Support Worker (Oxford) - £13-£14.08

The positions entail working with people with learning disabilities, autism, Asperger's and or other related conditions to access community services and social activities. Such activities normally involve supporting an individual to go shopping, library, cinema, support to the doctors, going out for trips among others. Other support provided would be travel training, project planning, support in class or school.

However, the main aspect of support would require someone who is able to remain calm when the person being supported becomes anxious or unsettled which may make them unsafe to themselves or those around them. We provide flexible work such that you can work as little as 3 hours a week to 40+, on weekdays, weekends and evenings. By knowing your availability we would be able to see what work would suit.

You must hold a licence which allows you to drive in the UK, clean for more than one year, together with your own transport with business insurance. You must be willing and able to travel across the area, supporting the person we support from their own homes. Reasonable mileage is reimbursed. Most of the support we provide is Monday- Sunday during the hours of 8am-10pm, but some support is required in the evenings and overnight on some occasions. Some positions do not require a driver. Please enquire. Hours can be combined to have a “long day”.

Positions will require a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) certificate and references before commencing. Experience is not necessary but desirable.

Purpose Of Post: To work as part of a team providing high quality care and support to Service Users one to one or as part of a group to take part in daily activities.

Main Responsibilities:

• To assist Service Users with their activities within their community, to support with their budgets, to create new opportunities for Service User to take part in activities within their own community.

Responsibilities to the people we support and your responsibilities to yourself:

• To ensure that people we support are treated with respect, dignity and equality.
• To be personally accountable for the standard of your practice.
• To safeguard and promote the welfare of the people we support.
• To complete daily budget and other documents.
• To maintain the confidentiality of information given to you either written or verbal.
• To be responsible for your personal development and undertake training as required.
• To participate in regular supervision sessions and annual appraisals.
• To undertake responsibilities with regard to the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• To set up activities and tidy up.
• If the building needs to be locked up this must be done and key returned to the line manager.
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times, this includes communication between staff and the service users.

Please note: You are responsible for your own belongings and GFI takes no responsibilities for loss items or your own personal money. See contract for more information.

Main Duties:

• To be responsible for a named service user, this may include picking them up from their own home and returning the service user to their home.
• You must stay with your service user until handed over to parents/carer or authorized centres i.e. respites, and at no time leave the service user unattended.
• To work with service users 1:1 or in a small group basis to participate in activities of their own choice and following parents or carers advice on activities in the venue and the community.
• To keep daily records including activities diary, behaviour and any other form of records the line manager needs.
• To plan activities with the person we support and within their budget.
• To work with medical and/or social and health care professionals on any specialist interventions/ strategies as agreed with the person we support, their family, carers, etc.
• To support and assist each person to maintain a high standard of personal care including, intimate care, hygiene and physical well-being.
• To communicate with families, representatives and outside agencies in a professional and courteous manner.
• To attend yearly person we support reviews and other meetings when required.
• To bring to the attention of a Manager any matter of concern over the well-being, safety or safeguarding of a person we support.
• Where required and authorised, to drive the vehicles used by our clients and to participate in ensuring the upkeep and maintenance of any such vehicles.

Person Specification:

Role Abilities and Skills:

• Respecting Others
• Good Interpersonal Skills
• Basic IT skills
• Caring
• Ability to adjust your approach in turn to suit service users and activities

Education, Knowledge and Experience:

• An interest in the work Go For It undertakes
• Demonstrative written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to maintain professional boundaries at all times
• Able to follow policy and procedures
• Experience working with people with learning disabilities and autism

Personal Characteristics:

• A commitment to a person-centred approach that is focused on the needs of the people we support
• A belief that people with learning disabilities have the right to participate in making decisions about the services they receive and to access opportunities including learning, training, employment and wider experiences.
• Having a sense of humour

Service Specific Essential Criteria:

• Ability to work the days required which may include weekends and bank holidays
• Have your own transport
• Have full driving licence
• Ability to meet the needs of our service users
• Ability to carry out duties

Job Type: Full-time, Part-time, Bank, Flexible, Permanent, Contract, Volunteer

Flexible Working Options Available: Flexitime, Staggered hours, Compressed hours, Annualised hours, Job share, Part-time, Full-time

Shift: 10 hour shift, 12 hour shift, 8 hour shift, Day shift, Night shift

Work days: Monday to Friday

Education: GCSE or equivalent (preferred)

Licence / Certification: Full UK Driving Licence (required)

Screening Questions:

• How many years experience do you have working in health & social care provision i.e. care, support, SEN settings or similar?
• Do you have a full UK Driving Licence?
• Do you have access to a vehicle for work purposes?
• Please confirm your UK Residency / Immigration Status (include any limitations you may have)
• Please write a couple of lines why you are best suited for the position.
• Have you uploaded your current CV? (applications without CVs will not be processed)