JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Senior Support Worker
Department: Residential Care / Supported Accommodation
Location: Accommodation Services- Bedford/Milton Keynes
Work Pattern: Full time/Part-time/Zero hours
Workplace Values
To operate in in line with the workplace values which are:
1. Innovative - embrace new ways of working through innovation and learning from experience
2. Caring - show willingness to care for the other person
3. Professionalism - take accountability and act in a professional manner
4. Courage - do the right thing by being open, honest and transparent
5. Compassion - care about acting with kindness
6. Competence - strive for self-improvement by acquiring the knowledge and skills to do my job
7. Equality- promote equality of opportunity to all
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Be responsible for one or more allocated service users and taking the lead in all aspects of the care and support of the service user.
2. Monitor the service user’s condition ensuring that any mental or physical health changes are communicated to the line manager.
3. Under the guidance of the line manager, draft and review care/support plans and risk assessments with the service user, where possible.
4. Complete regular reports about service users such as daily progress notes and reports required for care reviews.
5. To take a lead role in conveying weekly 1:1 review meetings with allocated service user.
6. To follow company policy and procedure and ensures own safety whilst lone working.
7. To ensure that the house is safe and clean for the service users, staff and all visitors during working time, paying particular attention to procedures regarding checking of fire alarms, hygienic preparation of food, cleaning of the house and refuse collection etc.
8. Be responsible for planning and preparing balanced and nutritional meals for the service users allocated.
9. Engage and support the service user with activities of daily living, such as personal care, personal hygiene, shopping, budgeting and household tasks.
10. To provide effective coordination of a shift in the absence of the line manager by using the shift coordination template.
11. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of service users at all times, raising safeguarding alerts and supporting the service users in raising complaints and concerns via the appropriate channels.
12. To act as an advocate for the service user where required and provide support in accessing external agencies i.e. advocacy, citizen’s advice.
13. Liaise with service users’ families and carers regarding sensitive issues relating to the service user’s needs, care and identified risks, as agreed in the care/support planning process.
14. Along with the service user, attend health and social care appointments outside of the home.
15. Convene, chair and minute service user meetings as requested by the line manager.
16. To administer medication and prompt the service user where required in line with the company policy and procedure.
17. To take part in service audits and reviews as requested.
18. Take a lead in the line management of support workers, address concerns, monitor performance and provide daily staffing updates to the Registered Manager.
19. To take a lead in a specific area of the service i.e. Physical Health.
20. To support the deputy manager in drafting the duty rota as and when required.
21. To deputise for the deputy manager when required.
22. A core function of all staff across BSH is to create and submit material / content for publication on digital formats / social media.
The job holder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties as required by the line manager.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Skills & Experience
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to get on with people of all ages and backgrounds
- Previous experience of working within a care role
- A practical and flexible approach to work
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to work on own and take initiative and embrace innovative ways of working
- Experience of supervising a team
Education / Qualification
- Health and Social Care L2 Qualification or equivalent qualification / experience
- Good command of the English language, both written and spoken
- Ability to use Microsoft Office – Word and Excel
- Experience of PASS software (desirable)
Special Features
- Flexible and adaptable approach to shifts and rotas.
- The ability to travel to various locations across Bedfordshire
- Ability to demonstrate, understanding and apply our workplace values
