Job summary
Westmorland and Furness Council have an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to join our Adult Social Care team as our Continuing Health Care and Joint Funding Lead. This crucial role will provide strategic leadership and expert guidance across the service in relation to Continuing Healthcare (CHC), Joint Funding, and Section 117 responsibilities.
The postholder will work closely with a wide range of partnersincluding NHS trusts, commissioning bodies, other local authorities, independent providers, and internal teamsto develop effective and collaborative working relationships that support high-quality, person-centred care. This specialist role will involve expert case management oversight, interpretation of legislation to shape operational policy, and leading on the resolution of complex funding disputes, ensuring appropriate recovery of costs and adherence to national and legal frameworks.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking an exceptional and highly motivated professional to join our team in this pivotal leadership role. You will bring a strong track record in leadership, with the ability to manage change, maintain service continuity, and drive excellence in a complex and dynamic environment. Your knowledge of the National Framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care alongside an in-depth understanding of the Care Act, Mental Health Act, and Mental Capacity Act, will be crucial to this role. You will also have a clear understanding of the legal, financial, and political landscape of public sector management. Strong partnership and multi-agency working skills, excellent communication, and a commitment to co-production with service users and carers are essential. You will also demonstrate sound judgement in high-pressure situations, strong project and financial management capabilities, and a passion for delivering compassionate, person-centred care.
About us
Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)
Job description
Job responsibilities
To lead on the councils approach to the management, co-ordination, leadership, development and
training for all Adult Social Cares responsibilities under the National framework for NHS Continuing
Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care and all joint-funding agreements, including S117
aftercare joint-funding.
To ensure that all services across Adult Social Care understand their duties under the National
framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care and to have key
responsibility for supporting the delivery of high-quality professional practice in line with legislative
frameworks, policies and standards.
Work collaboratively within the services and external agencies, building working relationships with all
including where appropriate, service users and their families and carers. Actively leading and
participating in the development of service and system level operating procedures and strategies.
Work closely with the service, hospitals, community services and care homes to maintain and
improve systems and processes to facilitate a smooth referral, assessment and review process to
support individuals.
To provide professional expertise and advice to social care colleagues regarding the continuing
healthcare and joint funding processes and support practitioners and managers with any disputes.
Be responsible for the development, oversight and review of systems to ensure all CHC and Joint
funding commitments are captured and all agreed funding claimed and received.
To use the appropriate escalation routes to highlight any concerns, to contribute as appropriate to
strategic and service level planning across the directorate and to coordinate and ensure CHC/Joint
Funding training is delivered, as appropriate, to the Adult Social Care Teams; working closely with
Organisational Development colleagues to develop formal training requirements
Job description
Job responsibilities
To lead on the councils approach to the management, co-ordination, leadership, development and
training for all Adult Social Cares responsibilities under the National framework for NHS Continuing
Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care and all joint-funding agreements, including S117
aftercare joint-funding.
To ensure that all services across Adult Social Care understand their duties under the National
framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care and to have key
responsibility for supporting the delivery of high-quality professional practice in line with legislative
frameworks, policies and standards.
Work collaboratively within the services and external agencies, building working relationships with all
including where appropriate, service users and their families and carers. Actively leading and
participating in the development of service and system level operating procedures and strategies.
Work closely with the service, hospitals, community services and care homes to maintain and
improve systems and processes to facilitate a smooth referral, assessment and review process to
support individuals.
To provide professional expertise and advice to social care colleagues regarding the continuing
healthcare and joint funding processes and support practitioners and managers with any disputes.
Be responsible for the development, oversight and review of systems to ensure all CHC and Joint
funding commitments are captured and all agreed funding claimed and received.
To use the appropriate escalation routes to highlight any concerns, to contribute as appropriate to
strategic and service level planning across the directorate and to coordinate and ensure CHC/Joint
Funding training is delivered, as appropriate, to the Adult Social Care Teams; working closely with
Organisational Development colleagues to develop formal training requirements
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level relevant Professional Qualification
- Current Professional registration
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Substantial experience and/or understanding of Continuing Healthcare and MHA S117.
- Leadership experience, including the ability to lead teams through change and maintain business
- continuity
- Specialist knowledge of relevant legislative frameworks, statutory responsibilities, operational
- procedures and current legislation relating to Care Act, Mental Health act and Mental Capacity
- Act practice and operational delivery
- Proven track record of partnership and multi-agency working, including excellent communication
- and negotiation skills
- IT skills as required
- The ability to build and maintain positive team working, a shared vision and effective working
- relationships
- The ability to prioritise and to meet deadlines
- The ability to manage decision making in contentious and difficult cases
- Understanding of and respect for confidentiality and the laws governing data protection and
- information sharing across agencies
- The ability to build positive and purposeful relationships with users of services and carers in coproduction of services
- A clear understanding of the financial, legal and political context of public sector management
- Presentation and report writing skills
- Financial acumen and experience of managing budgets.
- Experience of programme management and project management skills
- The ability to work under pressure, whilst maintaining compassion and a calm and positive
- attitude to service delivery
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level relevant Professional Qualification
- Current Professional registration
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Substantial experience and/or understanding of Continuing Healthcare and MHA S117.
- Leadership experience, including the ability to lead teams through change and maintain business
- continuity
- Specialist knowledge of relevant legislative frameworks, statutory responsibilities, operational
- procedures and current legislation relating to Care Act, Mental Health act and Mental Capacity
- Act practice and operational delivery
- Proven track record of partnership and multi-agency working, including excellent communication
- and negotiation skills
- IT skills as required
- The ability to build and maintain positive team working, a shared vision and effective working
- relationships
- The ability to prioritise and to meet deadlines
- The ability to manage decision making in contentious and difficult cases
- Understanding of and respect for confidentiality and the laws governing data protection and
- information sharing across agencies
- The ability to build positive and purposeful relationships with users of services and carers in coproduction of services
- A clear understanding of the financial, legal and political context of public sector management
- Presentation and report writing skills
- Financial acumen and experience of managing budgets.
- Experience of programme management and project management skills
- The ability to work under pressure, whilst maintaining compassion and a calm and positive
- attitude to service delivery
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
