Support Worker - Community and Support

Information

The people who use our services tell us we’ve changed their lives. Our employees tell us they’re supported, enthusiastic and have opportunities to develop meaningful careers. We’re looking for someone great to join our team.

 Our staff have come from all walks of life; some have a faith and some don’t. We don’t want you to be a cog in a wheel. We want you to bring your skills and experience either from the care sector or gained elsewhere – we know they are transferrable. Your journey won’t stop there though as, using the strengths of a large diverse organisation, we’ll support you to develop new skills and qualifications and give you the opportunities to put them into practice.

We’re all about the people we support. We want them to achieve the highest quality of life they can and you’ll be more important in that than you know. You’ll need to be able to discern the person behind the behaviour and be able to develop strong supportive relationships with colleagues

Main Function

Provide service users with warm, compassionate and nurturing care and support by being involved in the design, implementation and review of care plans that understand, and are sensitive to, the service users’ needs and expressed wishes

Engaging with the significant people in the service users life, assess and review the care plan to ensure that the service user is receiving the right care and support, and ensure that the plan is adapted when the service users’ needs, choices or decisions change.

Ensure service users are treated with dignity and respect by actively listening to them, appreciating their contributions, valuing their humanity, respecting personal space, and observing appropriate confidentiality.

Support service users to participate fully and actively in their community, and family and friendship networks, by understanding their aspirations and wishes. Help them to access any resources and information that will help them to participate in a safe and sustainable way.

At the right time, and using a human rights approach, provide service users with all the information they need in order to make informed choices and remain in control of their care and support. At the same time appropriately consider, and advocate if necessary, the service users’ suggestions, feedback and concerns.

Support service users to make informed choices about their lifestyle preferences and aspirations and, using a risk enablement approach, encourage and help them to consider the risks and achieve their full potential and maintain personal wellbeing. At the same time ensure the service user feels safe and that they are protected from neglect, abuse or avoidable harm.

Acting as part of the wider care team, operate with the flexibility and collaboration required to provide all service users with the appropriate consistency of care.

Ensure that service user wellbeing is maximised by maintaining your personal professional development and appropriately applying and implementing best practice in the care and support you provide, in a manner that is consistent with the appropriate professional codes of practice

Respect and behave consistently with Crossreach’s ethos and values in all of your interactions with service users, other Crossreach employees and the other stakeholders with whom you interact.

Maintain accurate records in order to comply with the requirements of CrossReach policies and procedures, Care inspectorate and SSSC registration.

Main Duties

Work 1:1 without direct supervision, using personal initiative and responsibility, to meet service user outcomes

Work in a safe and effective manner in supporting people with physical care, including the use of wheelchairs, disabled toilets, etc.

Support service users to meet their social outcomes, working in a flexible and creative way to achieve natural friendships, supports, shared interests and beliefs; sustaining meaningful relationships and being involved in their community.

Support service users to be occupied in a range of meaningful activities, such as employment, voluntary work, education or leisure activities.

Where it is part of their care plan, support service users to maintain their health and physical well-being by accompanying them to the gym, swimming, etc.

Use a range of methods to communicate effectively with, and understand, service users who have limited verbal communication.

By effective communication, and appropriate intervention, support service users who have difficulty managing their own stressed and distressed behaviour.

Work a shift pattern which includes evenings and weekends to accommodate service users’ needs, wishes and preferences.

Accommodate short notice changes to shifts to accommodate service users’ needs, wishes and preferences.

Participate, with colleagues, in the holiday support team, supporting service users to their holiday destination, and ensure that they have an enjoyable experience.

Gain and maintain proficiency in the use of a (supplied) phablet in order to communicate with the service and to complete records remotely.

Qualifications

Essential: SVQ 2 or 3 dependant on job role, or equivalent qualification which meets professional registration requirements.

Desirable: Qualification in supporting people on the autistic spectrum.

Personal

As we do our work in Christ’s name you must be respectful of our Christian Ethos and be able to work within it.

Skills and Abilities

Experience desirable but not essential

Postholder must possess basic computer literacy skills including use of Microsoft Office and the internet.