Support Worker

Job Description

Reports to: Service Manager

Location: Adult Services – Supported Living

[Employer hidden] Langdon is a charity that offers a broad range of education and support for children and adults with learning disabilities and special needs.

Our vision is:

That people with learning disabilities and autistic people are supported to thrive.

And to facilitate this, our Mission is:

To offer outstanding life opportunities so that people we support can live as independently as possible, reach their potential and contribute as equals in our Jewish community and beyond.

[Employer hidden] Langdon will provide relevant training and supervision to ensure all staff are competent and confident in developing their skills and knowledge around delivering effective and efficient self-managed Teams.

JOB PURPOSE:

To work individually and as part of the Supported Living Team to:

• Discuss, explore and understand people’s strengths, passions and interests, using this knowledge to help co-produce flexible and responsive support for individuals’ needs. Working in this way removes hierarchy, keeping decisions closer to the people themselves and reducing unnecessary costs.

• Co-produce and develop person-centred support, enabling people to have control over their own lives by maximising their independence, promoting and supporting people to achieve their full outcomes including independence, choice and community presence.

• Comply with policies and procedures set by the organisation and regulatory bodies, such as the Care Quality Commission and the Local Boroughs.

MAIN TASKS:

• Provide support for the people we support in line with their individual, person centred support plans.
• Support the people we support in maintaining their emotional, physical, spiritual, cultural and psychological wellbeing.
• Work with the Team to agree and set the Rota ensuring a person centred way.
• Enable the people we support to utilise community facilities and services.
• Uphold and promote the rights, dignity, respect and choice of the people we support.
• Coach, enable and assist the people we support to develop new skills.
• Participate in and enable the people we support to complete household tasks including cleaning, tidying, laundry, supporting individuals to plan meals, shop, cook, budget appropriately.
• Actively participate in and enable the people we support to carry out their activities according to their personalised programmes.
• Assist the people we support in promoting new friendships and maintaining relationships with family, friends and the local community.
• Support and safeguard the people we support in the management of their finances as appropriate
• Ensure effective relationships are developed and maintained with relevant services and professionals, including health services.
• Maintain records consistent with legal requirements of the service.
• Act in accordance with Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality and other policies.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings, supervisions and appraisals.
• Promote and safeguard a Jewish Ethos and Culture.
• For the people in Supported Living - be prepared to work flexible hours over a week depending on the need of the person supported.

JOB ACTIVITIES:

Working with the people we support to:

• Find out what is important to individuals and help them make choices by providing information in an appropriate and person centred way. Discuss your ideas for improvement with the person supported, and with the Supported Living Team – both colleagues and managers.
• Support and encourage the individual’s religious beliefs and seek opportunities to socialise and develop relationships in the Jewish Community and wider community.
• Help the individual understand and manage the risks in everyday life and provide consistent support in line with Safeguarding Principles to ensure the welfare, safety and protection of individuals within the [Employer hidden] Langdon premises and the wider community.
• Support the personal care needs of individuals where necessary and appropriate, affording dignity, respect and privacy.
• Assist and support individuals with medical/health needs, including maintaining a high level of cleanliness and hygiene, and the administering of medication subject to appropriate training.
• Promote healthy lifestyle choices including balanced diet and exercise.
• Provide assistance to enable the individual to participate and develop their practical skills to live as independently as possible, whilst supporting them to maintain a high standard of living.
• Maintain the standards set by the General Social Care Council – CODES OF PRACTICE for social care workers and employers. (A copy of the Code of Practice will be supplied with this document on confirmation of the employee’s appointment).
• Support individuals as directed to develop and enhance their skills to increase their opportunities of employment.
• Complete paperwork as and when necessary, e.g., filling in MAR sheets, recording discussions from meetings, filling in petty cash sheets etc.
• Conduct key working sessions and attend other meetings on request.
• Comply with any procedures as legislated by the Care Quality Commission and directed by your line manager

WORKING AS PART OF A TEAM TO:

• Maintain effective working relationships and proactively liaise with and advise the Support Manager/Team Leader and other team members.
• Attend all team meetings and contribute to assessment/reviews and or individuals’ progress as required.
• Engage in staff training and peer supervision as directed by and agreed with the Service Managers/Team Leaders and to participate in performance review and appraisal in line with [Employer hidden] Langdon policy.
• Inform the Service Manager/Team Leader of any service deficiencies, omissions or errors in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Communicate concerns relating to the safety and wellbeing of individuals and/or colleagues to the Service Manager/Team Leader in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Maintain effective communications with staff, parents and families by maintaining accurate records and reports, including handovers at every shift, daily logs and other documentation.
• Provide staffing cover as required by managers, and to be the responsible person on duty.
• Respect confidentiality for everyone.
• Working with multi professional individuals and teams such as physiotherapists, speech and language therapists etc.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Ensure the service is always delivered with respect and commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ensure that fire, and health and safety requirements are complied with and areas of risk identified.
• Undertake any other duties consistent with the objectives of the post as required by managers.
• Complete all required training by e-learning or attending training courses.
• Take responsibility for your professional development as a support worker and be willing to learn new ways of working.
• Undertake to abide by and support the [Employer hidden] Langdon religious policy.
• Value the rights of people with a learning disability and understand the needs of people with a learning disability.
• Be committed to delivering a ‘person centred’ programme.
• Find solutions to challenges.

NB: Because the duties may involve close physical contact and providing personal hygiene and intimate physical care support, the post may be restricted to either male or female applicants as appropriate.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Desirable How this will be measured

Relevant Experience

Experience of working with people with X Application form
learning disabilities. Interview

Experience of caring for people (paid or X Application form
volunteer). Interview

Qualifications

Achieved or working towards NVQ/QCF in X Application form
Health & Social Care level 2, Care Certificate Qualification
or equivalent experience. N.B. Salary level certificates
reflects qualified/unqualified status. To be
recognised by [Employer hidden] Langdon, the
qualification awarding body must be
recognised by Ofqual.

First Aid Training. x Qualification
certificates

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate. x Qualification
certificates

Knowledge and Understanding

Knowledge and experience of epilepsy. X Interview

Knowledge and understanding of Valuing X Interview
People.

Knowledge and undertaking of good care X Interview
practice and acceptable risk taking.

Understanding of the principles of equal X Interview
opportunities & anti discriminatory practices.

Understanding of the importance of X Application form
attending and participating actively in regular Interview
supervision with peers and managers. Probation period

Understanding / awareness of or willingness X Application form
to learn about Jewish culture. Interview

Knowledge of Health and Social Care Act. X Interview

Skills and Abilities

Ability to deliver ‘person centred’ X Interview
programmes

Essential Desirable How this will be
measured

The ability to work flexibly with unsocial X Application form
hours on a rota basis according to the Interview
individual needs of the people we are Probation period
supporting.

Lone working with people we support X Interview
according to their individual needs in the Probation period
local and wider community.

Work collaboratively with Team / managers X Interview
to support individuals according to their Probation period
needs.

Ability and willingness to provide personal X Application form
toilet, hygiene & care support including Interview
intimate care and to undertake manual
handling.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally X Application form
and in writing, with other staff, people we Interview
support, parents/families and other
professionals.

Ability to be self-motivated, use personal & X Application form
creative initiative and judgment within the Interview
Supported Living Team Framework.

Good numeracy and literacy skills. X Application form

Ability to work well under pressure. X Interview
Probation period

Ability to show empathy and understanding X Application form
towards people we support. Interview

Ability and willingness to develop the support X Application form
plan and participate in specific educational, Interview
employment and recreational activities to
ensure the individual needs of the people we
support are fully met.

Ability to participate in household tasks / X Application form
independent living skills. Interview

Ability to participate in the preparation of X Probation
meals.

Essential Desirable How this will be
measured

Ability to respond appropriately in X Interview
accordance with [Employer hidden] Langdon policy to Probation
challenging behaviour.

Strict adherence to our policy and legal X Application form
obligations regarding confidentiality. Interview

Ability to deal with stressful situations. X Probation period

Committed to personal development. X Probation period

Reliable and Trustworthy. X Probation period

Current full driving licence and have never X Application form
been disqualified Interview

[Employer hidden] LANGDON IS COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS AND EXPECTS ALL STAFF TO SHARE THIS COMMITMENT.

AN ENHANCED DBS CHECK IS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION.

This job description has been received and agreed by:

Name: ____________________________

Signature: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________