Admin Scale 6 - Support Worker (Sc6)

Description

Hours Per Week : 24.00

Worker required to cover a vacancy due to 6-month secondment. The suitable candidate will be required to support autistic adults engage in activities and tasks in the community and indoors as per their timetable.

Key responsibilities

• The post holder will be part of the Islington Provider Services Day Opportunities and Hubs.
• Islington Provider Services provides services which enable individuals to maximise their independence, building on their strengths and enabling people to live healthy independent lives for as long as possible in their own homes, or the place they call home.
• We provide a range of services for Adults in Islington who are over the age of 18 with a range of needs including; learning disability, physical and sensory needs, mental health and older people.
• Islington Day Opportunities are currently undergoing a major transformation and the future direction is for the services to become increasingly multi agency and the services may need to change in line with service development requirements.
• We aspire to expand the offer to day service clients should they desire it. This may mean putting on the occasional weekend or evening event. The requirement to work at these events is optional and on a voluntary basis and for which out of hours rates would be payable.
• Should there be a future need to review the JD this will require and involve full and meaningful consultation with affected staff and the recognised trade unions.
• The post holder will be based at our Day Opportunities Services and Hubs; in the community and will also provide out of hours social activities and friendships for People, carers and families. The post holder may be required to work flexibly across Provider Services to meet the needs of the services.

To be eligible for our Day Opportunities a person must have Care Act 2014 and Financial Assessments and be referred via the Social Work Teams:

• Outlook supports people with complex sensory & physical disabilities, a range of opportunities that give people the necessary skills and knowledge to move into education, employment and training; and giving them the confidence to use local services such as public transport, gyms, job centres and community activities.
• Alsen and New Park supports older people with complex physical disabilities and/the early onset of dementia to maximise independence; access community-based resources and will provide out of hours social activities and friendships for People, carers and families. There is significant involvement in health needs e.g., Health MOTs with the Stroke Association. The services are currently co-located at the New Park site.
• Daylight supports people with a profound and multiple learning disability with a programme of strength-based work & maximising independence programmed/ focussed activities. Daylight offers a range of support including maintaining and improving health, learning and 'enterprise' opportunities, sensory stimulation and storytelling, intensive interaction, specialist communication.
• Spectrum provides support and activities accessible to those with Autism; a learning disability and behaviour that challenges. Whilst some focus of support is on education the vast majority concentrates on improvement in behaviour, learning everyday skills, improving social skills and increasing overall quality of life in all domains through engagement in meaningful activities and relationships.
• The post holder will deliver care and support to people in accordance with their personalised support plans.
• This may include personal care tasks, domestic tasks and acquiring independent living skills. Care and support is given in an enabling way and the focus is on maximising independence.
• The Support Worker will work closely with health and social care professionals, who are involved in the care planning.
• The post holder will report directly to the either the Team Leader/Assistant Manager.
• The post holder will exemplify best practice in working with adults in strengths based and person-centred way, connecting people with informal, community-based support wherever possible.
• You and other team members will be fully committed to working in partnership with residents, carers, community-based organisations and other key professionals involved in enabling people to be as independent as they possibly can.
• This is a physically demanding role and the post holder will be working in environments that may challenge.
• To ensure that there is a strengths-based approach demonstrated in the delivery of care and support as detailed in the persons Support Plan
• To carry out Support plans and provision of care and support
• To lead and support staff to provide activities and groups
• To key work a small case load of residents
• To report any safeguarding concerns immediately, whether confirmed or suspected, to the Duty Manager in line with the Councils Safeguarding Policies & Procedures
• To ensure that the Care Act 2014 is implemented in all aspects of their role
• To work with people using our services, carers, families and other professionals to minimise and manage risk whilst enabling the service user to maintain their chosen lifestyle as far as possible
• To provide support with medication as detailed in each person’s Support Plan and in accordance with NICE Guideline (NG67) and Services Medication Policy. The term ‘medicines support’ defined as any support that enables a person to manage their medicines.
• To provide support and assistance with nutritional needs and specific dietary requirements as detailed in each person’s Support Plan.
• Provide updates on a person’s goals and plans to Team Leaders and Assistant Managers for feedback into Multi-disciplinary meetings
• To adhere to Council’s policy and procedures in the handling of a person’s personal property including money and keys and ensure all property record keeping is completed accurately.
• To promptly feedback any progress or changes in a person’s wellbeing, physical health or circumstances to the duty manager or emergency services
• To keep concise legible records and complete documentation which complies with organisational and professional standards.
• To actively recognise the need to liaise with other services and health professionals to ensure best support is provided to meet the needs of the service users and their families.
• To maintain excellent standards of Infection control at all times adhering to universal precautions.
• To attend and contribute to multi- disciplinary and other meetings as required
• To ensure all work undertaken with people, carers and others is recorded accurately and in a timely manner, using information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.
• To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as agreed by the line manager
• To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder
• To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council’s commitment to
• customer service excellence and ensure compliance with the customer care standards
• To be committed to the Council’s core values of public service, quality, equality and
• empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way duties are carried out
• To be committed to the Council’s CARE values and ASC principles to demonstrate this commitment in the way duties are carried out.
• At all times to carry out responsibilities/duties within the framework of the Council's Dignity for all Policy. (Equal Opportunities Policy).
• Ensure legal, regulatory and policy compliance under GDPR, Health and Safety and in area of your specialism identifying opportunities and risks and escalating where appropriate.
• To take responsibility of own learning and demonstrate willingness to develop new knowledge and skills required to improve the support provided to our service users.
• To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post

This Job Description is a guide to the level and range of responsibilities the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is neither exhaustive nor inclusive and may be subject to changes in order to meet legislative requirements, changing circumstances and business demands of the service.

Qualifications

• Level 2 NVQ or QCF Level 3
• Willingness to undertake specialist training in line with the service’s needs (e.g.autism/dementia/sensory awareness)

Criteria description

• Experience of working with adults with complex needs and behaviours that may challenge within a learning disability/Sensory/Physical or older people’s setting is preferred
• Experience of working with people with differing needs and from black and minority ethnic communities in inner city areas.
• Experience and understanding of strengths based approaches and applying this in practice
• Awareness and understanding of safeguarding including legislative responsibilities and Making Safeguarding Personal
• Awareness of health and social care legislation including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2007 and other relevant statutory legislation
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders including Social Work Teams,Health, Housing and GPs.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to document and record all activity and observations relevantly and accurately, with a focus on progress towards the persons identified goals
• Ability to provide support with daily activities such as personal care and domestic tasks with an emphasis on promoting and encouraging independence, in line with their support plan
• To effectively communicate with residents and team members, face to face and on the telephone
• Able to safely move and handle people who are experiencing difficulties with mobility and with the use of specialist equipment, in line with individual support plans
• To enable people to improve independence through assisting with skills practice in independent living skills such as meal preparation; domestic tasks and travel training
• Complete written and electronic documentation to required standards, recording progress towards the person’s goals
• Ability to manage medications in accordance with the Support Plan
• Ability and willingness to develop and update skills and knowledge through participation in learning and development opportunities
• Ability to communicate and relate effectively with residents (Who may use communication other than speech or have no formal communication skills.) and carers (where English may not be their first language)
• Ability to be able to use information technology to organise and carry out daily tasks, including apps, computers and SMART phones
• Ability to escort users on council transport,public transport, plus bus, taxi’s etc. pick users up / drop them off from a variety of locations including home, the centre and the community.
• Ability to learn to provide good quality supervision as part of career progression and ongoing learning and development
• Experience of providing activities and group session preferred

Special requirements of the post

• This role will require you to obtain an Enhanced satisfactory clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service formally known as the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure
• Willingness and ability to travel across the team geographical area
• Ability to manage physical demands of the role and willingness to actively participate in physical activities chosen by the residents in line with their needs
• Willingness to work in the peoples own homes or other community settings where there are environmental challenges including hoarding, self-neglect and animals in situ
• Ability to adhere to the Council’s Dignity for All policy.