Shift Leader in Chelmsford, Essex

Contract: Full Time (36 hours per week)

Working Pattern: Days and Weekends

Friends of the Elderly (FotE) is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to providing excellent care with a family feel, supporting older people for over 120 years. The charity provides care home and day care services for older people, as well as grants for older people in financial difficulty.

New Copford Place is a residential care home set in Copford in the outskirts of Colchester, Essex. It is one of nine care homes run by Friends of the Elderly. Our focus is to give older people in our care the chance to live fulfilled lives, whether they stay with us for a longer residential stay or a short-term respite break.

As a Shift Leader, you will be responsible for delivering person-centred care, supporting and enabling our residents to maintain key skills, personal interests, independence, choice, and dignity. You will ensure our residents are safe and comfortable, acting as a champion for their safety and dignity.

You will lead the team in providing quality, individualised care for our residents in line with procedures and policies, ensuring that clear, accurate records are kept. You will follow our procedures for ordering, administering, and dispensing medication. You will conduct supervisions and appraisals with the staff and promote their development, while maintaining a safe, clean workplace and following infection control protocols.

To succeed in this role, you will need at least 2 years experience working in a similar role and a Level 3 diploma in Health and Social Care (or working towards it). Great communication and interpersonal skills are essential for forming relationships with residents and effectively handing over information to colleagues. Number and digital skills are also required, along with the ability to problem solve and adapt to situations, and to recognise and report safeguarding needs.

Working as a Shift Leader means no two days are the same. With a compassionate nature and a positive can-do attitude, you will supervise your peers and take the initiative. We will provide you with outstanding training and tools; all we ask is a willingness to learn and a genuine enthusiasm to encourage others to live their lives to the full.

This isn't just a job; it's about making a difference to older people's lives every day.

Rewards and Recognition

• Learning, development, and career progression.
• Wellbeing support through various initiatives including an employee assistance programme offering up to 10 counselling, 4 life, 4 leadership, and 3 financial coaching sessions per person, per issue, per year.
• Retail discount schemes to make your salary go further.
• Monthly prize draw, with 3 prizes to be won.
• Access to loans at affordable rates, saving directly from salary and advance pay already earned.
• Health cash plans for you and your family.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Long service awards, that increase with length of service.
• Refer a friend to work for us and receive a £200 bonus.
• Group Pension Plan, with a 6% contribution from us.
• Evening, weekend, and bank holiday enhancements to pay, as well as overtime premiums for care staff.
• Paid breaks in our day care services for care staff.
• Free DBS checks.

Safeguarding

Keeping everyone safe is one of the charity's core values, central to everything we do at Friends of the Elderly. All staff follow our Safeguarding Policy & Procedures and are expected to report any suspected abuse immediately.

Criminal record checks

As this role involves a regulated activity, successful applicants will undertake an enhanced DBS check, with barred lists check. Any offer of employment will be dependent on a satisfactory outcome. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar a person from working for us; this will depend on the circumstances and background of any record.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Friends of the Elderly strives to treat all staff equally and be a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone can be themselves and accept each other's differences. Our ambition is to ensure equality and celebrate diversity, creating an inclusive workplace that attracts and retains the best people.

We currently do not provide sponsorship but welcome applications from those who have the right to work in the UK. Don't delay in sending your application as we may close the vacancy early if we appoint before the advertising closing date. We interview applicants as they apply.

Please refer to the job description upon submitting your application.