SUPPORT WORKER

Job Summary

The support worker is a member of a team, under the direction of the Manager providing support to individuals in a safe, caring environment, by promoting Respect, Independence, Choice and Inclusion geared to personal development. Provision of support and care to individuals with a learning disability, in individual or group settings. Participation in staff team work. Assisting in administrative and financial procedures as appropriate. Liaison with statutory agencies. Co‑operation with relatives, carers and others involved in the support of clients.

Main job components

• Specific tasks
  • To provide care and support to Adults, Children and Young People with Learning disabilities, challenging behaviour and Autism.
  • To participate in the planning of individual needs (Review Meetings) for each person, ensuring the identified needs of the individual are met, in a person‑centred approach.
  • To encourage service users and with appropriate support, to participate in all activities contributing to the quality of their life including personal hygiene, meal preparation, domestic tasks and forming relationships, always remembering to enable personal choices.
  • To treat everyone with dignity and respect, ensuring that each individual is valued as a person, and to maintain their confidentiality.
  • To act as key worker to an individual under the direction of the Manager.
  • To report to the Manager or appropriate authority, any changes in the person’s health and/or behaviour.
  • To work, at times, unsupervised, using your own initiative.
  • To attend appropriate training courses.
• Participation in staff team
  • To fully co‑operate with the Manager and other staff in the formation and running of 24 hour rotas to include weekends, bank holidays, sleep‑in cover, holidays, training cover and to adopt a flexible approach to working hours.
  • To fully participate in team meetings.
  • To maintain up to date records, ensuring that appropriate written reports are provided as required by the Manager.
  • To maintain confidentiality within the staff team and management as well as with appropriate agencies (e.g. Social Services and commissioners/funders).
• Management of Home / Individual / Group settings
  • To be familiar with and adhere to UNIQUE PERSONNEL policies and procedures.
  • To maintain a safe environment and be aware of Health and Safety policy, ensuring that all incidents are reported to the Manager.
  • To encourage service users to maintain their home environment and other venues.
• Domestic
  • To facilitate opportunities for employment, recreation and leisure activities appropriate to the age of the person, making full use of available resources in the local neighbourhood, and to support service users to organise and go on holidays as appropriate.
  • To liaise with other agencies and provide support as required, whilst maintaining UNIQUE PERSONNEL’s positive reputation.
  • Where it is in the interest of the individual, to meet with families and friends, to negotiate individual plans that reflect the person’s cultural, ethnic and religious background.
• Training and Development
  • To undertake all core training and professional development activities as required for this post.
  • To prepare for and regularly attend planned supervision and appraisals.
  • To comply with all parts of the probationary procedure.
• Administrative responsibilities
  • Keep up to date detailed service user records, whilst reflecting records of travel and visits so that accurate information can be collated for various purposes.
  • Maintain proper care and attention of office and personal equipment.
  • Make efficient and economical use of the organisation’s energy, power and communication equipment.
• General
  • To carry out any other related duties that may from time to time be required as directed by the Manager.

Knowledge and skills

• Positive attitude to people with learning disabilities.
• Understanding of issues facing those with disabilities.
• Awareness of equal opportunities and diversity in relation to individuals with learning disabilities and provision of services.
• Life skills which can be used in supporting service users to learn & develop new skills that support and promote independence.
• Ability to communicate effectively with service users, reflecting cultural needs of service users group.

Education, qualifications and special training

• To have a good command of English both written & verbal.
• Accurate record keeping.
• NVQ 2 or above in care, or willingness to work towards this.

Work experience

• Experience of working in an environment involving face‑to‑face work with people.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Experience of supporting vulnerable people.

Interpersonal skills

• Friendly and supportive attitude.
• To be able both to work independently and as part of a team.
• Sensitive communicator in English, both written and verbal.

Physical requirements

• Physically able and willing to carry out all duties, including moving and handling.
• Ability to participate in or take the lead in a variety of stimulating activities including service users’ holidays & other events, interests that ensure a high quality service to our service users.

Personal circumstances

• Ability to work full range of shifts as required that reflects the needs of service provision.
• This will include weekends, evenings, bank holidays and overnight.
• To attend appropriate statutory training that reflects the needs of the service user’s & the organisation.
• Willing to participate in ongoing training and development.