Hi all
I am about to attend an interview within a local authority for a Care Manager post (within Adult services) the end of next week. There will be a written exercise but I would like any advice you guys have on how to answer questions and most importantly what important questions are likely to be asked that I should prepare for.
Thanks in advance I'm quite desperate as it's my first interview since qualifying in Jan 11.
Also to add aside from assessing and identifying risk to adults during my assessments and reviews I have not had to investigaste any safeguarding so tips on this would be good and on personalisation.
- Personalisation and self directed support (give examples of how this approach with clients imbraces choice, control one's care and definetly menin direct payments and personal budgets as a way of doing this);
- Ensure your understanding of social worl law; NHS CCA 1990, NNA 1948, Mental Health Act, Carer (Recognition and Services) Act 1995, Mental Capapity Act, Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act and Delayed (community care) Discharge Act (only if appropriet). Don;t go into loads of detail but let them know your aware of these and give a small example, for example, 'I am aware the Local Authority are by duty to assess a person needs if they are seen to be in need to community care services (s.47);
- Talk about Policy and how this affects your role, for example, Personalisation, our health, our care, our say - White Papers which are the foundations to personalised care and the recent transformation in social care;
- Have knowledge of the Councils Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults which you will find on their website. Ensure you know the duty to report if you come across a situation where you have been told or observed abuse or likely abuse. (You will not be expected to have experienced investigation, but be clever and say what you would do if you found of this information when reviewing a care package);
- Have some knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards. Inform you are aware of these and that you would seek immidiate advice if ther were concerns noted of a persons mental capacity or their liberty of freedom (i.e an older person wishing to leave a residential servce but are prevented and there are concerns of their capacity to consent);
- Have examples of being a team player and gives examples of when you have been a good team player and what you would bring to a team of social work colleagues. This is self explanitory but worth thinking about.
- Remember, the role is to assess needs of service users and carer's in a way which is fair, transparent and is able to be challenged if the customer is not happy. You should have clear examples of anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practices and how you will conduct these values within your work with clients and their families. I would suggest having a think about these above and equality to access to care and gives examples of equal treatment for all (i.e Fair Access to Care Services? - complaints procedure??);
- Lastly, your skills are what the interviewers are going to want to hear about. Make a list of your skills to the role and revise how how these will be used in the role your applying. Give examples from your placements, past work experiences but always come back to the essential skills of organising, prioritising, methods for making contact, planning, preparing, listening skills, report writing skills, anaylictical skills, sunthesising data skills, communication skills, multi-agency or partnership skills, computer skills and skills of containing your professional boundaries and having skills to always ask for advice and support if you encounter a tricky situation (I am almost definately sure you will come across these).
There are lots of other things which may come up, but as long as youhave the core knowledge and examples to express im sure you will be fine.
@swsoutheast
Thanks so much for taking the time out to answer this so detailed. It was very helpful I will take these points into consideration during my preparation.
Thanks again!