Hertfordshire County Council
Advanced Practitioner
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Job Introduction
Advanced Practitioner - DoLS Team
Salary: £48,226 progressing to £53,460 per annum – pay award pending
Hours: 37
Location: Stevenage
Contract: Permanent
Department: Adult Care Services
Are you passionate about protecting people’s rights and ensuring the highest standards of practice under the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards?
We have an exciting opportunity for a qualified Best Interests Assessor (BIA) to join Hertfordshire County Council’s Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Team as an Advanced Practitioner.
Working as one of three Advanced Practitioners within the Hertfordshire Supervisory Body, you will play a key leadership role in promoting excellent practice, supporting professional development, and ensuring that individuals who may lack capacity have their rights safeguarded through robust and legally compliant decision-making.
About The Team
Our dedicated DoLS Team is committed to upholding the rights, dignity, and freedoms of some of Hertfordshire’s most vulnerable residents. We work closely with social care professionals, health colleagues, care providers, legal services, and partner organisations to ensure compliance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
As part of our supportive and highly skilled team, you will receive regular supervision, ongoing professional development, and opportunities to contribute to service improvement and best practice across the county.
About The Role
As an Advanced Practitioner, you will provide professional leadership and expert guidance in relation to Best Interests Assessments and deprivation of liberty practice across Hertfordshire.
You will undertake complex assessments, support the development of both qualified and trainee BIAs, and contribute to maintaining high-quality standards and legal compliance within the Supervisory Body.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Undertaking complex Best Interests Assessments on behalf of the Supervisory Body.
- Providing professional guidance and expert advice on the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, and Community Deprivation of Liberty matters.
- Supporting, mentoring, and developing qualified and trainee Best Interests Assessors across Hertfordshire and partner organisations.
- Leading and facilitating Best Interests Assessor forums, promoting reflective practice and continuous improvement.
- Working collaboratively with care providers and partner agencies to improve understanding and implementation of DoLS legislation.
- Reviewing and scrutinising assessments to ensure they meet statutory requirements and support lawful decision-making.
- Completing authorisation documentation and contributing to quality assurance processes.
- Designing and delivering training sessions to internal and external stakeholders.
- Representing the Supervisory Body at meetings, forums, and partnership events.
- Contributing to the development of policy, practice, and service improvements in response to evolving legislation and case law.
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About You
You will be an experienced and knowledgeable practitioner with a passion for safeguarding people's rights and promoting person-centred, rights-based practice.
Essential
- Qualified Social Worker, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Clinical Psychologist.
- Qualified Best Interests Assessor (BIA).
- Significant experience applying the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
- Sound understanding of current and emerging case law and its impact on practice.
- Strong assessment, analytical, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, advise, and support professionals across a range of disciplines.
- Commitment to high-quality practice, continuous improvement, and professional development.
Desirable
- Experience in a leadership, supervision, mentoring, or practice development role.
- Experience supporting or supervising qualified and trainee BIAs.
- Knowledge of triaging and prioritising complex workloads within a statutory environment.
- Experience of Court of Protection processes, including preparation of reports for Section 21A challenges and other legal proceedings.
- Experience delivering training, workshops, or professional forums.
- Strong advocacy skills and a commitment to promoting the rights and best interests of people who may lack capacity.
- Ability to build positive working relationships and collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
Why Join Us?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a respected specialist team where your expertise will directly influence practice and help safeguard the rights of vulnerable adults across Hertfordshire.
In return, we offer:
- A supportive and collaborative team environment.
- Regular supervision and professional support.
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
- The opportunity to shape and influence BIA practice across the county.
- Challenging and rewarding work that makes a real difference to people's lives.
If you are an experienced BIA looking for your next professional challenge and want to help lead excellence in DoLS practice, we would love to hear from you.
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For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Carolyn.McIntosh@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Interview date: 4th August
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is Level 12. Please locate the job profile here:
Job profiles - Health and social care
Benefits of working for us
How To Apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Additional Information
We are changing
Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.
LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
Driving Required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.
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