Village Support Worker TLNT1_NI in Belfast

Role Profile: LARCHE VILLAGE SUPPORT WORKER

Reporting to: VILLAGE WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

Hours: 10.00 a week

Salary: 12.75/hour

Responsible for: The provision of both practical and educational support to participants of LArche Belfast's Village programme.

Main Job Purpose: To work as a key member of the team in delivering excellent, engaging support to all programme participants. To help ensure all Health & Safety, Adult Safeguarding, and other statutory requirements of the programme's specification are met in accordance with the organisation's commitment to standards.

Key Performance Measures:

• Feedback from participants and their families and other carers;
• Feedback from line manager;
• Supporting the Project and Facilitator Leaders to develop income-generating activities that build project sustainability;
• Adhering to the agreed project programme and achieving participant outcomes;
• Compliance with relevant Health & Safety legislation and regulatory requirements;
• Working within the ethos and values of LArche Belfast, as outlined in our Mission and Values Statement, and in guidelines from the LArche International Federation.

Detailed Responsibilities of this role:

In fulfilling this role, the job holder undertakes the following activities under the direction and in cooperation with the Project and Facilitator Leaders:

• Provide practical support to project participants as they carry out activities (sowing/planting crops, plant care, harvesting, etc.) and other outdoor activities (woodworking, site maintenance, conservation work). Also indoor activities including art, crafts and clay modelling as well as light exercise activities.
• Support participants to develop skills in these areas and/or try new activities.
• Ensure that participants are learning and adhering to good workplace health and safety practices.
• Help the Project and Facilitator Leader to facilitate sessions with participants, in which information is provided that ties in with practical skills development.
• Accompany participants on occasional off-site visits to relevant places (e.g. a farm, professional nursery, National Trust properties, walks etc.), and involve participants in planning.
• Communicate respectfully with participants at all times, at a level which is appropriate to their needs and abilities.
• Help carry out practical maintenance and basic site maintenance (e.g. painting) as required, involving project participants if appropriate.
• Attend team meetings as required.
• Participate in regular supervision to receive support, increase knowledge, identify training needs, evaluate work performance, aid and assess professional development.
• Assist with relevant record keeping, e.g. attendance lists, risk assessments, and session records.
• Attend staff development programmes, training courses, seminars and workshops as required.
• Work within, and promote, the policies and procedures of LArche Belfast.
• Promote equality of opportunity and a respect for diversity.
• Provide First Aid services to participants when necessary and if trained to do so.
• Keep records appropriate to the role, including helping participants to maintain and update a training portfolio.
• Undertake any duties consistent with the overall purpose of the post as directed by Management.

This Role Profile is not exhaustive and should be taken only as a general outline of the duties of the post-holder. It may be reviewed and varied periodically with due notice.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO FULFIL THIS ROLE:

• Knowledge or previous experience of working with people with learning disabilities - Essential
• Knowledge or previous experience of horticultural, gardening, or landscaping work - Desirable
• Working knowledge of Health & Safety and the Safeguarding Framework, the ability to follow procedures and development of a culture of safe practice - Essential
• Good numeracy, literacy, IT, and communication skills - Essential
• A valid full clean driving license - Essential

ABILITIES:

• Ability to learn and develop good practice - Essential
• Personal flexibility and ability to adapt to change, and to help adapt programmes in response to participant feedback - Essential
• Ability to work as part of a team - Essential
• Ability to work in an outdoor environment with uneven ground surfaces - Essential
• The ability to adapt communication to suit the audience, e.g. project participants - Essential

Competencies:

• Empathy, sensitivity and patience - Essential
• Accountability, flexibility and self-motivation - Essential
• Excellent team worker - Essential
• Honesty, confidentiality, integrity and reliability - Essential

KEY: E = Essential criteria/competency for the post D = desirable criteria/competency for the post

Vetting: The successful applicant will be asked to declare all pending prosecutions, convictions, cautions and bind-over orders and their name will be submitted to Access NI for a check to be carried out.

TOIL: There is no entitlement to overtime payment to reflect the requirements of the post. However, you are entitled to receive time off in lieu for hours worked in excess of your normal working week.

Equal Opportunities Policy: LArche Belfast is an equal opportunity employer. The aim of its policy is to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of nationality, race, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, age, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief or political opinion, nor should they be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which are neither justified nor relevant to the job.