Learning Disabilities - Support Worker

Job title: Support Worker

Job purpose

To enable service users with individual needs to improve their quality of life and be part of their communities. To promote independence, wellbeing, rights, responsibilities and choice among service users. To provide day to day care and support to enable the individuals who use Turning Points services to live as independently as they wish.

Key accountabilities

Quality - 

To maintain a high level of quality in service provision by:- 

Meeting quality expectations and agreed performance criteria 

Participating and utilising management information and information collection systems as appropriate 

Contributing to the continuous improvement of the service.

Own Development - 

To continuously review own performance and development needs to assist growth and development by:- 

Participating in open two-way dialogue during Performance Management meetings agreeing own task and development objectives and reviewing these and overall performance against the competency framework and skills profile for the Support Worker role. 

Participating in training and other development opportunities as agreed with your line manager.

Health and Safety & Risk Management - 

To ensure a safe working environment for self and colleagues by:- 

Ensuring good standard of housekeeping is maintained in own area 

Ensuring risk assessments are completed when appropriate 

Taking personal responsibility for own safety e.g. reporting concerns, ensuring appropriate vaccinations and eye tests etc. are obtained 

Complying with all H&S policies and procedures including serious untoward incidents and accident reporting

Compliance - 

To ensure compliance with internal and external standards and codes of conduct by- 

Meeting all regulatory requirements Comply with our Code of Conduct, policies and procedures

Miscellaneous - To undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the line manager.

Service Users - To proactively deliver a high quality/person centred service provision that meets the needs of service users by:- Supporting individuals with their personal care, which may include skin care, bathing or showering, shaving, oral care, intimate care and continence (including management of bladder and bowels), dressing/undressing and hair care.

Supporting individuals with housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, washing dishes and running errands; carrying out these tasks in full when individuals are unable to do so.

Promoting peoples rights and responsibilities 

Working as an effective member of the team Providing advice and information for service users and others where appropriate 

Delivering agreed support packages to quality standards 

Liaising with external professional groups e.g. GPs, Social Services, etc. 

Ensuring record keeping is maintained to the required standard at all times and contributing to service monitoring requirements. 

As appropriate, supporting services users to take their prescribed medication on time assisting them where necessary Ensuring full risk assessments and risk management is delivered effectively.

Ensuring that work is undertaken in line with Health and Safety requirements 

Assisting the facilitation of effective care pathways 

Supporting individuals to achieve goals and objectives as set out in their care/support plans

Supporting and enabling individuals to access community based services and facilities

Service Support - 

To assist in the implementation, development and delivery of the service by:-. 

Participating in the induction of new colleagues when required. 

Delivering all tasks on time and to agreed quality standards 

Participating in the service user reviews with line manager or other colleagues.

Service Development & Quality - 

To work collaboratively to develop the service by:- 

Ensuring the service and the wider organisation of ours is represented in a professional manner at all times. 

Proactively contributing to continuously improving the service by making positive suggestions, providing constructive feedback and assisting in the implementation of agreed new ways of working.

Ensuring day to day delivery of service provision embeds and extends our person centred approach.

Empathy and Support - 

To provide empathy and support to service users by:- 

Working with service users in a person-centred way, to meet needs, personal goals and aspirations

Encouraging service users to achieve their potential 

Promoting independent living through service users personal choice, advocacy and support 

Taking account of the views of service users families, carers and significant others.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Personal effectiveness

Essential:

Excellent customer service skills 

Display a flexible attitude towards providing a service 

Comfortable with providing personal and intimate care to our service users. 

Adaptable and able to work in a challenging and changeable environment 

Display a caring and empathetic approach to people with Learning Disabilities 

Able to undertake the moving and handling of service users following training

Technical effectiveness

Proven verbal and written communication skills with the ability to receive and undertake instruction and to tailor the message to the audience. 

Collaborative team working skills Ability to deliver against agreed objectives/targets 

Basic IT skills in particular the use of Microsoft Word.

Desirable:

Display an awareness of current Learning Disabilities issues and understanding of a person-centred approach 

Display an awareness of current legislation and policy that impacts upon and influences service delivery, such as Valuing People 

Display an awareness and understanding of the Protection of Vulnerable Adults guidelines 

Able to deliver a range of services in a person centred, non-judgemental manner. 

Proven track record in managing incidents of verbal and violent aggression

Acquired experience & qualifications

Desirable:

Previous experience in the care profession. 

Vocational qualification e.g. NVQ 2/3 or willingness to work towards

Place of work