Senior Support Worker

Reports to: Service Manager

Purpose of Role

To provide high quality support to people and to mentor, coach, and act as a strong role model for other staff in delivering high quality support to deliver our Mission

Main Responsibilities

Providing Person Centred Support

• Form a positive relationship with the person supported, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with people we support and their families
• Always provide high quality support to every person we support. This means giving each person the individualised support they need in the morning, afternoon and at night-time (as outlined in the person’s Person-Centred Portfolio and, if relevant, their Behaviour Support Plan) to live the life they want and achieve person centred outcomes
• Work as part of a team with other staff and volunteers to provide the right support to enable people to have a good life
• Learn about the person and share that learning with others who are also supporting the person
• Contribute to the assessment, planning, co-ordination, and review of Person-Centred Portfolios of the people we support
• Ensure any risks that are identified during support of a person are responded to promptly and escalated in line with Positive Futures’ Risk Management Framework

Supporting people to be safe and healthy

• Support people to be safe and healthy in all aspects of their lives including:
• Maintaining their physical and emotional well-being
• Looking after their homes
• Support people look after themselves in all aspects of personal care as needed and / or provide personal care if needed ensuring that people are treated with dignity and respect at all times
• Support people to understand and protect themselves from different types of abuse
• Ensure every person we support is protected from abuse at all times and report any issue of concern in line with Positive Futures’ Adult Safeguarding Policy

Supporting independence, social and communication skills

• Support people to have choice and control over all aspects of their lives
• Support people to make decisions based upon informed choice and speak up for themselves and / or seek support from advocacy services where needed
• Support people to understand their responsibilities in relation to decision making and lifestyle choices
• Enable people to participate and contribute to their local community as active citizens (e.g. involvement in social, leisure and community-based activities engagement in volunteering, training, and employment opportunities as relevant)
• Support people to keep in touch with important people in their lives (including friends, family, carers, advocates, and any significant people)
• Support people to plan for and go on holiday, going with them if needed

Supporting people to develop and maintain key skills

• Support people to understand and fulfil their responsibilities to look after their home in line with any tenancy agreements
• Support people with domestic chores such as shopping, preparation of healthy meals, cleaning, gardening, washing clothes and ironing
• Support people to manage their medication and finance as independently as possible
• Support people to get any benefits they are entitled to
• Support people to get help from the right people (e.g. their Social Worker, Doctor, Dentist etc.)

Coaching, Mentoring and Supervision of Staff

• Be involved in the induction, coaching, and mentoring of staff in relation to active support, empowering the people we support to develop their independence, learn new skills, and have new experiences (including those that involve taking positive risks).
• Provide mentoring and coaching to staff in relation to managing behaviour which challenges, in line with stress and coping plans and Positive Behaviour Support Plans.
• Provide support in the use of person-centred thinking tools and person centred approaches to ensure that the people we support have maximum choice and control and are supported to lead full and valued lives.
• Take responsibility as “Shift Leader” offering advice and guidance to other staff as required.
• Provide regular, good quality Person Centred Supervision to assigned staff.
• Chair and/or actively participate in meetings as required (e.g. team meetings, statutory meetings, and meetings with the people we support and their families).
• Positively promote volunteering within the service, be familiar with volunteer processes and encourage volunteers in their role.
• Challenge any poor practice and report any concerns to your line manager.
• Maintain positive professional working relationships with key individuals and agencies.
• Represent the service and/or the organisation as required.

Administration and Monitoring

• Accurately and effectively maintain and store records and short reports within the service, using appropriate systems, templates and record keeping processes in relation to medication, finance, behaviours, incidents, communication, risk assessment etc.
• Use ICT systems to carry out the responsibilities of the post (e.g. Microsoft Office, HR and Finance information system, staff scheduling system).
• Have responsibility for Health & Safety checks including the escalation and coordination of maintenance and repair work, safe management, and storage of medication etc.
• Report and maintain records of incidents, accidents and near misses for the people we support and staff as appropriate.
• Conduct regular checks of finance records of people supported, addressing and/or escalating any issues of concern in line with our policies and procedures.

Personal professional practice

• Work in line with Positive Futures’ Mission, Values and Code of Conduct and Practice.
• Work in line with CORU’s Code of Practice which outlines professional standards for all social care workers and meet any registration requirements of the role.
• Participate in relevant learning and development courses as required and maintain your own mandatory training as required by the Service
• Take part in Person Centred Supervision and performance review with your Line Manager
• Read, understand, and follow all policies, procedures, and guidance, keeping up to date with any changes and / or developments.

General

• Seek to make continuous improvements in your area of work.
• Promote and encourage the involvement of the people we support in the everyday work of our services and the wider organisation.
• Understand and respect confidentiality and maintain personal data in line with Positive Futures’ policies, procedures, and guidance.

This job profile provides a summary of the core responsibilities of the role, however, the job holder may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as Positive Futures may reasonably require.

The Chief Executive must be contacted in the event of all media enquiries.

There may be other duties from time to time as Positive Futures may reasonably require.

How do I apply for this job?

Complete an application form online stating how you meet the following criteria for this job in the shortlisting section of the application form. We will use this shortlisting section to decide whether to invite you to an interview.

To apply for this role, you MUST have:

One of the Following

• Recognised Level 6 award in Social Care & 3 Years’ experience in a paid role supporting people in a health and social care organisation.
• Relevant third level qualification at degree level or above e.g. social work, psychology, nursing and/or allied health & 2 years' experience in a paid role supporting people in a health and social care organisation.

• 4 Years' experience in a paid role supporting people in a health and social care organisation

  AND

• At least 1 years’ experience in a paid role supporting people with an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or autism.

To apply for this role, we would also LIKE YOU to have:

Experience of:

1. assessment, development, and implementation of Person-Centred Care / Support Plans
2. using positive behaviour management strategies
3. assessing / managing risk
4. key working and advocacy
5. Awareness of pathways to support people in education, employment, housing, homelessness, mental health & addiction.

• Proficiency in using standard office IT applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Full, valid driving licence or an ability to travel independently to meet the requirements of the post.

If you meet the shortlisting criteria, you will be invited to attend an interview.

To be successful at interview and ensure the people we support receive the highest quality service, you need to:

• Share our POSITIVE values
• Have the right skills (or competencies) needed for the job.

https://shorturl.at/5LCUj