Salary: £16,928 to £17,978

Support Workers are a valuable part of what we do.

We are looking for applicants who have worked with people with learning disabilities for at least one year, and had experience of working in a person centred and creative ways to empower people we support to get more of what they want out of life.

Please read through the Job Description and Person Specification below.

If you are interested, then apply here.

Job Description

Job Title: Support Worker 2 (Registered Service)

Reports to: Manager/Deputy Manager/Senior Support Worker

Overall Objectives:

As part of a team, to provide high quality, flexible, person-centred support, enabling people with learning disabilities and/or associated diagnoses to maximise their independence and autonomy within their home and community. To support service users to identify and reach personal goals and aspirations.

Key Responsibilities:

Supporting Others

To promote the personal autonomy of service users, to support them to develop advocacy skills, and ensure that the service provided reflects their views, opinions and wishes
To complete, update and participate in structured service users’ assessments, in conjunction with other staff and stakeholders, e.g. family, friends, clinicians, social workers, etc.
To write, participate in, monitor and evaluate support plans
To work as part of a team of “key workers” to support service users, being responsible for their package of support according to individual need
To provide support to service users as needed to enable them to participate in household tasks, appointments, duties and commitments e.g. rent payments, in order that they are completed
To plan and participate in group and individual activities to further employment, education, leisure and social needs and interests, with an emphasis on community integration
To work alone on occasions, both within the service and in the community. To ensure your own personal safety by working to the organisation’s policy and procedures when working alone and reporting any changes that may affect the personal safety of yourself and others
To monitor the physical health, well being and behaviour of service users and take necessary action in emergencies or when changes require attention
To provide assistance and/or guidance where needed with personal care, e.g. taking medicines, shaving, bathing
To recognise and support emotional, racial, cultural and religious needs and preferences of service users and to ensure provision reflects these
To liaise with families and advocates of service users on a regular basis, and to support service users in maintaining these links

Teamwork

To attend regular staff meetings and staff training days as required
To work closely as part of a team, ensuring effective communication with other support workers, external professionals, statutory agencies, etc. and other related parties (families, etc.), including writing reports as required
To undertake administrative duties related to maintaining and developing the service
To act as shift leader when required, completing shift plans, taking responsibility for medication, leading handovers and providing guidance to staff as necessary
To make effective use of Odyssey’s email and other I.T. systems as appropriate to the post level

Organisational/Statutory

To at all times carry out responsibilities with due regard to Odyssey’s Equal Opportunities statement
To accept responsibility for ensuring that Odyssey’s policies, procedures and principles, including those relating to Health and Safety in the workplace, are adhered to at all times
To respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means in line with the Data Protection Act
To carry out responsibilities with due regard to the non-smoking environment in the services and offices

Continuous Improvement

To participate in and contribute to regular supervision and performance review meetings with line management
To participate in the staff development programme as identified by your training needs analysis

The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. All members of staff are required to be professional, co-operative and flexible in line with the post, service/department and organisation.

Person Specification

Experience

At least one year’s recent experience of working with people with learning disabilities (within last 5 years).
Experience of working in community based residential services.
Experience of leading and supporting group and individual activities that promote independence in personal care, social skills, leisure and educational opportunities with an emphasis on community integration.

Knowledge

An understanding of and commitment to:

the issues facing people with disabilities
Equality and Diversity in service delivery
“ordinary life principles”

Skills/Abilities

Ability to:

work effectively as a team member
complete tasks with minimum supervision, implement procedures and work accurately to required quality standards
prepare and write reports and care / support plans
work under pressure
physically carry out personal care and support needs as required with a high degree of sensitivity; this should also include deployment safe manual handling techniques where necessary
prioritise tasks and work effectively to a Shift Plan in conjunction with colleagues
sensitively undertake a key working role
understand and explain the principles behind person centred approaches and demonstrate working in this way during their career to date
manage the conflicting requirements of customers in a timely and effective way
develop and actively use different communication tools to meet the needs of customers/users of our services as required e.g. signs, symbols, Makaton, etc.
demonstrate the principles of partnership working
involve users of our services in setting standards required for service delivery
understand the causes and signs of abuse and take positive action to prevent or remedy it
respond to the changing needs of customers and users of our service
provide good customer service and support in a sensitive and respectful way

Other

A positive approach to self development and supervision including the ability to be reflective and self critical and use this to improve and develop
Be physically able to meet the needs of the users of our services and undertake shift work

Planning & Organising Self & Others

Ability to undertake the role of Shift Leader and delegate tasks as appropriate
Manages work effectively to ensure work completed to required deadlines and unforeseen occurrences or interruptions are responded to and resolved effectively.

Decision Making & Problem Solving

Ability to analyse problems logically, and provide and implement effective solutions demonstrating an innovative approach as necessary
Deals confidently with emergencies maintaining an encouraging and calm approach
Ability to communicate complicated issues in a logical and structured way

This document sets out the essential requirements necessary for the best candidate for the job. It is the basis for framing job advertisements and in determining shortlists and interview questions. The Person Specification is also based on Odyssey’s Generic Competencies Framework. The Recruitment Panel reserve the right to appoint candidates who may not fully meet the requirements of this Person Specification, subject to applying the objective recruitment procedure, implementing any necessary learning and development, and short term support, and confirming competency as a result of successfully completing their probationary period of employment.

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www.odysseycare.org

Support Worker