BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES –WEST REGION
POSTS: SUPPORT WORKERS
COUNTY ROSCOMMON ADULT SERVICES
NORTH/SOUTH/EAST/WEST/MID ROSCOMMON
Ref: SW/ROSC
A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled
DESCRIPTION AND VISION OF SERVICES
The Brothers of Charity Services Ireland – West Region provide a community based, person centred service focusing on the needs and abilities of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The vision of the service is to support people with intellectual disabilities to achieve a full and valued life in their community, in line with best practice both nationally and internationally. Working in partnership with each person supported by services, and their family and communities, we aim to create opportunities for people supported by services to have ordinary life experiences and to be closely connected to family and friends. We are committed to supporting people to live a life of their choosing, and the provision of quality services to meet the needs of the people we support.
County Roscommon Adult Services provide a range of community based services including day, residential, respite, community outreach, family support and a range of multidisciplinary support services. People are supported in various types of day settings – day centres, supported employment, social and micro enterprises, training and education and these can be in groups or individualised. People are supported in residential settings in their own homes in the community individually and in groups with different staffing support levels depending on their levels of disability. Our Services are person centred focusing on the needs and abilities of adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. Our focus going forward is to form a relationship/partnership with each individual and their family and communities, supporting people to plan and direct their own service so that they can enjoy a life with a healthy balance of supports. We wish to create opportunities for people who use our service to have valued social roles in their communities and to form friendships.
We wish to recruit innovative, creative and motivated people who will relish the opportunity to assist in achieving this vision as part of a team. We are looking for people who will be flexible and adapt to the needs of particular individuals they support and are open to change.
Various Locations Across County Roscommon: North – Boyle, Ballaghaderreen, Frenchpark;
South – Athlone; East – Strokestown, Elphin, Tulsk, Ballinagare; West – Castlerea, Ballintubber, Ballinlough, Cloonfad; Mid – Roscommon town, Kilteevan, Athleague, Tremane/Rahara.
Staff allocation could be either within residential/respite/day settings or in community services or in an individual’s own home. The appointee will initially commence working in one particular area of the service and this work location may change due to future service needs.
The Role:
Support Workers provide a key-working supportive role for individuals supported by the service. The Support Worker role is to support the person in all aspects of daily living focusing on the individual’s ability and promoting independence and development of skills at all times. The Support Worker will assist and support people who use the service with development of their individual person centred plans and the achievement of associated outcomes, and critically, to support people who use the service in participating in the ordinary everyday life of the community through inclusive and creative thinking.
The Support Worker is also responsible for all aspects of personal care required during the day. This includes meals, personal hygiene and other related aspects of physical well-being.
Reporting/Responsible to:
Social Care Worker/Staff Nurse/Team Leader/Service Coordinator
Qualifications, Experience & Skills:
1. Candidates must have a good general education. A recognised qualification in the field of intellectual disability or a FETAC level 5 course is an advantage. A QQI Level 5 or higher is desirable
2. Experience working with individuals with an intellectual disability and individuals with challenging behaviour is desirable. Full training will be provided.
3. Candidates must be able to demonstrate flexibility, good communication, interpersonal and team-working skills, together with patience and a sense of humour.
4. IT skills are essential together with good verbal and written communication skills.
5. The ability to exercise good judgement, discretion and confidentiality and a commitment to current best practice.
6. A full, clean, manual Irish Driving Licence is essential.
7. It may also be necessary for the appointee to obtain a Class D1 Driving Licence (if not already in possession of one). Assistance will be given towards this purpose of obtaining a class D1 licence.
8. Fluency in verbal and written English is an essential requirement of this post.
Working Hours:
Various Contracts -permanent, temporary or fixed term, full time, part time, Support Worker appointments
All posts are based on a 14-day duty roster. The successful candidates may be required to work to accommodate an integrated day service, with weekend work, some split duty hours, public holidays, evening/night duty and sleep-ins to meet service needs. The Brothers of Charity Services model of service is based on Personal Outcome Measures requiring employees to be flexible in their working hours to provide a quality service delivery for each individual.
Annual Leave:
22 days per annum (pro-rata for part-time), hours per 100 hours worked.
Remuneration:
Department of Health salary scales apply: €30,005 x 11 increments - €42,373 per annum. A Long Service Increment €43,159 per annum is payable after 3 years on the maximum of the scale. Additional payments will be made for weekends, public holidays, sleep-ins and night-duty when worked.
Salary quoted is based on a 39 hour working week. The successful candidate will be granted incremental credit subject to satisfactory verification of previous public sector service.
Tenure:
A panel may be formed as a result of this process from which subsequent permanent, temporary or fixed term Support Worker appointments within the Service location may be offered over the next 6 months.
Probation:
A probationary period of nine months from the date of appointment applies to the post. The employment may be terminated at any time during the probationary period should the employer find that the appointee is unsuitable to continue employment. The probation period may be extended at the Employer’s discretion.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Brothers of Charity Services model of service is based on Personal Outcome Measures requiring employees to be flexible both in their approach and their working hours to provide a quality person centred service in an individualised way.
Specific Conditions:
9. Staff must have a positive attitude towards working with persons with an intellectual disability and autism.
10. Staff must treat each person with an intellectual disability as an individual and at all times acknowledge and respect the rights and personal dignity of the person.
11. Staff are required to establish and maintain relationships with adults with disabilities that are based on respect and equality and that promote their independence.
Main duties and functions:
12. Be an active member of your assigned team(s).
13. Be an active advocate for the individuals in the Services.
14. Ensure that the support and training of all People Supported by the Services is of the highest professional standard using an Individual Personal Outcomes Plan and Key Worker system.
15. Co-operate in all aspects of programmes with the staff and the multidisciplinary team and facilitate reporting at individual planning meetings and similar exercises.
16. Assist with the implementation of programmes for People Supported by the Services and contribute when appropriate to the formulation of programmes designed for the needs of individuals.
17. Develop positive relationships with the People Supported by the Services, offer choices and assist them in making informed decisions and in achieving their personal goals including, but not limited to work/training, home environment and leisure activities.
18. Assist People Supported by the Services with personal banking as required and adhering to the National Guidelines on managing individual finances.
19. Driving the service vehicle is essential in order to meet the needs of the People Supported by the Services. Where it is necessary for the appointee to obtain a Class D1 licence and assistance will be given for this purpose.
20. Assist with transport duties escort duties as required.
21. Develop a good working relationship with families and key people involved with the People Supported by the Services, as deemed appropriate under the supervision of the Team Leader/Service Coordinator.
22. Foster and encourage independence and initiative in the People Supported by the Services and facilitate community participation, integration and the development of people’s independence.
23. Support individuals in recreational and social activities in the evenings and weekends including holidays as arranged.
24. Support individuals in maintaining good health, receiving appropriate healthcare and maintaining good personal hygiene.
25. Administer medication when necessary in line with the Services Medication Administration and Management Policy.
26. • Keep appropriate records to enable full reports on the People Supported by the Services to be available to the multidisciplinary staff and Team Leader/Service Coordinator.
27. Ensure strict confidentiality in all matters concerning People Supported by the Services including the safe storage of reports and records.
28. Update all organisational databases and maintain records on all IT systems as required.
29. Be responsible for the purchase of consumable goods and other goods, cleaning and washing materials in line with budget limits and organisational purchasing policy and record purchases as required.
30. Assist individuals in menu planning and preparation of food, cooking daily meals and maintaining a high standard of food hygiene.
31. Perform household duties as required to support Individuals in their daily lives and ensure that a high standard of cleanliness and décor is maintained. Support people themselves to learn household skills and perform these skills to the best of their ability on a daily basis.
32. Be aware of and become familiar with fire drill procedures, fire detection, evacuation and fire fighting.
33. Be conscious of Health & Safety matters in the workplace and, in particular, to comply with employees’ obligations as set out under Chapter 2 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
34. Ensure that all accidents/incidents to the People Supported by the Services, staff and visitors are reported promptly via the AIRS Database.
35. Ensure your service provision is operating in line with the organisation’s quality system – Personal Outcome Measures (POMs) and also in line with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) regulations and standards.
36. Operate within the policies and procedures of the Service at all times.
37. Promote dignity at work and show respect to People Supported by the Services, colleagues and stakeholders in the course of duty.
38. Perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned to him/her by the Team Leader/Senior staff on duty. All duties must be carried out in person at all times.
The role of the post holder will not be limited by reference to this job description. It would be expected that the role will evolve as professional, structural and People Supported by the Services demands change and the post holder will be expected to demonstrate flexibility skills that will facilitate this.