Carephone Officer - Installer - Internal

To apply for this job, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be an employee of Kirklees Council.
• Be employed by Kirklees for the duration of the recruitment process – up to and including the start date.
• Have successfully completed your probationary period.

(Please note that if you work for an Academy, you are not an employee of the Council.)

Your employment status will be checked, if you do not meet the above requirements your application will be rejected. 

The council supports people with social care needs to remain independent in their own homes by using telecare technology to provide access to assistance or reassurance 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. As a Carephone Officer (Installer), you will be a member of a team providing support to some of the most vulnerable members of the community by ensuring that help is available when it is needed.

This role is based within the Carephone Home Safety Service.  You will be travelling to service user’s homes to install, maintain or collect telecare equipment at pre-arranged appointments.

Supporting service users to remain independent in their own home you will be responsible for the installation, maintenance and removal of telecare and other assistive technology devices.

You will be required to update the equipment portal via a laptop to activate the equipment and complete relevant paperwork electronically. You will also need to accurately complete forms and update systems both manually and electronically.

When installing telecare equipment, you will use your knowledge and judgement to ensure that it is fitted correctly and raises an alert to the Carephone control centre when detecting smoke, carbon monoxide or other hazards.

There will be a requirement to achieve sufficient understanding of the equipment to enable problem solving during installation and maintenance visits and training will be provided.

The job is physically demanding and also requires a good understanding of the needs of vulnerable people to be able to communicate with them and their representatives at a pace and depth that gives appropriate information about the equipment and uses and how it works.

You will also be required to clean returned equipment and prepare for re-use or re-cycling. You will be focused upon ensuring that you make a difference to the lives of people by offering the highest possible quality care and support. Through the passion that you bring to your role you will help to reduce the effects of isolation, learning or physical disability or age related illness that people in Kirklees experience on a daily basis.

You will be flexible in your approach recognising that the needs of people who rely on the service should always be at the forefront of your thinking.

Our customers are varied but you will need to support the achievement of customer focused services, highlighting any problems. You will understand the importance of being a positive representative of the council; your interaction with members of the public and colleagues must reflect this.

Job Checklist

• Carries out duties in accordance with council policies, procedure and legislation.
• Undertakes equipment installation duties.
• Works to the standard required by the service.
• Uses a variety of mobile applications when installing or deploying assistive technology devices.
• Maintains accurate records in a timely manner clearly describing actions and follow up activity.
• Promotes wellbeing of service users and carers.
• Makes onward referrals when it is evident service users require additional care and support.

Person Checklist

• Accepts a Disclosure and Barring Service Disclosure will be required.
• Works well as part of a team.
• Has literacy and numeracy skills to maintain records.
• Is keen to carry out further training and development as part of job role.
• Contributes ideas and suggestions when looking for ways to do things better.
• Has a full and valid driving licence.
• Understands health and safety as it applies to the role and measures which need to be put in place to do the job safely.
• Able to carry out physically demanding work including bending, lifting, crawling, working at height and in awkward spaces.

Your duties and responsibilities will include:
Operating the Carephone system.
Answering calls received at the control centre and taking action as appropriate to maintain customers safety at home or arrange urgent support.
You will learn how to programme equipment remotely and may also visit service user homes to install and maintain equipment.
You will also complete administration duties to ensure records are up-to-date and actions are followed through.

Requirements for this job:

• Experience of responding to customer enquiries using the telephone.
• Awareness of equality issues and their impact on service delivery.
• Ability to demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills to produce reports, management information and keep accurate records on computerised systems.
• Ability to deal with vulnerable clients in a sensitive and calm manner.
• A flexible approach to working arrangements such as short notice shift cover.

You will work on a rota basis between 7am and 10pm including weekends and Public Holidays. There may be an occasional need to be available to work night shifts.

Appointment will be made at Grade 6, appointment to Grade 7 will be subject to an assessment.

#LI-DNI