Support Worker

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

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

Responsibilities

To work as part of a team and to contribute to the development of the service.

To work flexibility across the older people accommodation provision.

To support new members of staff in understanding their role.

To contribute to the assessment of new referrals in collaboration with senior support workers, to ensure that they meet the services eligibility criteria through 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 contribute to support plans and person centred risk assessments and promote their implementation in order to promote independence in a safe environment including housing related support and the requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

To contribute to appropriate reviews including the annual provider-led reviews and participate in multi agency meetings including the care programme approach (CPA). This will also include working collaboratively with health professionals to apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).

To support individuals to develop practical living skills as identified in their support plan in order to develop and maintain independent living skills.

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 facilitate customers on outings and/or appointments as required.

To undertake lone working as required.

To work towards recovery and increased independence through promoting social interaction.

To support customers to access and engage in local community and mainstream resources including the use of leisure, education, employment, volunteering and faith organisations and support service users engagement with these organisations.

To undertake lone working as required.

To handle small amounts of cash and comply with LCC Financial Regulations.

To support the safeguarding of customers within a positive risk management framework, ensuring that all safeguarding issues are monitored and reported promptly in line with the multi-agency framework.

To liaise and communicate with relatives, carers, other professionals and appropriate agencies and signpost to appropriate services where required.

To support and encourage customers to become involved in the ongoing development of the service.

To promote the provision of advocacy services to customers where required.

To deal with crisis and challenging situations appropriately.

To respect the confidential nature of the work and ensure that customers and carers are aware of the Councils policies relating to the customers access to files and to work within the appropriate information sharing protocol and the General Data Protection Rules (GDPR).

To attend and participate in meetings, training, personal supervision, and performance appraisal as required.

To accurately complete all necessary documentation on the Client Information System (CIS), records and reports as necessary and determined by LCC procedures including the Code of Practice.

To carry out sleep-in duties as required. To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures, and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.

To actively promote and support Leeds City Councils Policies best practice and diversity and equality of opportunity.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Commitment to undertake a Level 2 Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship within 12 months of commencement of the post.

Successful candidates will be offered an opportunity to undertake a Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship.

Qualifications

Essential

• Commitment to undertake a Level 2 Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship within 12 months of commencement of the post.
• Successful candidates will be offered an opportunity to undertake a Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people in a health and/or social care setting.
• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Experience of using person centred approaches.
• Experience of communicating with individuals using a variety of methods.

Desirable

• Experience of providing support for vulnerable adults.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• 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.
• Demonstrate functional skills in literacy and numeracy at Level 1 or equivalent.
• Requirement to complete the Care Certificate within 12 weeks of commencement of the post.
• Commitment to undertake a Level 2 Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship within 12 months of commencement of the post.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing complex and sensitive information effectively, accurately, and concisely between various stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a supportive and enabling manner that focuses on supporting individual customers to achieve their goals.
• Ability to undertake some moving & handling.
• Ability to use a person centred approach and contributes to and monitors support plans and risk management plans.
• Ability to support and enable customers to access appropriate housing and make choices about their lives.
• Ability to deal with crisis and challenging situations appropriately.
• Ability to show empathy and patience when supporting customers.
• Ability to work unsupervised and on ones own initiative daily.
• Ability to work with and consider the needs of service users from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team.

Desirable

• An understanding of the Authority, its function and organisation.
• Of benefits and the process of how to apply for these.
• Of the social model of disability.
• Of Health and Safety at work policies.
• Of other providers.
• Ability to work with a variety of electronic communications and technology.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Essential

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• 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.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employees 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, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
• To respect each customer right to exercise choice and take control over their own lives.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the problems of disadvantaged groups.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).