Senior Support Worker in Leeds

Hours: 37 hrs

Contract: Permanent

As a Senior Support Worker, you will support the service and the Team providing management cover. You will be expected to be flexible and asked to work across other services.

About you

• Experience of managing a staff team in a Care setting.
• Be able to use Microsoft office applications.
• Have knowledge of strength-based care.
• Understand the Needs of older people.
• Knowledge of CQC and Adult social Care assurance processes.

What we offer you

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form. Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you would like an informal discussion before you apply for the role, please contact Susie Arnold Manager 07712216774.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

Job Description

Job purpose: To work to provide an integrated package of care and support to customers to enable them to live independent, safe, and fulfilling lives in the community using a strengths-based approach.

Responsibilities:

• To provide guidance, support & formally supervise support workers as required.
• To take a lead in managing the shift in the absence of senior officers and to work flexibly across the day opportunity provision.
• To facilitate and participate in the induction of new workers, volunteers, and students.
• To work as part of a team and to support the manager to develop the service.
• To contribute to the preparation of reports and management information.
• To assess new referrals to ensure that they meet the services access criteria via liaison with potential customers and referral agencies.
• To work in partnership with individuals to identify their needs and strengths through the assessment and support planning process.
• To undertake support plans and person-centred risk assessments and promote their implementation to promote independence in a safe environment.
• To arrange and coordinate appropriate reviews including the annual provider-led reviews and participate in multi-agency meetings including the care programme approach (CPA).
• To build and develop positive links with the local community and mainstream resources including the use of leisure, education, employment, volunteering and faith organisations and support customers engagement with these resources.
• To lead, develop and organise group activities and assess for any potential risk both in the building and community.
• To facilitate customers on outings and/or appointments as required.
• To assess and undertake lone working as required.
• To support customers to develop or maintain life skills by the provision of advice prompting, guidance and/or signposting.
• To undertake financial transactions in line with LCC Financial Regulations.
• To support customers to manage their medication as specified in their support plan and to administer medication if required and where staff have reached the required competency and reviewed every 6 months.
• To provide personal care and support to customers where required and as specified in their support plan.
• To support the safeguarding of customers within a positive risk management framework.
• To liaise and communicate with relatives, carers, other professionals, and appropriate agencies.
• To co-ordinate and facilitate service users to become involved in the on-going development of the service.
• To support and encourage customers to become involved in the ongoing development of the service.
• To ensure the provision of advocacy services to customers.
• To deal with crisis and challenging situations appropriately.
• To attend and participate in meetings, training, personal supervision, and performance appraisal as required.
• To respect the confidential nature of the work and ensure that customers and carers are aware of the Council’s policies relating to the customers access to files.
• To accurately complete all necessary documentation on the Client Information System (CIS), records and reports as necessary.
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures, and staff instructions.
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Council's and Departmental Policies best practice and diversity and equality of opportunity.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to undertake a Level 3 Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship within 12 months of commencement of the post.

Essential requirements:

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing complex and sensitive information effectively, accurately, and concisely between various stakeholders.
• Ability to promote and work in a supportive and enabling manner that focuses on supporting individual customers to achieve their goals.
• Ability to undertake moving and handling.
• Ability to use a person-centred approach and undertake and monitor support plans and risk management plans.
• Ability to promote, support and enable customers to make choices about their lives.
• Ability to support customers with people skills when they meet and interact with other people.
• Ability to manage challenging situations appropriately.
• Ability to show empathy and patience when supporting customers.
• Ability to work unsupervised and on one’s own initiative daily.
• Ability to work with and consider the needs of customers from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to make decisions and work flexibly as part of a team.
• Ability to work in partnership with other professionals and agencies.
• Ability to collaborate successfully with mainstream community resources to promote and facilitate access for customers.

Knowledge:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of customers as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the needs associated with vulnerable adults.
• Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
• Of current policies and trends in relation to vulnerable adults.

Experience:

• Of enabling customers to access mainstream community resources.
• Of collaborating with people in a health and/or social care setting.
• Of working as part of a team.
• Of implementing person centred approaches.
• Of communicating with individuals using a variety of methods.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics:

• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Perform all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

To respect each customer’s right to exercise choice and take control over their own lives.

Desirable requirements:

• Ability to work with a variety of electronic communications and technology.

Knowledge:

• An understanding of the Authority, its function and organisation.
• Of the social model of disability.
• Of Health and Safety at work policies.
• Of other providers.
• Of how voluntary sector and community groups are organised and co-ordinated.

Experience:

• Of providing support for vulnerable adults.

Behavioural and other characteristics:

• Knowledge of the problems of disadvantaged groups.