Support Worker - East & Mid Lothian

The Action Group; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The Action Group is recruiting a Support Worker for East & Mid Lothian, based at The Prentice Centre in Edinburgh or a regional base as directed by the line manager. You will support adults in a registered service, promoting wellbeing, independence and community participation.

This role is regulated and PVG Disclosure Scotland membership is required. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; sponsorship is not provided. Sleepovers may be required with some shifts evenings/weekends.

Qualifications

• PVG Disclosure Scotland membership is required.
• Right to work in the UK without sponsorship.
• Experience in support work or care settings is preferred.
• Willingness to work flexible shifts including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Organise support plans and case reviews with stakeholders and maintain records.
• Promote wellbeing and self-care, and carry out risk assessments.
• Develop meaningful relationships with the people we support.
• Encourage independence in daily living activities.
• Support participation in hobbies and community activities.
• Assist with personal care as required.
• Advocate on behalf of the people we support.

Skills

Key Worker system

Record keeping

Risk assessments

Communication

Advocacy

Relationship building

Independent living support

Job description

Support Worker - East & Mid Lothian

Post: Support Worker

Base: The Action Group, The Prentice Centre, Edinburgh (or regional base as set by line manager)

Line Managed by: Practice and Wellbeing Leader

Salary : Unqualified - £27,351.61-£27,921.01per annum pro rata.
Qualified- £27,921.01- £28,409.07per annum pro rata
Casual rate, £13.45 per hour. Sleepover rate (if applicable) £107.60 per night.

Hours: Full-time and Part-time to be discussed with the post holder.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship

The Action Group values diversity in our workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. As a Disability Confident Leader organisation, we particularly encourage applications from people with disabilities, and offer a guaranteed interview for anyone who meets the essential criteria for the role. We also strongly encourage and welcome applications from people from minority ethnic backgrounds and other underrepresented groups. If you require any adjustments to take part in the recruitment process, please let us know, and we will do our best to support you.

This is a regulated role and requires PVG Disclosure Scotland membership for adults and children.

As part of our recruitment process, candidates who have lived outside the UK for more than 12 months in the last 10 years will be required to provide a Criminal Convictions Certificate (or equivalent) from the relevant country or countries. Please note that the cost of obtaining this certificate will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Since this is a registered service with the Care Inspectorate, all applicants must be at least 18 years old

If you need any support or adjustments during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are committed to making this process as accessible as possible for everyone.

About the role

About the role

Specific Duties

• Practice the TAG Key Worker system. For example, organising support plans / case reviews as required for individual people we support with all relevant stakeholders, ensuring effective handovers between staff, and maintaining records, case files etc.
• Promote the physical and emotional wellbeing of the people we support at all times (eg. supporting people to maintain acceptable and adequate levels of self-care, carrying out risk assessments, etc)
• Actively develop meaningful and trusting relationships with the people we support (eg. helping people to gain insight into their own behaviour, attitudes and reactions)
• Encourage independence in all daily living activities wherever possible, and support them with this only when necessary (e.g. housework, food preparation, household admin etc)
• Promote people’s hobbies, interests and activities, and encourage participation in all aspects of community life. For support workers in the Children and Adults in Transition Services this may include organising day trips and activities with young people as required, as well as accompanying them to sporting activities such as swimming, and participating in these activities as appropriate.
• Directly assist with the personal care as required
• Work with the people we support to maximise their ability to communicate effectively and promote self-advocacy wherever possible
• Advocate on behalf of the people we support when needed (e.g. liaising with external organisations regarding benefits, education, tenancy and employment etc)
• Work with relatives and carers of people we support (e.g. arranging support plans, dealing with complaints and frustrations, etc) and help to ensure that relatives have a significant role in the person’s life wherever possible and appropriate.
• Find out about the wide range of local services, amenities and organisations available to people we support.
• Work with both individuals and groups of in all of the above, according to need
• Participate flexibly in the various shift work patterns required by the needs of the people we support (including regular working outwith weekday office hours; for example, in the evening and at weekends, where applicable)
• Regularly undertake ‘sleepover’ or ‘waking night’ duties where required
• From time-to-time, the postholder may be asked to cover short-term absences of Support Workers in other teams.

General Duties (these are applicable to all The Action Group staff)

• Read, and work in accordance with, TAG’s Mission, Aims & Objectives, and current Business Plan
• Manage own work time effectively
• Keep on top of own paperwork and maintain effective and organised filing systems, as appropriate to the specific job role
• Treat everyone with consideration and respect
• Ensure prompt, polite and clear communication (whether responding to a query from a member of staff or a complaint from person we support)
• Keep up to date and comply with all applicable TAG policies and procedures (covering everything from personal Health & Safety to Care Commission Standards)
• Promote and respect individual rights and responsibilities at all time
• Retain the highest standards of confidentiality, as appropriate to the specific role
• Assist your manager and other work colleagues as appropriate and whenever possible
• Take charge of own CPD (Continuous Professional Development) and contribute to TAG maintaining the Investors In People standard
• Be responsible for own work life balance (e.g. taking annual leave at regular intervals, etc)

About the company

We could use lots of fancy words to sum us up, but really it comes down to you, your family and us,working together to get the right support for you, that changes as you change and keeps putting you right at the centre of all that we do.

Required Criteria

• Shares our values - Equality, Inclusion. Flexibility, Person Centred Support, Respecting differences.
• Practically-Minded - Can budget and manage a home – Assesses Risk Well – Plans stuff in advance -Responds well to challenging situations
• A nice person Listens- Interested in people-Patient and Calm- Fun- Caring and considerate
• Good in a Team- Communicates well – Takes responsibility- Asks for advice - Helps others
• Get the details right – Punctual – Consistent – Follows procedures- Finds out and remembers stuff – Completes paperwork
• Not afraid to think – Reflects on practice – Learns from experience – Puts self in other’s shoes- Suggests ideas.
• This post requires registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). Applicants who are not registered with the SSSC when starting will have 6 months in which to register. Applicants already registered with the SSSC must inform that body of their employment with The Action Group.
• This post requires PVG clearance. Applicants who are not members of the PVG scheme should be prepared to join before commencing employment.