Activities Assistant & Driver

Jewish Care; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in the UK is seeking a compassionate Activities Assistant. You will ensure the safe transport of older individuals and assist them in engaging activities, including exercise classes and social discussions. A full clean driving license with D1 category is essential, along with experience working in a social care setting. This role offers 30 hours per week, supporting the well-being of older people in a nurturing environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with older and/or disabled people in a professional or personal capacity.
• Experience delivering activities in a social care environment.
• Ability to confidently raise safeguarding concerns.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe and effective driving and transport services for older people.
• Engage with members throughout the journey to provide reassurance.
• Support members in activities at home, including online discussions.

Skills

Safe transport services

Engagement with older people

Activities coordination

Personal care

Education

Full clean driving license with D1 category

Tools

Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (Midas)

Job description

Overview

This unique opportunity offers varied responsibilities making a real difference to the lives of older people in our community.

You will be responsible for safely transporting our members from their home to our community centres in the morning and afternoon, assisting them on and off our buses, and welcoming them to our resources. Upon arrival as our Activities Assistant, you will be running and supporting with activities such as chair based-exercise classes, discussion groups, card games and board games. You will be expected to assist with tasks within the persons care plan that includes personal care.

This role is for 30 hours per week. The working pattern is Monday to Thursday.

Driving duties: 8.30am - 10am and 2.30pm – 4.00pm (12 hours per week).

Activities duties: 9.30am - 3pm, 6 hours per day (with half hour lunch) = 18 hours per week.

A Full clean driving license with D1 category is essential for this role.

What you will be doing

• Providing safe and effective driving and transport services for older people and people living with dementia.
• Ensuring vehicles are maintained to a proper standard of road worthiness and cleanliness and coordinating maintenance and recovery.
• Engaging with members throughout the journey to put them at ease and offer any reassurance.
• Assisting passengers to agreed standards and procedures to and from their home.
• Raising any safeguarding concerns to enhance the quality of life of older people.
• Running and taking part in activities and programmes in a culturally specific Jewish Day service for older people, people living with dementia and associated programming and events.
• Working together with programming teams to set up technology to support members taking part in activities at home – such as online social discussion groups and exercise classes.
• Confidently raising and reporting safeguarding concerns.
• Providing personal care duties, as indicated in a person’s care plan.
• Taking part in care plan meetings with colleagues, internal Social Work colleagues, relatives, and external agencies.
• Promoting the Montessori approach to dementia care.
• Supporting members to coordinate and organise their transport arrangements to and from the centre to include assisting with booking and managing dial-a-ride, other community transport private hire and public transport.

What you will need

• Full clean driving license with D1 category.
• Midas (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme) or willingness to undertake this training.
• Midas PATS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme – passenger assistance training) or willingness to undertake this training.
• Experience working with older and/or disabled people in a professional or personal capacity.
• Experience of delivering activities in a similar social care environment.
• Experience socialising with or talking to older, disabled, or people living with dementia, in a personal or professional capacity.
• Note that for insurance purposes the post holder must be over 22 years old with 3 years\' driving experience and hold a current clean driving licence.