Our service areas

ASSIST (Our front door)

ASSIST is the front door service for Adult Social Care and provides individuals and professionals with information, advice and assistance.

Our Contact Officers undertake "what matters" conversations with individuals to understand why they may be calling and the outcomes they are looking to achieve. They will provide information and advice or take more detailed referral information to pass on to the appropriate team for further action. The contact officers will always look to resolve queries at the first point of contact if at all possible.

Safeguarding

Our aim is to safeguard individuals by keeping them safe from harm, abuse or neglect.

We have a specialist safeguarding team who are involved in all aspects of adult safeguarding concerns and work in collaboration with internal and external partners.

Appointeeship / Deputyship Unit

In Adult Social Care, we can offer support and act on behalf of individuals who cannot manage their own Property and Financial affairs if they are deemed to lack mental capacity to manage these themselves. This service is only offered to those who are in receipt of a statutory service from Adult Social Services.

If an individual receives Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits the DWP can authorise someone to act on their behalf and this person is called an 'Appointee'.

Appointeeship only authorises the Appointee to manage DWP benefits. In cases where other financial institutions need to be contacted, an application can be made the Court of Protection for the appointment of a Court Appointed Deputy for Property and Financial Affairs.

Social Worker and Social Care Practitioners

We have a number of social worker and social care practitioner roles which span across disabilities, older people and mental health services.

We work with individuals and their families/carers in a strengths-based outcome focussed way, this means we identify their strengths and support networks as well as any care needs.

Our aim is to support people to live their own lives as independently and safely as possible whilst achieving the outcomes which matter to them.

Approved Mental Health Professionals

Our AMHPs are based within our Community Mental Health Teams which are co-located with Powys Teaching Health Board colleagues. They work with individuals who have or are experiencing mental health issues.

All post holders are required to be AMHP qualified and undergo the re-accreditation process at regular intervals. Our AMHPs work within a rota to meet the Council's statutory requirements in respect of the Mental Health Act Assessments.

Occupational Therapists

Our occupational therapy teams support individuals to remain as independent as possible in their own homes.

Individuals are supported through the provision of advice and support on using different techniques to maintain independent living. The team may also arrange for equipment to be provided or adaptations to be made to make everyday living easier and safer for individuals.

The Occupational Therapy team work in partnership with our operational, provider and commissioning teams as well as with housing, health colleagues and the private / voluntary sectors.

Provider Services - Reablement and Domiciliary Care

Powys is a very rural county and along with the Welsh Government we are keen for all adults to have the choice to be able to stay safely in their own home and maintain their independence.

Our Reablement teams work with individuals, on a short-term basis to support them to retain or regain their independence at times of change and transition; this promotes health, well-being, independence, dignity and social inclusion.

Our domiciliary carers work out and about in the community within individuals' homes, where a care need has been assessed.

Home Support

Our Home Support Teams provide an early help and prevention service for individuals (50+) that enables and provides the support and practical assistance they may need in their day-to-day life to live at home with confidence, in good health, independently and safely.

By assisting and providing the right support, individuals can access this support and specialist help when they need it and in doing so we:

• Provide a person-centred, flexible support which is responsive to individual needs.
• Help individuals to help themselves.
• Provide support when individuals need it.
• Provide specialist help.

Access is not means tested or dependent on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Once an individual becomes a member of Home Support they can dip in and out of the service according to their needs without having to be re-referred.

Day Opportunities

In Adult Social Care we have a number of job roles which support individuals who attend day centres or day services.

Our daytime opportunities allow people to get together in a safe place and receive the support they need to, this may be to learn new skills and for many it is also a chance to catch up with old friends. Whilst individuals are attending day opportunities this can also give their carer a break.

Shared Lives

Shared Lives Carers open up their own home to support others such as young people moving into adulthood or individuals living with a lifelong disability.

Our aim is to provide the support individuals need to enable them to live safely and as independently as possible with the support of a family and community network. Shared Lives is based on shared interests and lifestyles and is an alternative to supported living or residential care.

Emergency Duty Team

Our Emergency Duty Team deal with out-of-hour emergency situations which cannot safely be left until the next working day.

Our team work on a rota basis and provide a generic service for the whole of the county on a rota basis; the team works across both Adult and Children's Services disciplines.

Commissioning and Partnership

Commissioning is integral part of Social Services which provides a variety of functions such as planning and understanding about the needs of the population and the types of services they require to enable them to live a good life. Part of this involves establishing and monitoring contracts with organisations to ensure they provide good quality care and support and keep people safe. There are a variety of different roles within the Commissioning Team including contract monitoring, project support, strategic planning, engagement, business support and brokerage. In addition, the Commissioning Team plays a vital role in exploring new models which prevent people from needing services, by working with citizens, the community, third sector and strategic partners.

Administration Team

Our Supervisors and Administrators provide efficient and effective support to our Adult Social Care teams so that they can focus on supporting individuals to achieve what matters to them.

The work is wide ranging with our Administrators taking a lead on pure administrative tasks such as minute taking to support the safeguarding agenda or processing of financial transactions.

Team Structures

For further information on team structures please contact recruitment@powys.gov.uk