Companion Support Worker

Kingsley Healthcare (Ds) Ltd; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in care services is seeking compassionate Companionship Support Workers to join their dedicated team. This role focuses on providing essential companionship and support to individuals in the community who may feel isolated or need assistance with daily tasks. You'll engage with residents, help them with shopping, appointments, and household tasks, and most importantly, bring joy and companionship into their lives. If you're passionate about making a difference and have the empathy and skills to support those in need, this is a rewarding opportunity to join a family-oriented company that values its staff and residents alike.

Benefits

Comprehensive induction and training programme

Career development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Blue Light Card Scheme

Refer a friend bonus

Paid DBS disclosure

Provided uniform

Flexible working hours

Employee Wellness Program

Employee Benefits & Discount Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in community communication and understanding service user needs.
• Ability to manage time effectively and make timely decisions.

Responsibilities

• Support service users with daily tasks and promote their independence.
• Maintain confidentiality and represent the company positively.

Skills

Communication Skills

Empathy

Time Management

Decision Making

Proactive Approach

Job description

About the company

Kingsley Healthcare isn't just a care home group; we are a family where our passionate individuals are changing lives every day. Winners of the 2024 Health Investors Residential Elderly Care Provider of the Year, we are ranked among the top 20 large UK care home groups (carehome.co.uk) for our exceptional care and proudly support over 1,500 residents to live in a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment.

We are proud to be ranked No.1 in the UK for our commitment to wellbeing at work (Indeed's Better Work Awards 2023) and our sector-leading 4.7 Glassdoor rating. We are also a Real Living Wage employer, ensuring that we reward and value dedication.

We welcome passionate individuals who want to make a difference to our growing family, which puts our people and our residents first.

About the role

At Kingsley Home Care, we strive to support those people within our community to receive the best possible support we can give them. In doing this, we promote dignity, respect, compassion, wellbeing, and positivity as well as a listening ear. It is a well-known fact that people who are isolated, lonely, or not coping with day-to-day living tasks suffer more with their health and wellbeing.

In our companionship service, we are there to support those who are feeling isolated, who may have no other communication with the outside world each day, who feel cut off from others, and who will benefit from our companionship service.

Examples of companionship we provide include helping those who can’t manage to go shopping anymore or collect medications, assisting someone to attend appointments safely, and helping them prepare a lunch or carry out those household tasks they can no longer do alone.

These are the things we often take for granted in our day-to-day lives and forget that there are people behind closed doors who see no one else all week. It is these things that we want our Companionship Support Workers to be there for—to make a difference to the people in your community that need you.

The job can vary with each visit; you could be having a game of scrabble and a cup of tea with someone, helping someone to go shopping, or assisting someone who needs help to change their bed linen. The most important aspects of being a Companionship Support Worker are time, compassion, caring, listening, supporting, and being their ‘companion’. To bring a smile to people’s day and to have made a difference when you leave them.

Reports to: Care Coordinator / Branch Manager

Key duties and responsibilities

Organisation

• To work as part of an efficient team and contribute to the smooth running of the service.
• To comply with Kingsley Home Care services health and safety policy procedures at all times.
• To represent Kingsley Home Care in a professional and positive manner at all times and in all communications with service users, visitors, and staff members.
• To maintain confidentiality regarding all issues and information relating to service users and the Kingsley Home Care Services.

Functional

• To act as an advocate for service users to promote their wishes and maintain their independence and well-being.
• Assist service users to achieve their desired outcomes for each day by listening and supporting them.
• To undertake various tasks to promote the companionship service.
• Closely monitor service users who may be confused and/or have behaviours that may require reporting as required to the branch manager.
• Assist in social care activities by interacting with service users and helping them continue hobbies and activities in their own home/community to enhance quality of life.
• To build trust and confidence with those that you are supporting.
• To report any changes/requirements/health needs of the service user to the Branch Manager.
• To contribute/promote the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse.
• To liaise with the branch manager where other aspects of companionship can be provided to support the individual.
• Record what support you have provided for each individual receiving the service and the length of time you were in attendance.
• Work within branch policies/procedures to ensure maintenance of safe working practices for service users and other colleagues, reporting any concerns.
• Follow security procedures to ensure the safety of service users, visitors, belongings, and the property as required in the service plan information provided.

Communication

• To professionally represent Kingsley Home Care Services in all dealings with individuals and external contacts.
• Good verbal and written communication skills with the ability to accurately complete visit log sheets and provide feedback where necessary to the branch manager.
• Cooperate and maintain good working relationships with other colleagues that are attending service users to maximise the service provided.
• Maintain good relationships and an empathetic and professional approach to service users and their relatives/friends.

Skills and attributes

• Have experience of good communication skills with people in the community/in an establishment.
• Ability to show empathy, understanding, and experience of the needs of the service users.
• Well-developed time management skills.
• Ability to make balanced, clear, and timely decisions.
• Takes a proactive approach to consulting and involving in the decision-making process as appropriate.
• Undertake mandatory training where required for your position.
• Hold a full driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

• Kingsley Homecare (Lowestoft Area), Lowestoft, Suffolk
• Pay: £12.50 per hour
• Type: Bank
• Shift: Mixed (Weekdays/Weekends)

Benefits

• Comprehensive induction and training programme.
• Opportunities for career development and progression.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Blue Light Card Scheme. We’ll reimburse the enrolment fee of this fantastic scheme that offers discounts on holidays, days out, and over 15,000 national brands.
• Refer a friend and receive a thank you gift of up to £500.
• We’ll pay for your full DBS disclosure.
• Your uniform will be provided – this is another cost that we think it’s essential that we cover for you.
• Working hours for this role will be flexible and may include weekends and bank holidays, as required.
• Employee Wellness Health Assured Benefit Program.
• Employee Benefits & Discount Scheme.

Your right to work in the UK

In accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 2006, you will need to demonstrate your eligibility for employment in the United Kingdom.