At a Glance
- Tasks: Support a team in delivering person-centred care and ensure compliance with quality standards.
- Company: Join Alternative Futures Group, a leading health and social care charity.
- Benefits: Career development, employee support services, and a fulfilling work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and mentoring.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of individuals with learning disabilities and mental health needs.
- Qualifications: Experience in person-centred planning and a passion for supporting others.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
As an experienced practitioner, the job holder will support the Team Leader for a complex service through the provision of supervisory, advisory and administrative support to ensure that a high quality, compliant, person centred approach is maintained at all times.
About The Role
Job Purpose
The Key Objectives Of This Role Are To:
- Promote the principles of person-centred approaches in all areas of operation to the staff team as directed by the Team Leader.
- Provide advice, guidance and support to members of the staff team to drive best practice; compliance to policy, regulations and CQC Standards; and encourage the appropriate use of AFG systems and processes.
- Support the Team Leader with ensuring the service delivery meets the required quality standards, and evidence quality service delivery.
- Act up during the Team Leader's annual leave and seek any additional support/advice from the Area Manager.
Dimensions
The post holder has no direct reports, however will hold Supervisory responsibility for a designated staff team under the leadership of the Team Leader.
Key Result Areas
- Support the development, update and review of care plans for the attention of the Team Leader that outline the care and support individuals need.
- Actively engage in the assessment, planning, monitoring and reviewing of individuals' support as directed by the Team Leader, including the identification of new goals and outcomes and implementing plans to address these.
- Celebrate the success of the people we support, through the sharing of stories across the team and organisation.
- Support the team in achieving butterfly moments with the people supported.
- Actively participate in the transition of people into service.
- Promote best practice across the staff team through the provision of advice, support and mentoring.
- Support the delivery of any service/team improvement plans developed by the Team Leader, which may include embedding new processes, new systems or promoting digital engagement across the team.
- Drive the importance of quality record keeping within the staff team, providing guidance/coaching/feedback to staff to ensure that records are of high quality and in line with current policy guidelines.
- Support the Team Leader in addressing any identified risks and putting control measures in place.
- Assist the Team Leader with 1:1 discussions with members of the staff team, and in monitoring the delivery of personal objectives or development plans as part of their My Performance Review.
- Observe staff interactions with the people we support and mentor staff in person centred approaches through working alongside them and in supervisory discussions.
- Complete reflective discussions from any key themes and record on employee notes.
- Support the planning and administration of staff rotas within PeoplePlanner as directed by the Team Leader and in line with Policy/Procedure.
- Support the induction and development of new staff to the service, including supporting colleagues through the Care Certificate and associated training.
- Assist the Team Leader in the management of staff absence, including updating SelectHR, early home contacts, and non-complex return to work interviews/plans.
- Report any safeguarding concerns to external agencies in the absence of the Team Leader.
Essential Criteria
Please only apply if you meet the below requirements:
- Experience of person centred planning and review.
- Experience of supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health needs.
- Experience of undertaking staff supervisions/support.
- Experience of using IT systems in the management of service and people.
Skills & Knowledge
- Seasoned practitioner in person centred principles and practices.
- Ability to assess, plan and monitor care and support to achieve individual outcomes.
- Ability to engage with service users and their families and carers, developing positive and trusting relationships.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Knowledge and understanding of the needs of people with mental health or learning disabilities and familiarity with current views and best practice.
- Ability to use person centred tools to develop individuals and teams.
- Ability to apply policy and procedure in a way that results in quality outcomes for people.
- Demonstrate initiative, self-motivation and resourcefulness.
- Effective resource management.
- Ability to use ICT for information, performance reporting and communication.
- Knowledge of equality and anti-discriminatory practices.
- Excellent time management skills with the ability to plan and prioritise a complex workload.
Qualifications / Training
- NVQ3 qualification in management or care (or equivalent) or a willingness and ability to complete such a qualification within a set time period.
- Training in Person centred practices (planning, review, team development).
About You
About Us
We’re Alternative Futures Group, a health and social care charity providing specialist support for people with a learning disability or mental health condition. We’re proud to have been positively changing lives and enabling people to achieve amazing outcomes for over 30 years. We have a vision to create a world where amazing people do amazing things every day. Our skilled and experienced teams work with every person we support to create personalised, outcome-focused plans to achieve their aspirations.
As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our team. If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.
At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you! In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.
Operational Support Officer - 35 hours per week in Ellesmere Port - Temp until November 2026 employer: Alternative Futures Group
Alternative Futures Group is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Ellesmere Port. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we offer extensive career development opportunities and a range of benefits that prioritise your well-being. Join us in making a meaningful impact in health and social care, where your contributions are valued and celebrated every day.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operational Support Officer - 35 hours per week in Ellesmere Port - Temp until November 2026
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the health and social care sector. Let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities, and who knows? They might just have the inside scoop on openings at AFG or elsewhere.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research AFG’s values and how they align with your own. Think of examples from your experience that showcase your skills in person-centred planning and supporting individuals with learning disabilities or mental health needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or family member to do a mock interview with you. This will help you feel more confident and articulate when discussing your experience and how you can contribute to the team at AFG.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our amazing team at AFG!
We think you need these skills to ace Operational Support Officer - 35 hours per week in Ellesmere Port - Temp until November 2026
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience with person-centred planning and supporting individuals with learning disabilities or mental health needs. We want to see how your skills align with our values and the role!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since excellent communication is key in this role, use clear and concise language in your application. We love seeing candidates who can express their thoughts effectively, both in writing and verbally.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Don’t forget to mention any supervisory experience or your familiarity with IT systems in service management. We’re looking for seasoned practitioners, so let us know how you’ve driven best practices in your previous roles!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Alternative Futures Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you brush up on person-centred planning and review. Familiarise yourself with the principles of best practice in health and social care, especially regarding learning disabilities and mental health needs. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're genuinely passionate about the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be ready to share specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully supported staff or service users. Think about times when you’ve driven compliance with policies or improved service delivery. This will help the interviewers see how your background aligns with their needs.
✨Engage with the Team's Values
Research Alternative Futures Group and understand their mission and values. During the interview, express how your personal values align with theirs, particularly your commitment to making a positive difference in people's lives. This connection can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing training opportunities, or how they measure success in this role. This shows your interest in the position and helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.
