Learning Disabilities - Support Worker

About the job Learning Disabilities - Support Worker

Job title: Support Worker

Job purpose

To enable service users with individual needs to improve their quality of life and be part of their communities. To promote independence, wellbeing, rights, responsibilities and choice among service users. To provide day to day care and support to enable the individuals who use Turning Points services to live as independently as they wish.

Responsibilities

• Quality - maintain a high level of quality in service provision by meeting quality expectations and agreed performance criteria; participate and utilise management information and information collection systems as appropriate; contribute to the continuous improvement of the service.
• Own Development - continuously review own performance and development needs; participate in two-way dialogue during Performance Management meetings, agreeing own task and development objectives and reviewing these against the competency framework and skills profile for the Support Worker role; participate in training and other development opportunities as agreed with line manager.
• Health and Safety & Risk Management - ensure a safe working environment for self and colleagues; maintain good housekeeping; ensure risk assessments are completed when appropriate; take personal responsibility for own safety (e.g., reporting concerns, ensuring vaccinations and eye tests); comply with all H&S policies and procedures including serious untoward incidents and accident reporting.
• Compliance - ensure compliance with internal and external standards and codes of conduct; meet all regulatory requirements; comply with Code of Conduct, policies and procedures.
• Miscellaneous - undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the line manager.

Service Users

• Deliver a high quality, person-centred service provision that meets the needs of service users by assisting with personal care (including skin care, bathing or showering, shaving, oral care, intimate care and continence management), dressing/undressing and hair care.
• Support individuals with housekeeping duties (cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, washing dishes, running errands) and carry out these tasks in full when individuals are unable to do so.
• Promote people’s rights and responsibilities; work as an effective team member; provide advice and information for service users and others where appropriate.
• Deliver agreed support packages to quality standards; liaise with external professional groups (e.g., GPs, Social Services); ensure record keeping is maintained to the required standard and contribute to service monitoring requirements.
• Support services users to take prescribed medication on time where appropriate; ensure full risk assessments and risk management are delivered effectively.
• Ensure work is undertaken in line with Health and Safety requirements; assist in facilitating effective care pathways; support individuals to achieve goals and objectives as set out in their care/support plans.
• Support and enable individuals to access community-based services and facilities.

Service Support

• Assist in the implementation, development and delivery of the service; participate in the induction of new colleagues when required.
• Deliver all tasks on time and to agreed quality standards; participate in service user reviews with line manager or other colleagues.

Service Development & Quality

• Work collaboratively to develop the service; ensure the service and the wider organisation of ours is represented in a professional manner at all times.
• Proactively contribute to continuously improving the service by making positive suggestions, providing constructive feedback and assisting in the implementation of agreed new ways of working.
• Ensure day-to-day delivery of service provision embeds and extends a person-centred approach.

Empathy and Support

• Provide empathy and support to service users by working in a person-centred way to meet needs, personal goals and aspirations.
• Encourage service users to achieve their potential; promote independent living through personal choice, advocacy and support.
• Take account of the views of service users, families, carers and significant others.

Person specification

Personal effectiveness

• Display a flexible attitude towards providing a service.
• Comfortable with providing personal and intimate care to service users.
• Adaptable and able to work in a challenging and changeable environment.
• Display a caring and empathetic approach to people with Learning Disabilities.
• Able to undertake moving and handling of service users following training.

Technical effectiveness

• Proven verbal and written communication skills with the ability to receive and undertake instruction and tailor the message to the audience.
• Collaborative team working skills; ability to deliver against agreed objectives/targets.
• Basic IT skills, in particular the use of Microsoft Word.
• Display awareness of current Learning Disabilities issues and a understanding of a person-centred approach.
• Awareness of current legislation and policy that impacts service delivery, such as Valuing People.
• Awareness and understanding of the Protection of Vulnerable Adults guidelines.
• Able to deliver a range of services in a person-centred, non-judgemental manner.
• Proven track record in managing incidents of verbal and violent aggression.

Acquired experience & qualifications

• Previous experience in the care profession.
• Vocational qualification e.g. NVQ 2/3 or willingness to work towards.

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