ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON UPON THAMES
JOB DESCRIPTION
Department:
Learning and Children’s Services Job Title: Home and Community Support
Advisor
Section:
Protection and Early Help
Grade
F
Hours:
36
Post No:
209130
RELATIONSHIPS
1. Responsible to:
 Home and Community Support Service Coordinator,
2. Responsible for:
 Home and Community Support Workers
 Play and Leisure Workers
3. Important functional relationships:
 Staff within the Integrated Disabled Children’s Service Disabled Children’s
Team and all staff in the Integrated Services
 Service Managers and Team Managers across Learning and Children’s
Services
 All staff across Children’s Social Care and Protection and Early Help
4. Important external relationships:
 Disabled children, young people and their families
 All relevant partner organisations for whom and with whom the Council does
business including schools, early years providers, extended services, the
private and voluntary sector including foster carers and residential care
providers
 Kingston residents and other council customers
MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB
To assist the Home and Community Support Service Coordinator in the operation of
the service which provides sessional staff who offer practical support to families in
the care of their disabled children.
To deputise in the absence of the HCS coordinator in the day to day operation of the
service.
Prepared by:
Date:
Disabled Children’s Service
Agreed by:
Date:
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF JOB
1. Respond to general enquiries and referrals to the Home and Community
Support Service in liaison with managers in the Disabled Children’s Service.
2. Respond to urgent referrals in the absence of the manager.
3. As directed by the Home and Community Support Service Coordinator, link
sessional workers with children and families according to the skills and
abilities of the worker and the assessed needs of the children.
4. Provide supervision to Home and Community Support Workers/ Play and
Leisure Workers and ensure practice complies with the National Minimum
Standards for Domiciliary Care.
5. Undertake home visits to draw up and review service agreements, which
include risk assessments, behaviour management plans and moving and
handling plans.
6. Undertake Risk Assessments in children’s homes or in community facilities, to
advise Home and Community Support Workers of safe working practices.
Provide Moving and Handling Care Plans and ensure that Home and
Community Support Workers comply with such plans.
7. Arrange a variety of specialist holiday activities for disabled children which
meet OFSTED requirements and comply with Domiciliary Care Regulations.
This may involve planning, recruitment, supervising and running groups on a
day to day basis. This may involve driving the Mini Bus.
8. To Risk assess a variety of activities and venues which can be used by the
holiday groups and Individual Home and Community Support workers.
9. Provide outreach and support to play providers to enable them to support
Disabled Children in their settings.
10. Assist the Home and Community Support Service Coordinator in the general
organisation and co-ordination of the sessional staff. Provide support to
Support Workers to include






Responding to a range of staff concerns
Processing time sheets and expense claims
Addressing payroll issues
Monitoring compliance with working time directives
Recording sickness absence
Arranging cover at short notice
11. Assist the Home and Community Support Service Coordinator in planning
and delivering a training programme for Support Workers. As required attend
evening training events and group supervision sessions.
12. Input, maintain and ensure accuracy of the Home and Community Support
Service databases to include accurate data input on ICS and providing data to
inform scrutiny requirements and the annual report.
13. Assist with monitoring the budget and track the use of Home and Community
Support Service Flexi vouchers.
14. Contribute to the design, production and distribution of promotional and
publicity materials, including newsletters, and attend promotional events.
15. Attend regular supervision sessions with the line manager and participate in
training courses relevant to the post.
General

To work flexibly as and when required and available, which will include
weekends and may include early starts and finishes.

Attend regular supervision meetings in line with departmental policy.

Participate in relevant training as per the role requirements and keep up to
date with developments in the specialist field of disabled children.

Exercise responsibility under the Health & Safety at Work Act, as laid down
within departmental and RBK procedures.

Actively promote and work in accordance with RBK’s equalities policy.

Provide a service in a manner that respects the civil rights and dignity of the
individual and ensures that due consideration is given to issues of disability,
gender, racial origin, religion, cultural and linguistic background.
To undertake any other duties that might from time to time arise within the overall
responsibilities and grading of this post. The duties of this post may change over time, the
post-holder is expected to monitor such changes and, in conjunction with the Team Leader:
Specialist Services prepare appropriate changes to the job description.
PERSON SPECIFICATION / PROFILE
Home and Community Support Advisor
Attribute
Education/Qualifications
Essential
Educated to GCSE level

Relevant Child Care Qualification e.g. NNEB,
NVQ Level 3 in childcare

Experience
Direct work with disabled children in voluntary or statutory
settings
Experience of disability / carers issues
Experience of office systems



Knowledge
Knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004

Knowledge of the Domiciliary Care Standards and
Regulations (Care Standards Act 2000)

Disability Discrimination Act

Ofsted Standards
Skills/Attributes

Ability to work directly and communicate effectively with
children and parents

Ability to understand disability issues and respond
sensitively to service users

Ability to work in a multi-agency setting

Ability to work on own initiative, prioritise and meet
deadlines

Comprehensive ICT skills including use of Microsoft Word,
Excel and email

Good standard of literacy and numeracy

Good organisational skills.

Desirable
Special Working Conditions
Required to work unsocial hours and at weekends

Ability to travel to different locations throughout the
borough

Valid Driving licence

Required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check
