Care & Support Worker

Duties & Responsibilities

Main responsibilities:

1. Plan and organise the delivery of support and care by your team on each shift, ensuring that there are up-to-date person centred needs assessments, support plans and risk assessments in place that are regularly reviewed; safeguards, accidents & incidents, complaints, are recorded, medication is administered and recorded appropriately and there are adequate records and rotas in place to evidence the provision of support and care in accordance with contractual and regulatory expectations.
   • Ensure that the residents have identified key workers and receive support and care in accordance with their person centred needs assessments, support plans and risk assessments to foster their wellbeing and development and fulfil their potential for independence, choice, inclusion and control by, for example, supporting residents to:

• encourage and support the residents to maintain a clean, tidy and welcoming living environment
• where appropriate support the residents to do their own laundry and look after their clothing so they have suitable and clean clothing to wear.
• plan, shop and prepare healthy, balanced and nutritious meals alongside the residents, taking into account their choices and wishes.
• support the residents to maintain health and well-being by assisting them to arrange and attend medical appointments including, annual health checks, chiropody, dentist and optician.
• support and encourage residents to maintain an active and supportive social life, taking into account individual choices and wishes.
• access training, education, meaningful day/evening activities and community resources.
• maintain family contact and are supported to be part of the community.

1. Where appropriate provide support to the residents for budgeting and financial training including support to access benefits.
2. If required, assist residents with personal care where required (eg. bathing, hair washing, toileting etc).
3. Liaise professionally with residents’ parents, social workers, CPN’s and other professionals to make sure that the network of support around each resident is functioning effectively.
4. Ensuring that new members of staff are inducted into the service and that they are provided with the support needed to complete the Care Certificate where relevant.
5. Ensure that staff/agency workers are familiar with residents’ care plans and routines.
6. Support and guide Support Workers to provide a high quality of care, making sure annual training is kept up to date, probation reviews are carried out, supervision is held and recorded quarterly, routine observations are recorded, competency to administer medication is assessed, and annual reviews are scheduled and undertaken as required. Where applicable and appropriate, you will be required to carry out the management of sickness/absence management and any support and manage and performance and/or conduct issues/concerns.
7. Ensure that there is a full handover at the beginning and end of each shift.
8. Ensure that debriefs are held after incidents, and that Trust briefings and new initiatives are communicated to the team via regular team meetings, the communication chats and email.
9. Work within the organisations’ policies and procedures, vision and mission statement, CQC key questions and actively promote the equality, diversity and the human rights of each resident.
10. Undertake personal/professional development and training to develop an understanding of our philosophy and values and how these inform and guide practice in the key responsibilities of the role.
11. Maintain all health and safety with the home and report any potential hazards immediately, undertaking regular quality audits including medication, infection prevention and control, personal and home finances, and health and safety.
12. Supervise the activity of any staff or contractors working in or around the properties (eg. cleaners, maintenance men, gardeners, etc).
13. When requested, to take on the role and responsibilities of the Care and Support Manager in their absence.
14. Undertake such other tasks as required by the Care and Support/Registered Manager to help develop and maintain the high quality of service required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Reasonable general education (evidence of numeracy and literacy).
• Minimum Level 3 Diploma (or working towards), preferred Level 5 in Health and Social care, or equivalent.

Knowledge & Experience

• At least three years previous experience of working within a care or support setting, ideally with adults with additional/complex needs, with at least one year at a more senior level.
• Previous experience of working in anthroposophical organisations providing social care is desirable but not essential
• Working knowledge of person-centred support, positive behaviour approaches and care planning, needs and risk assessment, safeguarding protocols, first line supervision, health and safety, and equalities and human rights essential.
• A sound understanding of the Care Quality Commission regulations and standards, key lines of enquiry and notifications.
• Being supportive of our values and philosophy and our approach to building community is desirable for this role

Key Competencies

Respecting and Understanding Others

• Adopt a person-centred approach when working with people who use the Community’s services
• Value others as individuals, treating them with respect and dignity
• Treat others equitably and consistently
• Understand issues from others’ viewpoints and builds an atmosphere of trust and openness
• React to others in a non-judgemental way, tailoring the approach depending on the individual

Working With & Developing Others

• Have a clear belief in the capacity of self and others to succeed
• Provide others with support, assistance and guidance to develop and improve their capabilities
• Continuously develop and learn by actively seeking feedback and development opportunities
• Motivate Practitioners and other colleagues, acts as a mentor and role model
• Work well with others and assists colleagues when they need support
• Promote best practice within the team

Influential communication

• Use a variety of methods and tailor style to communicate with others in a clear and positive way, that has meaning for them
• Understand the importance of listening and sensing when communicating with others, and that this attentiveness needs to be felt by the other person
• Use own passion, enthusiasm and appropriate humour to influence others
• Act as a role model/advocate for people who use services and colleagues and mediator
• Willing to challenge negative or less effective behaviours to improve the practice

Problem Solving & Decision Making

Is able to collect, evaluate and interpret information, quick grasp of relevant issues

• Explore alternative ways of resolving problems
• Make timely and appropriate decisions, involving the right people in decision making
• Is aware of how the decisions made will affect both the short term and long term situations
• Is willing to take difficult, unpopular but necessary decisions to improve the practice

Adaptability & Openness

• Is open to personal learning and development
• Is open to change and new developments
• Can deal with new and unfamiliar situations
• Adopts a flexible and adaptable approach to work
• Works independently and without supervision
• Is resilient and copes well in emergencies

Conscientiousness

• Completes work to high standards and with the best interests of people we support in mind
• Looks for ways of improving and maintaining quality of the practice and service provision
• Works in a conscientious and diligent manner
• Is able to plan, organise and prioritise
• Has a consistent and orderly approach to work
• Is able to think ahead, evaluate risks and develop contingencies when planning

Camphill Village Trust is an equal opportunity employer.

Camphill Village Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant pre-employment checks including a DBS check

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.