CARERS UK
ADVICE AND INFORMATION HOSPITAL & RESOURCES WORKER
SALARY:
£22,554 – 25,854 plus £3,348 ILW
HOURS:
35 hours per week
ANNUAL LEAVE:
25 days + 3 days to be taken at Christmas when the office
is closed
PENSION:
5% salary contribution to Group Personal Pension
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Islington Carers Hub Manager and Head of Advice and
Information
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
The provision of advice and information services to carers.
The post delivers advice from UCL and Whittington
Hospitals and takes the lead on the creation and
development of information resources for the Islington
Carers Hub service.
POST BASED AT:
Islington Carers Hub office at 225-229 Seven Sisters Road,
London, N4 2DA and at the two hospitals
.
DURATION OF CONTRACT:
March 2015
JOB DESCRIPTION
Aim of the Post

To provide the information and advice service within UCL and Whittington hospitals
on behalf of Islington Carers Hub.

To create and maintain a range of information resources, including website based
resources, for carers.

To take the lead on delivering carer related information and updates through the
communications channels used by Islington Carers Hub, including our website,
Facebook and Twitter.

To provide carers with detailed and accurate advice and information on social security
and community care law and the local services and health support available in
Islington.

Networking with a broad range of professionals with a view to implementing and
developing new advice and information services.
Main Duties

To deliver weekly advice and information service to carers visiting patients at both
UCH and Whittington Hospitals on behalf of Islington Carers Hub (ICH) and
occasionally to provide cover for other staff in a variety of locations across the
borough.

To provide accurate and detailed advice and information on a range of social
welfare legislation and practice - including welfare benefits, community care law
and the local services and health support available in Islington face to face, over
the telephone, by email, in writing and by other media as appropriate.

To keep accurate case records of the advice given to carers and others.

To identify, create, edit and update a broad range of clear and accurate written
information resources for IICH. The resources will include web based resources,
newsletters, information packs and factsheets.

To take the lead on delivering carer related information through the
communications channels used by Islington Carers Hub, including our website,
Facebook and Twitter.

To develop and maintain a thorough understanding of local services for carers,
and the people they are looking after.

To keep up to date with developments in legislation and the policy and practice of
statutory and voluntary agencies nationally, and in Islington, that may affect the
rights of carers or the people they look after.

To network with professionals with a view to implementing and developing new
advice services for carers.

To develop excellent working relationships with other voluntary sector agencies,
local authority and health staff and employers and to work in partnership with
them to promote, enhance and deliver services.

To ensure that the carers’ advice and information service is promoted amongst
carers and professionals, including GPs surgeries, health professionals, sister
organisations etc.

To ensure that hidden carers and those from vulnerable or excluded groups have
access to advice, information and support and to actively work to promote
Islington Carers Hub amongst these groups.

To give presentations on the work of Islington Carers Hub, the support available
in the borough and carers’ needs to a variety of audiences.

To deliver information events and training in Islington.

To collect relevant information for the purposes of monitoring, evaluation,
feedback and improvement of services.

To work in co-operation with colleagues from within Carers UK.

In co-operation with the other teams within Carers UK, to work towards keeping
colleagues, carers and outside organisations aware of developments in
legislation or in the policy or practice of statutory and non statutory bodies. To
attend meetings with such bodies as appropriate.

To attend staff meetings and Carers UK staff conferences as directed.

To work at all times in accordance with all policies and procedures of Carers UK.

To be self servicing in the use of IT such as Microsoft Office including
spreadsheet and database programmes.

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the post as
required by the Head of Advice and Information.
Person Specification
Essential skills/experience required

Recent in depth knowledge of welfare rights legislation and practice as it affects
carers and people with disabilities, including the ability to calculate benefit
entitlements, or in depth knowledge of community care legislation and practice as
it affects carers and people with disabilities.

A demonstrable ability to learn about various areas of social welfare law,
specifically hospital discharge procedures, community care or welfare rights; the
health and social care support available to carers and the people they are looking
after in Islington; and the working practices of relevant local and national service
providers.

The ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

The ability to develop and maintain effective outreach partnerships with medical
and social care staff. You will need to be able to demonstrate experience of
working in partnership with other organisations to deliver services.

The ability to complete all necessary Occupational Health and Health and Safety
training that is mandatory for all hospital based staff.

Experience of producing clear and accurate information resources in a variety of
different formats for different audiences.

An interest in developing your skills in using social media as a communication
tool for ICH.

The ability to work independently from various locations, demonstrate initiative,
be comfortable in a variety of environments and enjoy working with people.

Experience of instigating, developing and promoting new services.

Experience of networking and developing excellent working relationships with a
broad range of organisations.

Experience of delivering presentations.

A track record of meeting targets and deadlines.

Extensive experience of communicating complex information regarding carers
rights over the telephone, by email, in writing and face to face.

Willingness to work in a number of different locations.

Experience of maintaining accurate records of all advice given.

An ability to juggle a variety of tasks and meet competing deadlines.

Willingness to work under pressure and to respond to carers queries within short
timescales.

Excellent listening and interpersonal skills including the ability to work sensitively
with individuals who are under a lot of pressure.

The ability to represent Carers UK at meetings.

An understanding of the problems faced by carers.

Good IT skills – including demonstrated proficiency in programmes such as
Microsoft Office including spreadsheet and database skills.

Ability to create good working relationships with staff in Carers UK and other
organisations.

An understanding of equal opportunities