Melanie Nisbett

Responsibilities:

Effective management of a complex case load with responsive and accountable highly complex decision making across a range of social work duties and responsibilities. Incorporating key legislation (Care Act 2014, Equality Act 2014,Human Rights Act 2010, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Children's Act 2010), in support of social justice. Engaging research, theory and social work models to support positive interventions in promotion of citizen physical, mental and financial health/ wellbeing resulting in prevention of escalating need as legislated in s.2 Care Act 2014 and Health and Care Act 2022.

Preparing and producing a variety of high quality and professional documentation on behalf of the City Council in accordance with national and local policies and procedures within agreed timescales.

Work in conjunction with/provide consultation engaging Social Work perspectives to partner agencies to deliver effective planning for adults, their carers and families in support of informed decision making regarding options that may include resolution of adverse experience or meeting care needs in person centred/individualised ways to achieve sustainable, positive outcomes. This includes representing the City Council at a range of meetings/proceedings (e.g. Continued Health Care (CHC) MDT/DST's and Safeguarding Professional Meetings) and reviews as required. Developing strategic partnerships within my locality to enhance service provision opportunities for clients as action/outcomes of, for example, thorough s.9 Care Act 2014 Assessments and responsive to s.42 Care Act 2014 Safeguarding Enquiries.

Ensure that the practice of ethical record keeping is observed and recording is evidence based, factual, accurate in maintained, up-to date case recording for accurate documentation of progress or concerns. Client information is safeguarded strict adherence to privacy and data security policies (i.e. GDPR).

Take an active role in team and service development, supporting and supervising students and newly qualified social workers, providing support to colleagues as and when required. I engage fully in regular Communities of Practice Team sessions, developing and championing accessible, practical solutions for recurring problems faced by services users which includes interrogation of current research and policy (I am currently Self Neglect Champion representing Adult Social Care at Manchester Safeguarding Professional Meetings. Hoarding Disorder has organically become one of my specialisms in practice).

Ensure that, through personal example, open commitment and clear action, diversity is positively valued to support equal access in service delivery and communications.

Key behavioural Competencies in my current role incorporate Our Manchester Behaviours in:

Working together in an integrated team to deliver best outcomes.
Putting customers at the heart of what I do with a commitment to delivery a high quality service/engagement.

Respectful challenge within the organisation via appropriate channels, and to partner agencies we work closely with to advocate to improve services and make the most of resources available, supportive of equitable services for all demographics of customers.

I have worked for many years, in varying roles, and have a pride in my work for the City, supportive of building cohesive and healthy communities in my many years on the frontline of services.

Reason For Seeking alternate employment:

Personal development in looking for a new challenge in support of positive change in service within the field of Social Care.

Responsibilities:

Attaining responsibilities as detailed above in my role as a Qualified Social Worker. Due to my previous experience in none qualified Social Worker responsibilities/duties were fast tracked

Reason For Leaving:

Qualified as a Social Worker.

Responsibilities:

Deputy Manager of a Team of 12 Primary Assessment Officers completing the holistic s.9 Care Act 2014 assessment of social care basic equipment provisioning in South Manchester and responsibility for the subsequent provision of care and/or engagement of external organisations, services and stakeholders to meet needs identified as prescribed in s.13(7) Care Act 2014/Care and Support (eligibility criteria) Regulations 2015, supportive of a clients health and wellbeing (s.1 Care Act 2014).

Supervision (staff appraisals and performance management), mentoring new staff.

Actively contributing to the development of staff in authorisation of assessments for packages of care, carers assessments and budgets.

Providing assessors with support and advice on a daily basis, including in response to crisis situations in the community, e.g. facilitating care assessments in the community to prevent hospital admittance.

Allocation of work, mindful of service targets, key performance indications, responsive to crisis situations that required prioritisation in Service provision.

Chairing Team Meetings in the absence of the Team Manager

Attending management and strategy meetings and completing staff job consultations at regular intervals etc.

Capturing data on electronic spreadsheet weekly in support of capturing gains and deficiencies in performance for analysis in support of managing available resources efficiently guided by best practice policy and frameworks. .

Direct support for clients and their families in accordance with statutory responsibilities, local and national policies and procedures in order to secure positive outcomes for citizens.

Working collaboratively with City Council colleagues, partner agencies and stakeholders to effectively manage and plan for present and future risk situation of service users.

Completing the s.9 Care Act 2014 Assessment to inform the planning of person centred packages of care to meet the individual needs of service users in promotion of their independence and positive outcomes.

Development of positive and effective solutions in all aspects of service delivery and engagement, focusing on quality assured outcomes for service users.

Collaboration with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders, across local communities promoting accountability and transparency in response to identify need, actively contributing to the development and delivery of effective Service across a range of new and existing initiatives.


Maintenance of accurate and appropriate records in accordance with statutory targets and City Council incorporating local and national policy and procedures to evidence achievement of service targets and improvement in delivery with management of a range of assigned resources.

In this role, as in all employment within the City Council I committed and remain motivated to continual development of skills and understanding, supportive of service improvement.

Reason For Leaving:

Restructuring of Social Care Services into integrated neighbourhood teams (health and social care) with disestablishment of none qualified social work management roles.

Responsibilities:

Holistic assessment for social care (s.9 Care Act 2014) in the South district of Manchester. Visiting clients in their homes to assess need for external assistance to complete daily living tasks as defined in s.13(7) Care Act 2014/Care and Support Regulations 2015 e.g. personal care, nutrition, community access etc. Incorporating decision making and identification and mitigation of risks in promotion of independence, health and wellbeing of the individual concerned with respect for autonomy and in promotion of empowerment (s.1 Care Act 2014).

Accurate input of assessment data and updating case notes with ongoing actions in electronic recording.

Completion of the s.10 Care Act 2014 assessment of carer.

Multidisciplinary working with a range of agencies to optimise positive outcomes.

Attainment of Trust Assessor status in basic provisioning of equipment to aid mobility and support citizen independence.

Weekly case presentation for budget at Senior Manager Panel based on a resource allocations system (fair allocation of resources to be made to people assessed as in need of support).

Reason For Leaving:

Promoted to a management role (Senior Primary Assessment Officer).

Responsibilities:

Comprehensive, free, debt advice service to the citizens of Manchester. I provided faced to face advice at weekly sessions, in communities around Manchester, to support resolution of various debt related issues.

Collation of data relating to a citizens personal situation (age, dependants, employment status, household structure, disabilities etc) and financial information (income and expenditure) to maximise benefits where applicable and also to prioritise essential expenditure (utility bills, reasonable weekly/monthly food allowanced based on household size etc). This supported to plan and provision of client options to support reduction of debt/s (e.g. Bankruptcy, Debt Relief Orders, weekly/monthly affordable payments towards debts, write off debts, assistance form charitable organisations where applicable.

Collaboration with and sign post to partner organisations where applicable e.g. CAB to maximise benefit/support with benefit claims).

Representation of clients in Court to advocate for formal arrangements, completing relevant legal documentation. This included Bankruptcy Orders and eviction hearings (suspending proceedings whilst options to reduce debt were sought).

Regular Money Advice Training to Manchester Advice staff, and external agencies, e.g. Citizens Advice Bureau and other authorities/stakeholders.

Reason For Leaving:

Manchester Advice was disestablished in 2011.

Responsibilities:

Deputy Manager of a Team of staff completing the assessment for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Education Benefit as legislated in Benefit and Council Tax legislation.

Management of a Team in the absence of the Team Manager which included allocation of work, attending regular management and strategy meetings and responding to management level queries using appropriate modes of communication.

Daily support and advice to a team of staff completing assessments.

Responsibility for the assessment of more complex cases and calculation of overpayments of Benefit with detailed written breakdown of how the overpayment had accrued when requested by the City Council Audit Section. Constructing detailed letters in timely response to complaints or queries re. assessed benefit.

Reason For Leaving:

Assessment was paper claim based and telephone. I wanted a new challenge and to transition into face to face, person centred working domains. Offered the position of Specialist Debt Adviser at Manchester Advice.

Responsibilities:

Case management and assessment of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Educations Benefit claims.

Reason For Leaving:

Promotion to Technical Officer within the same service (deputy Team management).