BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES IRELAND – WEST REGION
POST OF: PERMANMENT FULL-TIME SOCIAL CARE WORKER x 2
ORCHARD SERVICES, GORT, CO. GALWAY
JOB REF: 104/2023
A panel may be formed from this competition from which future Social Care Worker vacancies in the Orchard Services may be filled over the next 6 months.
The Role:
The Social Care Worker will report to the Social Care Leader/Team Leader and will fulfil a key worker role for individuals and aim to provide a safe, secure environment where individuals will participate in community and leisure activities, make choices and enjoy a lifestyle that fulfil their potential and expectations with opportunity for new experiences.
Reporting/Responsible To:
Social Care Leader/Team Leader/Service Coordinator/Area Manager.
Qualifications:
Candidates must hold one of the following qualifications:
HETAC/DIT/NQAI BA in Applied Social Studies/Social Care
Open Training College (HETAC) accredited National Degree in Applied Social Studies (Disability)
A full clean manual Driving Licence, which qualifies you to drive manual transmission vehicles on Irish Roads and use of your own car is an essential requirement. It is essential for the appointee to drive the transport that is assigned to the Service.
Fluency in verbal and written English and IT skills is an essential requirement of this post.
Experience:
Experience working with individuals with an intellectual disability and individuals with challenging behaviour is desirable. Experience in working and supporting individuals with autism, complex medical and mental health needs behaviours that challenge and working with people with physical disabilities is desirable. Desirable experience of Lamh or communication systems.
Skills:
Candidates must demonstrate:
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to set goals, put into action and follow through
• The ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms
• Excellent listening skills
• Creativity and initiative
• Be innovative and self-motivated
• Commitment to current best practice and co-operating in an interdisciplinary team environment with a person-centred philosophy
• The ability to exercise good judgement, discretion and confidentiality
• Patience and a sense of humour
• Staff will be expected to network with local community groups and develop positive links for the individuals who use the service
• Keep up to date with current practice with specific focus on individuals with an intellectual disability
• To actively lead the service and staff team in the absence of the Team Leader
• Arrange staff cover when required.
Working Hours:
78 hours a fortnight based on a 14 day duty roster. A sleep-in commitment is an essential requirement of this post for which the appropriate allowance will be paid. The successful candidate will also be required to work, weekends and public holidays. The Brothers of Charity 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. Appropriate service related leave will be granted after 5 and 10 years’ service respectively.
Remuneration:
€36,195 x 10 increments - €50,978 (max) pro rata per annum. LSI €51,941 per annum is payable after 3 years on the maximum of the scale.
Tenure:
These positions are permanent full-time and pensionable.
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 model of service is based on Personal Outcome Measures requiring employees to be flexible in their outlook and working hours to provide a quality service delivery for each individual.
Specific Conditions:
• Staff must have a positive attitude towards working with persons with an intellectual disability and help to ensure that they lead as normal and enjoyable a life as possible.
• 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 with an intellectual disability.
• 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:
• Be an active member of the assigned team.
• Develop positive relationships with individuals.
• Ensure that the care and training of all individuals is of the highest professional standard using Individual Personal Outcome Plans and a Key Worker system.
• Advocate for the individuals in all aspects of life by developing a good working relationship with the family and others involved with them.
• Support and facilitate individuals in community participation, integration and the development of their independence.
• Ensure the Service is operating in line with the Health Information and Quality Authority Standards (HIQA) for residential Services.
• Support individuals in recreational and social activities in the evenings and at weekends.
• Be willing to participate in all training and recreational activities including taking residents on outings, and holidays as arranged.
• Assist individuals in making informed decisions.
• Support individuals in developing and maintaining friendships and other relationships.
• Support individuals in exercising their rights and managing their finances.
• Assist the individuals in accessing public services such as medical services, public transport, and so on.
• Help individuals to achieve personal goals and choices with regard to employment, home environment and leisure activities.
• Assist individuals in maintaining good health, receiving appropriate healthcare and maintaining good personal hygiene.
• Support the individuals with their personal care and activities of daily living.
• Carry out housekeeping duties, and ensure the home is maintained to a high standard of cleanliness and décor.
• Assist individuals in menu planning and preparation of food, cook their daily meals and maintain a high standard of food hygiene.
• Administer medication when necessary in line with the Services’ Medication Administration and Management Policy.
• Provide leadership to the staff team in the absence of the Team Leader/Social Care Leader.
• Avail of all training and development opportunities that enhance this position.
• Maintain records with respect to individuals, finances, purchasing and human resources as are required.
• Ensure confidentiality is maintained in all matters concerning people supported by the services including the safe storage of reports and records.
• Ensure that all accidents/incidents to individuals, staff and visitors are reported in accordance with Service policy.
• Operate within the policies and procedures of the Service in all aspects of your work.
• Promote dignity at work and show respect to individuals, colleagues and stakeholders in the course of duty.
• Be aware of and become familiar with fire drill procedures within the work place, fire detection, evacuation and fire fighting.
• To be conscious of Health & Safety matters in the workplace and, in particular, to comply with employees’ obligations as set out under the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005.
• As the duties and responsibilities of any post in the Service are likely to change with the ongoing needs of the people supported by the services, age, level of disability, etc staff are expected to have a high level of flexibility, willingness and an ability to develop new approaches to their work as the people supported by the services needs demand.
• Perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the Team Leader/ Service coordinator. 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 Individuals demands change and the post holder will be expected to demonstrate flexibility skills that will facilitate this.
Informal enquiries for the above post to:
Margaret Kearney,