Junior Assessor - Compliance & Standards Directorate

Job Description:

The Junior Assessor is responsible for assisting and supporting the maintenance of the highest standards of welfare service through monitoring, inspecting, and enforcing duties which fall under the remit of the Social Care Standards Authority (hereunder referred as ‘SCSA’ or ‘the Authority’). The prospective candidate should provide support and assistance within the Units of Compliance and Standards Directorate as well as to ensure the service provider is compliant with the standards to safeguard the well-being of the most vulnerable persons. This role is developmental in nature, and duties are performed under supervision and guidance of Assessors and Management. The Junior Assessor is expected to gradually build the skills and knowledge necessary to progressively undertake duties with increased responsibility, while remaining subject to the appropriate level of supervision and oversight.

The Junior Assessor shall be reporting to the Manager and Director Compliance and Standards.

Principal Responsibilities

The Junior Assessor is responsible for:

1. Assisting Assessors and Management in updating and maintaining licensing, inspecting and enforcing processes.

2. Maintaining multi-task schedules and providing support in auditing processes.

3. Ensuring they are up-date and abide by current internal policies and procedures.

4. Ensuring they participate in relevant training and continuous professional development activities.

Essential Functions

(a) Assist in carrying out physical visits to social welfare service providers based on Regulatory Standards and any other policies and procedures, alongside assessors

(b) Comply with all reasonable, lawful and proper guidelines and directions as issued by the Authority whilst ensuring that operations are within the Authority’s policies and procedures.

(c) Assist in drafting recommendations for granting or revoking of licences to social welfare services.

(d) Assist in the preparation of recommendations for remedial action plans for the achievement of the established standards and their conformity.

(e) Keep abreast with the updated practices in the social sector, Social Regulatory Standards issued by the Authority and internal policies and procedures.

(f) Assist in the vetting of Quality Tools, policies and procedures as required for the smooth functioning of the Compliance & Standards Directorate.

(g) Support administrative processes in relation to various matters pertaining to the Authority’s functions.

(h) Assist in investigation cases as received by the Authority and contribute to reports with evidence- based documentation under supervision.

(i) Assists in monitoring of functions to support the work of Assessors in ensuring social welfare services are of optimum quality in line with the Social Care Standards Authority Act.

(j) Assist the management in identifying solutions to improve operations and make recommendations for the introduction of such improvements, including proposals for amendments to auditing standards and procedures.

(k) Assist in conducting a wide variety of audit tests/procedures and in interpreting results against defined criteria and ensures that the work is competently and efficiently performed in accordance with guidelines, and under the direction of the Assessor or Management, as applicable.

(l) Carry out necessary required research work, performing analyses, drafting preliminary reports and making representations whilst keeping updated data sheets.

(m) Collaborate with all units within the SCSA and with external authorities as may be necessary ensuring that standards and practices are upheld and that government policies are complied with.

(n) Attend meetings with service providers and other stakeholders as required, in support of Assessors and Management, in relation to licensing, monitoring and other regulatory functions.

(o) Keep abreast with new regulations and standards in order to reflect the effectiveness of the Authority.

(p) Actively participates in regular training to staff and stakeholders in order to promote awareness of the Inspectorate Unit.

(q) Ensure good governance, simplification of bureaucracy and value for money in service provision through timely and effective inspection and monitoring process; and

(r) Perform any other duties as may be necessary and directed by the senior management.

The candidate should have an analytical approach to work with an assertive personality as well as a demonstrated passion for excellence across all aspects of management with regards to the Authority.

Business Skills

1. Strong ethical values and integrity.

2. Strong collaboration, verbal and writing communication skills with written reporting abilities.

3. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to prioritise, coordinate and organise work.

4. A conscientious attitude, self-motivated and able to work effectively within established procedures, under appropriate supervision and as part of a team.

5. A level of accuracy under pressure and must be able to respond adequately to demands from internal and external contacts.

6. Possess good organisational skills.

7. Ability to work under pressure with a flexible approach.

8. Motivation for excellence across all aspects of duties with regards to the Authority.

Knowledge

1. Proficient use of Microsoft Office applications with expertise in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Eligibility Requirements

By the closing time and date of this call for applications, applicants must be:

 i)

a. citizens of Malta; or

b. citizens of other Member States of the European Union who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters of employment by virtue of EU legislation and treaty provisions dealing with the free movement of workers; or

c. citizens of any other country who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters related to employment by virtue of the application to that country of EU legislation and treaty provisions dealing with the free movement of workers; or

d. any other persons who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters related to employment in terms of the law or the above-mentioned EU legislation and treaty provisions, on account of their family relationship with persons mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c); or

e. third country nationals who have been granted long-term resident status in Malta under regulation 4 of the Status of Long-Term Residents (Third Country Nationals) Regulations, 2006 or who have been granted a residence permit under regulation 18(3) thereof, together with family members of such third country nationals who have been granted a residence permit under the Family Reunification Regulations, 2007; or

f. in possession of a residence document issued in terms of the “Residence Status of United Kingdom Nationals and their Family Members in Malta in accordance with the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community Regulations”.

The advice of the Citizenship Unit within Community Malta Agency and the Expatriates Unit within Identita’ should be sought as necessary in the interpretation of the above provisions. The appointment of candidates referred to at (b), (c), (d) and (e) above would necessitate the issue of an employment licence in so far as this is required by the Immigration Act and subsidiary legislation. Jobsplus should be consulted as necessary on this issue.

ii. must be proficient verbally and written in the Maltese and English Language.

AND

(i) In possession of two (2) reference letters.

(ii)

 a) In possession or have been approved for the award of a recognised graduate degree at MQF Level 6 (subject to a minimum of 180 ECTS/ECVET credits, or equivalent, withregard to programmes commencing as from October 2008) in Social Policy, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Business Administration, Health and Social Care (Management),Nursing, or a comparable professional qualification. or

b) Candidates who have not achieved a degree (MQF 6) but are in possession or have been approved for the award of a recognised diploma at MQF Level 5 (subject to a minimum of 60 ECTS/ECVET credits, or equivalent, with regard to programmes commencing as from October 2008) in Social Policy, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Business Administration, Health and Social Care (Management), Nursing or a comparable professional qualification plus one (1) year relevant work experience. or

c) Applicants who have three (3) years of related work experience in audit, inspection and social care will be considered instead of an academic qualification.