Assistant Care Manager Band 5

Job details

• Branch: Belfast HSCT
• Location: KNOCKBRACKEN HEALTHCARE PARK
• Salary: Band 5 (£31,049 - £37,796)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 26/05/26
• Closes: Tue, 09 June 2026 @ 4:30 PM
• Interview Dates: To be confirmed

Notes

“A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title of Post: Assistant Care Manager, Adult Mental Health Services

Grade /Band: Band 5

Reports to: Care Manager (Band 7)

Responsible to: Assistant Service Manager (Band 8A)

Location: Everton Complex / Knockbracken Healthcare Park

Job Summary

The Assistant Care Manager is accountable to the Assistant Services Manager through the Care Manager.

The Assistant Care Manager will work as an integral member of the mental health programme of care. They will be responsible for managing a delegated caseload through effective time management. Their role is crucial in the key functions within Care Management including robust quality monitoring and reviewing of commissioned care. They will update care and support plans, risk assessments and adjust care provision based on the assessed need of Service Users who require personal and social care services.

They will contribute to the co-ordination of a wide range of comprehensive services for Service Users with severe and enduring mental illness within the Belfast Trust area, through liaison with statutory, voluntary and private sectors. They will empower Service Users and their carer(s) to build on existing support networks and live as independently as possible.

The Assistant Care Manager will be responsible for transitioning all Service Users on their caseload onto Self Directed Support.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Assistant care manager promotes SDS and will explain the process to optimise choice to the Service User and their carer(s) in relation to any support provided. They will complete the paperwork for commissioned services.

Independently manage a caseload, establishing priorities within it for Service Users with severe and enduring mental illness and complex care needs. Assistant care manager will complete reviews such as domiciliary, direct payments, residential, nursing and supported housing.

Schedule, chair and record reviews of Service Users who are Care Managed in nursing or residential homes and in receipt of domiciliary packages of care within their own homes. Act upon information gathered, amend care packages, issue revised person centred care and support plans, along with risk assessments, to reflect changes in Service User need and escalate highly complex cases to care managers as required. Discharge and / or transfer appropriately to maintain capacity within the service.

Identify and escalate areas of poor performance within the services that are commissioned. This will include domiciliary, nursing home, residential home and supported living placements. Where necessary, complete quality monitoring forms, request incident forms and liaise with the Governance Department. Follow up on outcomes with Service Users and their carer(s) in line with Quality Monitoring procedures.

Once the Care manager has assessed and commissioned a Direct Payment, a Care Manager Assistant can be delegated to review and monitor appropriate Direct Payments as per statutory requirement. Ensure appropriate use of the Direct Payment account for the commissioned service. Report any financial discrepancies to the Care Manager, Assistant Service Manager and Finance Department as agreed. Work collaboratively with the Finance Department to support Service Users in maintaining the Direct Payment as per Direct Payment Scheme Agreement. Also commission Direct Payments on own delegated caseload, following review.

Identify and manage risk by completing risk matrix within care plans. Assist Care Manager with the completion of risk assessments for complex cases. Promptly report any indicators of changing need.

Adhere to Adult Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. Ensuring that relevant Adult Safeguarding documents are completed and the appropriate processes followed. Where necessary, attend Adult Safeguarding meetings to follow up on protection plans.

Participate in the Care Management team duty system. He/ she will screen, log, prioritise, request multidisciplinary assessments and allocate priority cases to a Care Manager. He/she will respond to any emergencies for the Care Management team via telephone calls and take appropriate action as required. Triage/ allocate complex duty calls/ emails/ incidents to care managers.

Monitor Service User finance records within nursing and residential care as part of the review process. Ensure Service User personal allowance monies are managed appropriately. Highlight discrepancies to Care Manager and report to the Assistant Services Manager. Where necessary, work within the delegated framework and the Finance Department with the implementation of debt recovery and finance repayment plans.

Initiate or attend joint visits with multidisciplinary teams as required. Including case discussions in the community and hospital discharge meetings in hospital.

Work alongside carers, supporting them in their role. Identify new carers and ensure onward referral to appropriate service area. Complete carers assessments.

Engage with Service Users, promoting independence, choice and involvement in care planning and the review of services. Carry out a range of interventions in line with the recovery model. Signpost to voluntary, private and statutory agencies in identifying resources and providing services to meet assessed need. Liaise with Service Users, families and providers to ensure continuation of services. Promote good working partnerships with providers in all sectors.

Advocate on behalf of service users, including those with severe and enduring mental illness and complex needs, at supported living admission panels.

Adhere to Trust policy on handling of Service User monies, when held in the Trust Patients Bank. Support Service Users to access their monies from Trust Patients Bank and deliver to them if required.

Validate domiciliary invoice queries for Admin Lead as required.

Maintain high standards at all times working efficiently and effectively making best use of limited resources/budget.

Service Delivery

Perform their duties in accordance with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies and procedures and in adherence to legislation.

Provide and maintain appropriate case records, reports and statistics in keeping with the Data Protection Act.

Observe confidentiality in respect of his/her exchanges with services users/carers.

Take responsibility for own performance; effectively and efficiently manage a caseload.

Participate fully in the agreement of objective’s, and standards and engage in a performance review on an annual basis.

Maintain staff relationships and compliance with the working well policy.

Participate in an office duty rota for department.

Participate in formal supervision, staff induction, training and other learning as required.

Demonstrate commitment through regular attendance, efficient completion of duties and participation in department/team work activities.

Comply with all Trust policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols.

Comply with Health and Safety Policies and statutory regulations.

Any other duties as may be required to ensure the smooth running of the Service.

General Responsibilities

Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:

At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.

Promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with Belfast Trust’s Whistleblowing Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.

Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.

Maintain high standards of personal accountability.

Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Information Governance

All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

Environmental Cleaning Strategy

The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognizes the key principle that “Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.

Infection Prevention and Control

The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

This includes:-

Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’);

Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique;

Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;

Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet);

Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);

Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and laundry;

Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised;

Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Personal Public Involvement

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE

Assistant Care Manager

Mental Health

BAND

Band 5

DIRECTORATE

Mental Health & Intellectual Disability

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Ideally no more than 6-8 criteria in this section

Method of Assessment

Experience

At least 2 years experience of working with people with mental ill health within a recovery framework.

Proven ability to manage own caseload

Proven ability to identify and manage risk.

Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and agencies.

Hold a current full driving license valid in the UK and have access to a car - this criteria will be waived in the case of an applicant whose disability prohibits driving but who is able to make suitable alternative arrangements.

The candidate must have a willingness to undertake Self Directed Support and Direct Payment training, Quality Improvement and Care Management financial/administrative procedures training as part of their induction to post.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications/ Registration

A relevant Degree or equivalent qualification in Health and Social Care

OR

HNC/ NVQ /QCF Level 4 or equivalent qualification in Health and Social Care, plus two years paid working experience in a Health and Social Care setting

OR

Four years paid working experience in a Health and Social Care setting

AND

Registered with NISCC, or registered at time of commencing post on part 2 of the register.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Excellent range of both verbal and written communication skills.

Interview

Knowledge

Knowledge of the care management process and governance framework.

A working knowledge of RQIA and Trust standards associated with the provision of supported living, residential, nursing and domiciliary care.

Interview

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications

Shortlisting by Application Form

HSC Values

Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role