Job Description

Referral & Assessment Lead

Transforming Care | Optimo Care Group

Location: Rochdale (Hybrid – Minimum 3 Days Office Based)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday (9am–5pm)

About Optimo Care Group

Optimo Care Group is a specialist provider of high-quality care and support services across the UK, supporting individuals with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Mental Health needs and Complex Care requirements. We are committed to delivering person-centred care, investing in our people, and creating positive outcomes through safe, high-quality services.

The Opportunity

This newly created strategic role within our Transforming Care function will support the assessment, progression and mobilisation of complex referrals across Learning Disability, Autism, Mental Health and Complex Care pathways.

Reporting to the Head of Transforming Care, you will work closely with operational teams, commissioners, NHS partners and multidisciplinary professionals to support hospital discharge, admission avoidance, placement stability and the development of sustainable community-based support arrangements.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced practitioner, assessment lead, referrals/admissions manager, nurse, social worker, PBS practitioner, operational manager or commissioning professional looking to influence service development and support positive outcomes for people with complex needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and assess complex referrals, determining service suitability, viability and sustainability.
• Support hospital discharge, community transitions and admission avoidance in line with Transforming Care principles.
• Build effective relationships with commissioners, Local Authorities, ICBs, NHS Trusts and care managers.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary assessments and specialist input.
• Develop bespoke support packages and community-based solutions.
• Ensure robust risk assessment, safeguarding oversight and positive risk management.
• Support occupancy growth through effective referral management and conversion.
• Contribute to service mobilisation, transition planning and workforce readiness.
• Produce high-quality assessments, reports and recommendations.
• Promote person-centred, least restrictive and outcome-focused practice.
• Support pathway development, service innovation and continuous improvement.

Initial Priorities

• Increase assessment capacity and responsiveness.
• Improve referral-to-decision timescales.
• Strengthen commissioner relationships and referral conversion.
• Support sustainable admissions and service growth.
• Enhance assessment governance, quality and consistency.

About You

Essential

• Minimum three years' experience in a senior practitioner, assessment, referrals, admissions, commissioning, operational leadership or clinical role within Health and Social Care.
• Significant experience supporting individuals with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Mental Health needs, Complex Care needs and Behaviours that Challenge.
• Proven experience managing complex referrals, assessments, admissions, transitions and placement planning.
• Strong assessment, analytical, risk management and report-writing skills.
• Experience working with complex presentations, safeguarding concerns, restrictive practices and placement breakdowns.
• Experience working alongside multidisciplinary teams and engaging with commissioners, Local Authorities, NHS Trusts and ICBs.
• Experience presenting recommendations to funding panels, governance forums and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and organisational skills.
• Competent in Microsoft Office applications.

Qualifications & Knowledge

• Level 3 Health & Social Care qualification (minimum).
• Relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience within Learning Disability, Autism, Mental Health, Nursing, Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, PBS or a related field.
• Evidence of ongoing CPD.
• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle.

Strong knowledge of:

• Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health.
• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
• Mental Capacity Act, DoLS/LPS and Care Act.
• Safeguarding legislation and best practice.
• Building the Right Support and Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture.
• Community transition and hospital discharge pathways.

Desirable

• Level 5 Leadership & Management qualification.
• RNLD, RMN, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or Psychology qualification.
• PBS, Project Management or Leadership qualification.
• CTR/CETR, Dynamic Support Register (DSR) and Transforming Care experience.
• Experience within ABI, Forensic or specialist services.
• Service mobilisation, pathway development, occupancy growth and commissioner engagement experience.

Why Join Us?

• Hybrid working (minimum 3 days office-based).
• Access to the Optimo Learning Academy.
• Career progression opportunities within a growing organisation.
• Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured).
• Reward Gateway discounts and recognition benefits.
• £500 Refer a Friend Scheme.
• Paid Birthday Leave.
• Supportive and collaborative working environment.

Additional Information

• Enhanced DBS required.
• Regional travel required.
• Initially supporting services across the North Region, with opportunities to contribute to wider organisational and national growth initiatives.

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