Role Purpose
The Support Worker role within our Residential Services shall to provide high quality, person centred care and support to adults with learning disabilities, autism and associated complex needs living within a 24 hour residential care environment. Support Workers play a key role in promoting dignity, choice, independence, safety and quality of life, while ensuring all care is delivered in line with individual care plans.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) plans, risk assessments, safeguarding procedures, organisational policies and RQIA standards for residential care settings.
Support Workers are expected to work as part of a wider care team, following agreed plans and instructions, recognising the limits of their role and escalating concerns appropriately to senior staff.
Main Responsibilities
Person Centred Support
1. Provide day to day care and support in line with individual care plans and assessed needs.
2. Support residents with activities of daily living, promoting independence wherever possible.
3. Support personal hygiene and self care, including toileting, bathing and dressing, ensuring dignity, privacy, consent and respect at all times.
4. Facilitate and support resident involvement in decision making, taking account of capacity and best interests where applicable.
Health, Wellbeing and Medication
1. Support residents to maintain their physical and emotional wellbeing.
2. Observe, monitor and report changes in health, behaviour or presentation promptly to senior staff.
3. Support residents to attend healthcare appointments as required.
4. Administer medication only in accordance with training, competency assessment and organisational policy.
5. Respond appropriately to medical emergencies, following training and service procedures.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
1. Work consistently in accordance with individual PBS plans.
2. Use proactive and preventative strategies to reduce behaviours of concern and enhance quality of life.
3. Maintain a culture of least restrictive practice, recognising behaviour as communication.
4. Record and share observations to contribute to ongoing PBS and care plan reviews.
Safeguarding and Risk Management
1. Safeguard residents at all times in line with regional adult safeguarding procedures and organisational policy.
2. Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns, incidents, accidents or changes in risk.
3. Escalate concerns immediately to senior staff in line with reporting procedures.
4. Maintain professional boundaries at all times.
Activities, Inclusion and Quality of Life
1. Support residents to engage in meaningful social, recreational, cultural and religious activities in line with their preferences and care plans.
2. Support community access, holidays and outings where appropriate and safe.
3. Encourage social inclusion and positive relationships.
Communication and Record Keeping
1. Maintain accurate, timely and person centred records, including daily notes, incident reports and care documentation.
2. Communicate effectively with colleagues, managers, families and professionals.
3. Record and report all significant contact with families, carers and professionals.
4. Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection legislation at all times.
Environment and Responsibilities
1. Support domestic tasks such as food preparation, laundry and maintaining a safe, homely environment.
2. Follow all health and safety, fire safety and infection prevention and control procedures.
3. Report hazards, faulty equipment or environmental risks promptly.
4. Maintain security of the building and safety of residents.
Professional Practice and Flexibility
1. Participate fully in rotas, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
2. Demonstrate flexibility to meet the needs of a 24 hour residential service.
3. Work collaboratively as part of the care team.
4. Carry out additional reasonable duties as required by the service.
Training and Professional Development
1. Participate in supervision, appraisal and performance management processes.
2. Attend mandatory and service specific training in line with RQIA requirements.
3. Maintain competence in areas including safeguarding, PBS, medication, moving and handling and infection control.
4. Take responsibility for own continued professional development Records Management and Confidentiality Employees are responsible for maintaining secure, accurate and confidential records in compliance with Data Protection legislation and GDPR. Any breach of confidentiality may be treated as serious misconduct.
