision where the Care Broker believes there is an alternative source of care that can meet the individuals assessed needs. 5. To thoroughly understand the local and national care market and options available to ensure sourcing of care has a focus on best value for money and the use of the public pound. 6. To have a good understanding of what constitutes fair cost of care in order to negotiate with providers to achieve the best priced placement should the placement need to be made off framework that can meet the child/adults assessed needs escalating to the Senior Care Broker should the provider not wish to negotiate 7. To understand the types of care provision that is available to meet the needs of individuals within Stoke-on-Trent and further afield ensuring, where this is possible and appropriate, that the individual is placed as close to their home, family and friendship group as possible. 8. To provide support and information, through a Hub and Spoke model to operational teams on possible alternative sources of care/service in line with council vision and priorities. 9. To gather information from providers on the availability of residential/fostering/supported accommodation for children and domiciliary care/extra care / residential and nursing home for adults 10. To analyse and information gather coherently and efficiently to enable recommendations for placement options to be made as appropriate 11. To support the Senior Care Brokers (children and adults) to maintain databases of providers and vacancies 12. To gather information for Senior Care Brokers, contract monitoring and quality assurance staff to monitor performance of providers 13. To collate statistical information to assist in quality assurance of providers 14. To negotiate with providers where appropriate to secure efficiencies and ensure the council resources are used only to pay for services received. 15. To accurately complete and maintain individual placement agreements outlining the service/outcomes to be purchased from service providers 16. To ensure care records of children and adults accurately reflect up to date placement / care package information 17. To ensure any other systems e.g. finance accurately reflect placement / care package details 18. To actively develop and maintain good working relationships with all users of the service e.g. providers, operational staff, and service users 19. To operate in an open manner and ensure that managers are kept informed of key issues 20. To assist in promoting a culture of equality of opportunity, achievement, responsibility and personal growth 21. To provide high quality customer service in line with service standards 22. To assist with the development of the personalised commissioning service 23. To ensure processes and policies are implemented and maintained in accordance with the needs of the service. 24. To take part in the shift pattern relevant to the operational services being supported, work flexibly outside these hours when required. 25. To attend meetings with professionals as and when required. 26. Quality assure referral paperwork, ensuring the best possible placements can be identified. 27. Any other duties appropriate to the post. Job description Job responsibilities Key Duties / Responsibilities 1. To gather information from operational teams (childrens and adults) in respect of the needs of children / adults who require a placement / care package 2. To work alongside social care staff, residents and families, as necessary, to understand fully care needs to be sourced and to help the professional or individual to articulate the need in terms that can be used to source an appropriate care package/placement 3. To appropriately maximise use of in-house provisions then to utilise frameworks, where these are available, to source placements and care packages from. 4. To make appropriate recommendations for care provision where the Care Broker believes there is an alternative source of care that can meet the individuals assessed needs. 5. To thoroughly understand the local and national care market and options available to ensure sourcing of care has a focus on best value for money and the use of the public pound. 6. To have a good understanding of what constitutes fair cost of care in order to negotiate with providers to achieve the best priced placement should the placement need to be made off framework that can meet the child/adults assessed needs escalating to the Senior Care Broker should the provider not wish to negotiate 7. To understand the types of care provision that is available to meet the needs of individuals within Stoke-on-Trent and further afield ensuring, where this is possible and appropriate, that the individual is placed as close to their home, family and friendship group as possible. 8. To provide support and information, through a Hub and Spoke model to operational teams on possible alternative sources of care/service in line with council vision and priorities. 9. To gather information from providers on the availability of residential/fostering/supported accommodation for children and domiciliary care/extra care / residential and nursing home for adults 10. To analyse and information gather coherently and efficiently to enable recommendations for placement options to be made as appropriate 11. To support the Senior Care Brokers (children and adults) to maintain databases of providers and vacancies 12. To gather information for Senior Care Brokers, contract monitoring and quality assurance staff to monitor performance of providers 13. To collate statistical information to assist in quality assurance of providers 14. To negotiate with providers where appropriate to secure efficiencies and ensure the council resources are used only to pay for services received. 15. To accurately complete and maintain individual placement agreements outlining the service/outcomes to be purchased from service providers 16. To ensure care records of children and adults accurately reflect up to date placement / care package information 17. To ensure any other systems e.g. finance accurately reflect placement / care package details 18. To actively develop and maintain good working relationships with all users of the service e.g. providers, operational staff, and service users 19. To operate in an open manner and ensure that managers are kept informed of key issues 20. To assist in promoting a culture of equality of opportunity, achievement, responsibility and personal growth 21. To provide high quality customer service in line with service standards 22. To assist with the development of the personalised commissioning service 23. To ensure processes and policies are implemented and maintained in accordance with the needs of the service. 24. To take part in the shift pattern relevant to the operational services being supported, work flexibly outside these hours when required. 25. To attend meetings with professionals as and when required. 26. Quality assure referral paperwork, ensuring the best possible placements can be identified. 27. Any other duties appropriate to the post.