Contract Assistant Community Equipment

• Location: County Hall, Taunton
• Part time - 22.2 hours per week

Join Our Dynamic Adult Social Care Commissioning team focused on monitoring the Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service (CEWS) Contract.

Are you a passionate and motivated administrator/practitioner looking for a rewarding role in a supportive and forward-thinking team? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join CEWS contract team.

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that.

Working as the key administrator and coordinator of the Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service (CEWS) Contract and supporting the designated CEWS Contract Manager within the Adult Social Care Commissioning team. To provide an efficient and effective administrative solutions to meet the primary objectives of the contract alongside monitoring trends and outcomes within the context of Social Care and Health policy and legislation.

The post involves managing differing expectations from Prescribers, Medequip, and commissioners. The emphasis of close working in a team and communicating these decisions to enhance processing of prescriber orders is imperative to this role as it impacts on the care flow within the Integrated Care system. The role holder must have an extensive knowledge of the CEWS contract and service as their responsibilities will involve covering Adults and Childrens needs.

The tasks will involve (though not exclusively) the following:

• Undertaking data report writing, analysing trends, and system reviews as part of regular planned audits. This will support the planned CEWS contract performance monitoring meetings, which will be booked and coordinated by you.
• Joining key CEWS associated meetings, such as the VEP, the Medequip OT meetings, Equipment review groups, TEC developments. In addition, following up specific prescribers to implement agreed alternative effective strategies to achieve person centred and cost effective outcomes for individuals including the use of specialist equipment and care packages.
• Supporting the fellow Contract Assistant role holder with any administrative requirements linked to minor works, modular ramping plus to cover for planned booked leave.
• At times, acting as an autonomous administrator coordinating meetings, using a high level of previous practitioner problem solving, decision making and independent judgement in a variety of scenarios.
• Exploring innovative ways of collaborative working within the commissioning service and health and social care, acute and community and the private and voluntary sector.

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But to be successful in the role you must:

• Have an awareness and understanding of rights of service users and carers, and an ability to advocate on their behalf.
• Are literate and numerate to a GCSE level or equivalent
• Are able to travel to homes of service users and carers.
• Demonstrate empathy with service users and carers and have understanding and respect for individual needs.
• Have the ability to work alone and use your own initiative.
• Have an open and flexible manner, which elicits trust and confidence.
• Have a high level of IT literacy with Windows & MS Office and AIS (Adults Integrated Systems) or similar record keeping databases.

And it will really help if you:

• Have a working knowledge of the Social Care Service.
• Have an awareness of relevant legislation.
• Have an awareness and understanding of Occupational Therapy principles within a Social Working environment.
• Have an NVQ 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent (equivalent must be health and social care related.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management.

As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

This is a Grade 12 role with a salary of £17,158 - £19,236 per annum for 22.2 hours per week. Appointments are usually made at the bottom of the grade.

We are a friendly and experienced team offering peer support, regular supervision, and CPD opportunities. Flexible working with telephone, virtual, and in-person contacts tailored to support the CEWS contract and associated staff needs.

It is a diverse service offering covering a wide range of disabilities and health conditions primarily supporting individuals within their own homes.

Have a question about the role? Please contact Nigel Pluckrose - nigel.pluckrose@somerset.gov.uk

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can’t wait to hear from you.

Our enthusiastic and welcoming team is dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of adults, children and families across Somerset. Covering a diverse area—including vibrant towns, charming villages, and stunning rural communities—you’ll have the chance to work in a truly unique and scenic environment.

We work closely with the NHS teams, social care services and Schools , housing providers, and our equipment supplier – Medequip ensuring a collaborative and holistic approach to care. Our team includes a mix of experienced Contract Manager(s), Specialist Occupational Therapists, as well as experienced Social Care Practitioner(s) and Senior Commissioners all committed to supporting one another and delivering excellent outcomes.

This post requires a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure.