Direct Payments Lead — Hybrid, Policy & Training Champion

South Gloucestershire Council; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking a Direct Payments Lead within Adult Social Care to shape, promote and simplify direct payments for service users and carers. You will develop guidance, ensure legal compliance, and drive improvements in practice across teams.

You will design training, monitor policy changes, work with partners to share learning, and use performance data to demonstrate value for money. The role is 12-month limited and hybrid, with DBS clearance required.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience within Adult Social Care.
• Strong knowledge of the Care Act and ability to apply it in complex situations.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and up-to-date understanding of social care legislation.
• Experience designing and delivering training for practitioners.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Digital confidence with Mosaic, SharePoint, Teams and Excel.

Responsibilities

• It will be your responsibility to provide specialist advice and expertise on direct payments, developing and maintaining clear guidance, policies and procedures that are accessible, up to date and legally compliant.
• You will monitor national policy and legislative documents, translating changes into local practice to ensure consistent, effective and compliant approaches are embedded across Adult Social Care.
• To build knowledge, confidence and capability among practitioners and operational teams, you will design and deliver training, workshops and development opportunities.
• Drawing on your specialist knowledge, you will identify opportunities for innovation, developing solutions that improve processes, promote best practice and drive continuous service improvement.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, commissioners and external providers, you will provide advice, share learning and support a consistent approach to direct payments.
• Using performance data and management information, you will monitor outcomes and financial benefits, evaluating impact, identifying opportunities for improvement and demonstrating value for money.

Job description

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking a Direct Payments Lead within Adult Social Care to shape, promote and simplify direct payments for service users and carers. You will develop guidance, ensure legal compliance, and drive improvements in practice across teams.

You will design training, monitor policy changes, work with partners to share learning, and use performance data to demonstrate value for money. The role is 12-month limited and hybrid, with DBS clearance required.