Referral & Assessment Practitioner

Home-based with some travel across the region

Salary: £35,000 - £37,000 + (OTE Bonus Scheme)

Do you have a strong background in social care, mental health, or housing with a passion for delivering person-centered support? Lifeways is seeking an experienced Referral & Assessment Practitioner to join our team and play a pivotal role in supporting individuals with learning disabilities and complex needs.

Overview

At Lifeways, we’re proud to be the UK’s largest provider of support for adults with complex needs, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Over 2023/24, we embarked on a transformative journey, investing in new systems, services, and talent to enhance the care we provide. With over 4,000 people supported, 1,500 services, and 11,000 dedicated colleagues, our mission is clear: to be the provider and employer of choice in social care.

About the Role

As a Referral & Assessment Practitioner, you will be responsible for:

• Assessing the diverse support needs of individuals referred to Lifeways’ services, using emotional intelligence and professional expertise.
• Conducting assessments face to face or virtually online.
• Promoting a recovery-oriented approach, tailoring assessments to individual circumstances.
• Developing clear, high-quality assessments that form the foundation of effective support plans. These plans need to be detailed and thorough but also recognise that there is a person at the end of the assessment waiting for a placement, so the ability to prioritise is key.
• Collaborating with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure cohesive service delivery.
• Producing detailed financial costings for support proposals and securing funding agreements.
• Coordinating transitions to ensure a smooth move into our services.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Assessment Expertise: Demonstrated ability to assess a wide range of support needs, analysing referral information and identifying gaps to create comprehensive care plans.
• Sector Experience: Proven experience within the care, health, and/or housing sectors, particularly in learning disabilities, autism, or mental health.
• Knowledge and Promotion of Recovery: Strong understanding of mental health, contributors to poor mental health, and risk management.
• Financial Acumen: Experience in developing financial costings for support packages.
• Analytical Skills: High-level ability to interpret complex information and apply it effectively.
• Coordination and Organization: Evidence of managing complex workloads across large geographical areas with competing demands.
• Communication and Writing: Ability to produce professional, well-written assessment reports and quality-assure others' work.
• Relationship Building: Skill in fostering positive relationships with external and partner organizations to deliver cohesive services.
• IT Proficiency: Strong command of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and relevant digital tools to produce high-quality documentation.

Why Choose Lifeways?

• Join a leading and largest provider of specialist support services, where your expertise directly impacts lives.
• Be part of a incredible Business Development function going from strength to strength with a large growth plan for the future
• Flexible, home-based working with travel to services as required.
• Be part of a dynamic team committed to excellence and innovation.
• Autonomy over your diary and ability to plan ahead
• Access to ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.

How to Apply

If you’re an experienced professional passionate about supporting individuals with complex needs and meeting the criteria above, we want to hear from you! Submit your CV and a Application Form explaining how your skills and experience align with this role.

Lifeways is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all team members.