Organisational Overview

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance. We are an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), set up in 2007 following the introduction of the Mental Capacity Act of 2005.

OPG is responsible for registering lasting powers of attorney (LPA) and enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and supervising deputies who are appointed by the Court of Protection.

OPG is a fantastic place to work offering a range of development opportunities. The OPG is a disability confident employer and is committed to developing a supportive and inclusive environment that reflects the diverse community we serve.

OPG is currently delivering an ambitious transformation programme. This will change the way we provide services and help us meet the growing needs of our users, partners and our stakeholders. It will make sure our users experience a better level of support and will help us to respond to the changing needs of society. Transformation will ensure we can better support adults at risk and create high-quality services that are accessible and affordable.

If you are successful in this campaign, you could be placed into one of two teams. Below are descriptions of the work carried out by each team and their primary responsibilities, as well as general responsibilities for both teams:

Investigations Triage and Support - ITaS

Team Overview

Investigation Triage and Support Caseworker’s are responsible for reviewing concerns that come into OPG and risk assessing them accurately and in a timely manner, determining whether OPG has jurisdiction to investigate, or whether the concern needs to be signposted to other appropriate external bodies. You will undertake the most appropriate and timely action to safeguard an adult at risk.

Duties and Responsibilities

You will ensure concerns raised about the way in which attorneys are exercising their powers are correctly progressed and/or resolved promptly and effectively. This may involve providing administrative support to OPGs investigations team including inputting financial data and gathering information such as Land Registry searches and Life Event Verification (LEV) checks.

You will gather the relevant information for each case, liaising with colleagues, external partners, and other agencies as appropriate including care homes, concern raisers and local authorities. This will involve communicating via telephone calls and written letters/emails.

Primary duties include:

• Risk assess all concerns in accordance with the OPG SVA Policy, and instructions from senior staff, contributing to team and unit achievement of published and internal Impact Indicators to Risk Assess 95% of concerns raised within 2 working days and signpost, close off or make a decision to hold cases for a further 10 working days to await essential information, within a maximum of 5 working days.

• Consider whether concerns received are valid and suitable for investigation in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

• Where OPG jurisdiction to investigate does not exist, ‘signpost’ safeguarding concerns to appropriate external bodies such as social services accurately logging the same, working to the IIP and internal standards.

• Notify relevant Local Authorities via a Safeguarding Adults at Risk referral to instruct/inform; providing accurate information within information sharing protocols to enable them to action in relation to concerns received regarding vulnerable adults.

• Contact relevant parties of a case to obtain information, including concern raiser, local authorities, and care homes.

• Identify, categorise, record, and correctly prioritise concerns that require safeguarding activity, and conduct appropriate and relevant enquires to determine if the OPG have grounds to investigate.

• Continually update the safeguarding case action records/administrative records to provide an accurate and complete picture of enquiries made, decisions reached and reasons for those decisions.

Investigations

Team Overview

Investigation Caseworkers will be responsible for their own case load, with investigations de-escalated from investigators. De-escalated cases may include: no further action being taken due to loss of legal jurisdiction following a donor passing away, an attorney disclaiming or evidence confirming the donor has capacity to deal with the concerns themselves.

Investigation Caseworkers will be responsible for administration tasks such as writing reports and completing closures for their cases and sending out any required closure letters or referrals.

Investigation caseworkers will be responsible for escalating cases to investigators where necessary, for example, when it appears necessary to make an application to the Court of Protection.

Primary duties include:

• Managing a case load of non-complex / simple concerns, effectively.

• Writing reports for de-escalated cases, with the support of information provided by the investigator including any recommendations that should be included.

• Completing closures for cases, including sending out letters to parties.

• Making phone calls to parties including concern raisers, local authorities, and attorneys to obtain information.

• Continually updating investigation records and work list tool to assist in keeping an accurate record of actions taken.

• Consider whether concerns received are valid and suitable for investigation. Where OPG jurisdiction to investigate does not exist, ‘signpost’ safeguarding concerns to the appropriate external bodies such as social services.

General duties for these teams include:

• Administrative support for staff investigating alleged abuse of donors of lasting and enduring powers of attorney, including obtaining GP information, land registry and bank information for donors as necessary.

• Manage daily workload in accordance with published Impact Indicators. Prioritising work appropriately, seeking guidance and support from team leader/EO as necessary.

• Bring issues in relation to administrative functions which present a risk to IIP achievement to the attention of the team leader/EO.

• Monitor and maintain inboxes and databases including updates and issue resolution.

Record-Keeping, Data Security and Statistical Analysis:

• Acknowledge and adhere to statistical deadlines and act on directions from team leader as necessary to help maintain internal data collection.

• Take personal responsibility for compliance with the OPG record keeping policy.

• Develop and maintain a culture of excellent service delivery and continuous improvement.

• Proactively look for ways to improve service delivery, and work with OPG Change Management processes to suggest and introduce improvements.

• Participate in and promote a culture of safeguarding awareness and support and contribute to the aims, objectives, and performance of the OPG, your division and team in an environment of continuous improvement.

• Offer insights and recommendations based on evidence and experience.

• Maintain a pro-active and positive approach to the work.

• Take responsibility for own learning and development. Regularly review your performance record to assess your strengths and areas for development and work with your manager to identify learning opportunities.

• Participate in evaluating and improving your own performance.

• Undertake other administrative duties as required or as implemented due to team leader direction, continuous improvement activity or major organisational

change.

Quality:

• Ensure all work produced is accurate and provides the correct information.

• All communications must be written in plain English. Telephone calls must be carried out in a manner which is professional, and attendance notes maintained.

Support for Team Leader and for other OPG Teams:

• Carry out ad-hoc tasks as delegated by the team leader and support other areas of the OPG as required.

• Contribute to regular case review meetings, team information briefings and team discussions to share expertise and experience and to promote a system of peer review and discussion.

Diversity and Equality of Opportunity:

• Positively embrace and demonstrate diversity and equality of opportunity in all areas of work.

Health and Safety:

• Take responsibility for own health and safety for the safety of others and abide by OPG Health and Safety procedures.

Other Duties:

• Undertake any other duties associated with the skill set of this post.

• Maintain a positive and constructive attitude towards ad hoc tasks.

Ensure you alert your manager to any training or support required to carry out additional tasks.

Agreed Expectations

The successful candidate will be expected to work from their base location on a weekly basis in line with current Civil Service requirements, outside of any reasonable adjustments.

Hybrid Working

In Supervision and Investigation Services (SIS) we offer hybrid working. This is subject to business needs and satisfactory performance and it’s a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement while your office will be your contractual place of work. Hybrid working is available pro rata for part time staff.

All new starters in LPA Investigations team are required to attend the office full time (37 hours per week) during the first 4 weeks of technical training. Following those initial weeks, you are expected to continue your training and consolidation in the office but any agreements for part time working can commence.

We require part time staff to commit to at least 22:12 working hours per week as a minimum.

Waiting List

Candidates who are recommended by the selection panel but not appointed to the current vacancy will be placed on a waiting list for 12 months.

Skills & Qualifications

Application process:

This vacancy is being advertised using Success Profiles which will assess your Experience, Behaviours, Strengths and Technical Skills. There will be 2 stages to the application process.

Stage 1 - Sift

This recruitment will follow the Civil Service Success Profile process. Candidates will be expected to provide a Personal Statement of Suitability of no more than 1,000 words in support of your application based on essential and desirable skills.

Stage 2 - Interview

If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview which will use the Civil Service Success Profiles. At interview, candidates should expect questions on:

• The following Behaviours at Level 1:

  • Delivering at Pace

  • Making Effective Decisions

  • Managing a Quality Service

• Strength based questions relevant to the role.

All interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Reasonable Adjustments

At OPG we consider all applications on the basis of merit and want you to feel able to demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any reasonable adjustments for any aspect of the selection process, do not hesitate to get in contact with us.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. If you are applying for a role within OPG and would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the selection process.

For further information on benefits of working for OPG, such as our Flexible Working Policy and a FAQ, please check the candidate information pack attached to this advert.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, we may offer you an alternative role at the same or lower grade should one be available.