Team Leader

at  Wiltshire Council

The Team Leader contributes to leading the service and on the implementation of standards within the settings to ensure that a person-centred approach is adopted and embedded throughout the whole team ensuring that a comprehensive effective and safe service is delivered in line with CQC standards. The Team Leader has day to day responsibility for overseeing the running of their support teams; The Team Leader also works with therapy staff, social care colleagues council colleagues, customers, carers and external partner agencies. The Team Leader will support the Registered Manager to ensure staff are trained and are competent to do their job well. The Team Leader will have overall responsibility for ensuring any gaps in staff competencies are identified and the appropriate resources are put in place.
The Team Leader will be responsible for ensuring that the staff have the right training at the right time to ensure the care and support provided to customers is of a high quality. As a member of the senior staff group, the Team Leader will share in the overall supervisory and management system of the team which is geared towards maintaining good staff morale and the promotion of excellent professional practice. The Team Leader will assist with HR procedures where appropriate. Specific duties and responsibilities include: Provide day to day management of work for a group of support and senior care support workers who will be responsible for offering a range services.
This will include an ability to allocate work appropriately to re-prioritise work and to be responsive to the needs of a fast paced service. This will include proactively managing performance, conducting regular supervision and appraisals, ensuring training is up to date and CPD records are kept, and other line management duties as they arise. Support the Registered Manager in the pursuance of excellent practice in line with relevant standards and regulations including the CQC Inspection framework. Have a good understanding of the compliance requirements relating to the Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) used in CQC inspections.
Support the Registered Manager with implementing systems to maintain compliance in accordance with KLOEs. Assist the Registered Manager with implementing Wiltshire Councils Quality Management Policy including management auditing of the spot checking and programme, carrying out satisfaction surveys, monitoring staff performance and assisting with investigations if appropriate. Be responsible for KPIs which monitor the quality and appropriateness of the service being delivered. Continuously promote safeguarding practices in all aspects of work and in line with service and council policy to protect customers from abuse.
Provide supervision and support to experienced senior care support workers; the postholder is required to have excellent knowledge and ability in relation to registered activity. Actively engage in individual and group supervision and embed learning in practice. Undertake appraisals in line with Wiltshire Council Policy. Set and monitor standards and performance of supervisees in line with support plans and quality assurance policies.
Assist with the planning and delivery of staff meetings and staff development programmes. The postholder will be expected to arrange meetings, invite attendees, develop agendas and chair/lead the meetings in the absence of the Registered Manager. Feedback should besought from attendees on the format and content of future meetings to ensure they remain effective. Staff development needs should be identified and discussions on how to meet them should take place with the Registered Manager.
Assist the Registered Manager in the management of costs associated in delivering the service. This may include ensuring that rotas are scheduled in a time effective way and monitoring travel expenses and training. Overview of the petty cash and authorising appropriate spend. The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the service delivers good value for money this may involve having difficult conversations.
Develop and maintain a service, in consultation with Occupational Therapists, customers, family, carers and stakeholders, promoting a person-centered strengths based approach to care. This will require drawing on previous knowledge and application of taking a person-centred approach to support, and embedding this approach in the rest of the team, through meetings, supervision and documentation (e.g. reviewing support plans with Senior Support Workers). The postholder should be able to advise senior support workers with their development and direct them to suitable guidance / further reading where required.
Where any supervisee is consistently not performing at the required level, council policies should be followed, such as the Improving work performance policy. Manage complex and contentious issues in a calm and professional manner, ensuring information is shared when appropriate and that feedback on improvements to service delivery with recommendations to improve are made to ensure service delivery is of a high standard. The postholder will be required to make quick decisions sometimes without full information. They will need to draw on their past experience, strong knowledge of operational working practices and legislative guidelines.
To advise, co-ordinate and oversee the teams responsibility regarding medication, MARS and the policy and procedures relating to administration of medication within a registered service. To assure that all support plans relating to medication are current and compliant with CQC registration. To manage and monitor the electronic call monitoring system (ECMS); Communicate the care visit schedule and any other information considered necessary to the team of care support workers providing any additional guidance and support. Monitor support visits through the ECMS, responding to any late or missed calls.
Escalate any issues that may affect delivery of service to the Registered Manager. Ensure that there are appropriate numbers of staff on the rota to meet the customer and operational demands. Work with other areas to manage resources to ensure the overall service remains safe. The postholder will have contact with a wide variety of staff, customers, their carers and senior managers, including Heads of Service.
They must act with professionalism and make justifiable decisions with authority to ensure the needs of customers and the service are met. To participate in the recruitment, induction and development of staff within the area of responsibility, following council procedures. New employees should have a thorough induction to the role to acclimatise them within the team, but also expected working practices and culture. Staff development needs will change based on the needs of customers and the service.
Development will happen on an ongoing basis through supervision, informal discussions, team meetings and by requesting training based on training needs analysis or newly recommended best practice or legislative changes. Support the Registered Manager with training needs assessment information so that relevant and required training is provided to all staff. This will mean ensuring that the Registered Manager has an up to date picture of the training needs of staff and is provided withsuggestions as to how to meet these needs. Where practicable, the postholder should arrange for mandatory training, whether lapsed or required for a new starter, to be undertaken as soon as possible.
To support the Registered Manager with health and safety legislation by undertaking H & S audits and risk assessments and mandatory H & S training is completed on an annual basis, and that accurate and thorough records are kept. The postholder should take remedial action where possible, such as booking staff on to necessary training. Escalate any concerns to the Registered Manager. Actively participate in the development of policies and procedures within the Wiltshire Support at Home team Support the Registered Manager in the event of any serious incident or complaint, drawing on knowledge of council policies, best practice and legislative guidelines.
A heightened level of responsibility will apply when the Registered Manager is unavailable. Decisions made in these circumstances will have wide repercussions and must be made with sound judgement and authority, following council policy and legislative guidelines. Participate in the On-call out of hours manager rota to provide support to Senior Staff overseeing the service delivery. Respond appropriately and effectively to situation that may arise ensuring customer and staff safety as a priority.
Escalate any concerns that may have arisen during the out of hours service to EDS if urgent advice/support required or to the Registered Manager/HOS at the soonest available opportunity. Promote wider community involvement with staff in the team, including the NHS, the voluntary sector and independent providers. To take every opportunity to work with partners, e.g. White Board Meetings; Wiltshire Health and Care Home First Meetings and Skills for Care Meetings etc with the view of how can we work together

Please refer the Job description for details