Best Interest Assessor Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

East Sussex County Council; Eastbourne; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in the UK is hiring a full-time Best Interest Assessor to join its Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding team. This role involves conducting assessments to safeguard the rights of individuals possibly deprived of their liberty, requiring professional qualifications in social work or related fields. Continuous professional development and experiential training opportunities are provided in a supportive work environment with hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Hybrid working

Access to training

Lease car scheme

Wellness training

Reimbursement of annual professional registration fee

Qualifications

• Must have two or more years post-qualifying experience.
• Ability to balance legal frameworks with human rights principles.
• Demonstrated experience with person-centred assessments.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments under the Mental Capacity Act.
• Review case information and conduct structured interviews.
• Write clear and legally robust reports.

Skills

Assessment and interviewing skills

Liaison and advocacy skills

Safeguarding skills

Ability to construct and present written reports

Ability to work independently and in a team

Education

Registered Social Worker, Nurse, Psychologist, or Occupational Therapist

Qualified Best Interest Assessor

Job description

Description

Do you want to shape decisions that truly put people first and safeguard peoples rights Join us! East Sussex Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding (DoLS) team is looking for a full-time registered professional to complement its team of Best Interest Assessors (BIA).

As a Best Interest Assessor your day will involve working with people who may be deprived of their liberty under the Mental Capacity Act. Youll carry out independent person-centred assessments meeting with individuals their families and care providers to understand needs wishes and risks. Youll balance legal frameworks with human rights principles making recommendations that can profoundly impact someones daily life.

On a practical level this means reviewing case information visiting care homes or hospitals conducting structured interviews liaising with other professionals and writing clear legally robust reports. Youll be expected to weigh up complex and sometimes conflicting viewpoints ensuring that the individuals voice remains central.

Its a role where no two days look the same one day you might be in a care setting talking with staff about restrictions the next youll be meeting a family who want reassurance their relatives rights are being respected. What links every day is the responsibility to safeguard liberty and dignity.

East Sussex DoLS team undertake proportionate assessments on a case load basis. You will need to demonstrate how you assess in a timely articulate way summarising a wide range of evidence to clearly and succinctly demonstrate how you have come to a best interest decision on the deprivation of liberty of a person by their care.

We are a countywide team with hybrid working and an office base at St Marys House in Eastbourne.

The team is professional friendly and supportive. You will receive training regular supervision reflective practice sessions annual legal update and the opportunity to broaden your practice by active participation in educating others in best interest work alongside your DoLS assessment work.

When Liberty Protection Safeguards comes into place we will offer you university-based training.

Professional Background and Experience

Professional qualification and current registration to practice as a Social Worker Occupational Therapist Nurse or Psychologist.

Qualified Best Interest Assessor

Assessment and interviewing skills.

Liaison and advocacy with colleagues and other agencies.

Safeguarding skills.

Ability to construct and present written reports within timescales.

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Ability to work creatively with adults.

You must be a registered Social Worker Nurse Psychologist or Occupational Therapist with two or more years post qualifying experience. A requirement of the role is that you are a Best Interest Assessor. If you are not already a BIA you must successfully gain BIA approval as a requirement of the post.

For more information please download the job description and person specification .

To apply for this role please follow the Apply Now button above and upload your CV with a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria in the person specification.

For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Interviews will take place week commencing 15 December via Microsoft Teams unless you request an in-person interview. If you are unavailable to attend the allocated interview date / time let us know and we may be able to schedule an alternative date / time for you.

Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

There are many rewards working for East Sussex County Council some of these include :

• Hybrid working
• Access to training
• Lease car scheme (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Access to our extensive wellbeing and wellness training.
• Annual Professional registration fee will be reimbursed.

We offer ongoing continue professional development peer supervision and reflective practice spaces.

We value assessor autonomy and professional judgement.

For more information about our diverse range of benefits please click on the link provided benefits page.

For aninformal discussion please contact Carmen Deac (Practice Manager) on or by email

For work that makes a difference choose East Sussex!

Employment Type: Full Time

Vacancy: 1