Job summary
Recruitment Event - 30th April & 1st May
We are looking for more amazing people to join our Outreach, Out & About and Day Service teamsas Support Workers so that we can support more people living in the Wokingham borough.
Both services focus on supporting adults with learning disabilities to access community activities, develop life skills, build friendships, and - most importantly - have fun!
Whether you are looking to start your career in adult social care or looking for a new environment to make the most of your skills, this is a great opportunity to learn more about Optalis and what we do. If you are positive, have lots of energy and are passionate about making a difference, we want to meet you! Come have a chat with us at our Head Office in Wokingham on Wed 30 April or Thu 1 May - if you like what you hear and you meet our requirements, we will offer an immediate interview to get you started on your journey!
As previous events have been very busy, we are actively encouraging people to book their preferred day and time - https://calendly.com/optalis/day-services-recruitment-day
This is an in-person recruitment event - applicants on NHS Jobs will be contacted to book in using the above link.
Main duties of the job
OutreachandOut & Aboutenables people to get into the community, socialise and join in with local events and activities. We match individuals with a fully-trained support worker who shares similar interests and helps them to choose from activities including (but not limited to) bowling, swimming, discos, cooking classes, and even day trips to the seaside!
Day Servicesin Woodley and Wokingham provide a safe and friendly environment where people can make friends, develop life skills and engage in activities. Our Activity Support Organisers design and host activities like arts and crafts, making music, board games and day trips that are designed to be flexible for all ages and abilities.
This is about putting smiles on faces; we are passionate about helping people to achieve their goals and to live meaningful lives. We are looking for confident, outgoing people who share our values and want to have a positive impact on the people we support.
Experience isn't necessary; full training is provided as you will be required to support with care responsibilities, such as personal care, administering medication and assisting with mobility.
Please note for these roles, we do require applicants to be over 25 years of age and have a full or automatic driving licence. If you do not meet these criteria, we will be more than happy to discuss our other positions with you.
About us
Optalis is jointly owned by Wokingham Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Optalis delivers adult social care on behalf of the two local authorities. We have over 50 services across the WBC and RBWM boroughs, supporting adults with learning disabilities to live independently, providing dementia and nursing care for older people and offering reablement services to help people return home from hospital.
We provide stable employment and opportunities to develop yourself and advance your career.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Take a person-centred approach to assist customers on an individual basis to be involved in their local community by promoting inclusion and independent.
- Empower customers to be in control of the services available to them through signposting and self-directed support.
- To facilitate and oversee engaging activities throughout the day, both in community settings and in service.
- To support and enable customers to participate in a wide variety of activities through encouragement and motivation.
- Directly support activities, which can vary across a wide spectrum of topics and tasks.
- Take a shared responsibility for activities, for individuals and groups, in order to meet the clients diverse individual needs and developmental aims and outcomes.
- Promote client participation considering informed choice, using a person-centred approach.
- Support with all care needs for customers, some of whom may have multiple complex needs and/or behavioural difficulties.
- Assist with eating and drinking as required and undertake personal care tasks as and when required.
- Promoting high quality activities and supporting other staff to do so by leading by example.
- Drive the service vehicles manual and automatic
- Lone work as required
- Be aware of and if necessary report safeguarding issues in line with procedures.
- Be responsible for health and safety, ensuring all faults and hazards are reported.
- Liaise with colleagues, parents and carers, and healthcare professionals as required.
- Maintain and update any written/electronic records in accordance with service standards.
- Participate in staff training, including supervision and appraisals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Take a person-centred approach to assist customers on an individual basis to be involved in their local community by promoting inclusion and independent.
- Empower customers to be in control of the services available to them through signposting and self-directed support.
- To facilitate and oversee engaging activities throughout the day, both in community settings and in service.
- To support and enable customers to participate in a wide variety of activities through encouragement and motivation.
- Directly support activities, which can vary across a wide spectrum of topics and tasks.
- Take a shared responsibility for activities, for individuals and groups, in order to meet the clients diverse individual needs and developmental aims and outcomes.
- Promote client participation considering informed choice, using a person-centred approach.
- Support with all care needs for customers, some of whom may have multiple complex needs and/or behavioural difficulties.
- Assist with eating and drinking as required and undertake personal care tasks as and when required.
- Promoting high quality activities and supporting other staff to do so by leading by example.
- Drive the service vehicles manual and automatic
- Lone work as required
- Be aware of and if necessary report safeguarding issues in line with procedures.
- Be responsible for health and safety, ensuring all faults and hazards are reported.
- Liaise with colleagues, parents and carers, and healthcare professionals as required.
- Maintain and update any written/electronic records in accordance with service standards.
- Participate in staff training, including supervision and appraisals.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Desirable
- NVQ 2 in Care or equivalent
- Knowledge of Social Care legislations (i.e. Care Act, Mental Capacity Act)
Experience
Essential
- Able to recognise and act appropriately to safeguarding concerns
- Use initiative and present alternatives where appropriate
- Confident to make decisions to ensure activities are delivered safely to suit all needs
- Willing and able to partake in physical activities such as swimming, theme park rides and some sports
- Good communication skills able to speak, read and write to a good level of English
- Good organisational skills able to plan workload and work systematically
- Good understanding of IT (i.e. Office 365)
Desirable
- Experience of supporting people with Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities or older people living with Dementia
- Knowledge of additional needs (i.e. health, communication, behaviours)
Other
Essential
- Current driving licence for manual and automatic vehicles and meet Optalis insurance requirements
Person Specification
Qualifications
Desirable
- NVQ 2 in Care or equivalent
- Knowledge of Social Care legislations (i.e. Care Act, Mental Capacity Act)
Experience
Essential
- Able to recognise and act appropriately to safeguarding concerns
- Use initiative and present alternatives where appropriate
- Confident to make decisions to ensure activities are delivered safely to suit all needs
- Willing and able to partake in physical activities such as swimming, theme park rides and some sports
- Good communication skills able to speak, read and write to a good level of English
- Good organisational skills able to plan workload and work systematically
- Good understanding of IT (i.e. Office 365)
Desirable
- Experience of supporting people with Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities or older people living with Dementia
- Knowledge of additional needs (i.e. health, communication, behaviours)
Other
Essential
- Current driving licence for manual and automatic vehicles and meet Optalis insurance requirements
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.
