Dementia Adviser

About The Role
Contract: Fixed Term from January 2024 until March 2025 with a possibility of extension.
 
Salary: £22,125 - £23,472 per annum and additional homeworking allowance £312 per year.
 
Area role covers: Community based in Blaenau Gwent, South Wales with some homeworking elements. 
 
Office Location:    Office based in Blaenau Gwent with approximately 20% home working 
 
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

About the role
We have an amazing and rewarding opportunity to join us at the Alzheimer’s Society as a Dementia Adviser. This integral role is to join us in a one-year pilot project, in collaboration with Blaenau Gwent preventative services; Community Resource Team (CRT) and Information, Advice and Assistance Team (IAA).

This is a new and exciting role in supporting the development of an information, advice and guidance service which will work alongside colleagues in Health and Social Care.

The focus of this role is to identify and respond to the real time gaps in support for people with dementia and/or their families, carers and friends, at points of pre diagnosis.  This will involve the provision of practical and emotional support for individuals who would benefit from additional support, information and guidance at each stage of the diagnostic pathway.

You will be working alongside Health and Social Care colleagues and the Local Service Manager, and involved in setting the parameters and pathways for the service.

You will:

- Manage referrals coming into the service via email and or telephone, following internal referral processes.
- Work to tight deadlines for initial response and completion of support outcomes with CRT or IAA collegues
- Provide support face-to-face, on the telephone and online.
- Support people to maintain their independence, improving their sense of well-being, and help them feel in more control of their lives.
- Build relationships with a range of local contacts and network with health and care professionals.

The aims are to work around individuals and their families who are experiencing difficulties with changes to cognitive needs; emotional; mental or physical health. The CRT consist of staff across a number of professions, including social; work; district nursing; community psychiatric nursing; occupational therapy; physiotherapy; speech and language therapy; dietetics and pharmacy. 

 
The service aims to provide a seamless and holistic approach to an individual’s care or support needs during times of change or challenge, and close working relationships with primary health and secondary mental health services to support:

- Help meet the health and wellbeing needs of Individuals experiencing cognitive decline/memory issues and their carers by looking at “what matters” to them by providing timely and accurate information, advice, and assistance so that they may benefit from what is available to them.
- To work within preventative services in supporting the provision of support to Individuals experiencing dementia and their carers; emotional wellbeing and/or mental health issues in the community to ensure the right support in the right place at the right time is provided to citizens of Blaenau Gwent.
- To support individuals and their families to navigate the system to ensure timely assessments and diagnosis is provided to maintain well-being and independence.

About you

We are looking for:

- Working experience of assessing people face to face with an ability to assess their needs.
- Deliver advice and guidance with a non-judgmental approach and outstanding communication skills.
- Strong organisational and time management skills to manage your caseload of clients effectively.
- Experience of working in a hospital, office, and community environments.
- An individual with strong networking skills and experience of working closely with others to provide a person-centred approach. 

About Alzheimer's Society
At Alzheimer's Society, we believe passionately that life doesn't end when dementia begins. We are here for anyone affected by dementia, and we do everything we can to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most.
 
Everything we do is shaped by people affected by dementia. Their knowledge and experience are critical to bringing about real-world solutions. From choosing the most promising research through to telling their stories to raise awareness; they are the heart of this organisation.
 
Our Values
    
We are Determined to make a difference when and where it matters most, by being passionate, focussed and making a lasting impact for people affected by dementia.
Every one of us is a Trusted expert, listening, learning and using evidence and experience. We are Better together by being open, combining our strengths, helping us to achieve more together. We are Compassionate, we are kind and honest, and we don’t shy away from challenges.

Through our values we will make the greatest difference for people affected by dementia.
Equal Opportunities
 
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do. During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and be at your best.