Social Services jobs in United Kingdom

Job Purpose

Our personal assistants support people to lead full, active and socially connected lives, supporting people to achieve the things that matter to them.

Applicants should have, or be willing to work towards, a qualification meeting the standards required for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

Job Details

We are recruiting for up to 2 female Personal Assistants* to join our Practitioner Response Team at Thistle Foundation Head Office on either a full time, 32-hour, temporary maternity cover basis or a 20-hour, permanent basis.

A position within the Practitioner Response Team also entails a level of independent on-call response, this can also be carried out from home but includes a provision of being available to take calls overnight i.e., between 8pm and 9am for emergencies, minimum 2 nights a week. This is paid separately to the forementioned salary and will be discussed at interview.

Shifts are agreed alongside the team on a rota basis, the current team work well together to ensure all shifts are covered but also done on a fair ratio. There is the potential for sleepovers if required alongside your shift if you are called out to cover, however the main purpose is to work alongside existing teams within Thistle to provide support to look for solutions to cover within the established team.

Requiring a calm, flexible and logical approach, these is a need to understand IT as you will be required to complete sickness reports, access information to support you looking for solutions, ability to answer calls and deal with this in a solution focused manor.

*Exemption under Equality Act 2010

About this opportunity

Other requirements are:

• Able to adapt to changes, often at short notice
• Flexible with availability
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work & fit into well-established team
• Working to your own initiative

Experience in the care sector is desirable for this position, however transferable life skills would also be accepted.

As a point of contact for all Thistle's employees as well as the people we support, the team deals with the receipt, logging and arrangement of cover for staff sickness, responding to incidents and emergencies with the support of senior management and generally supporting the delivery of Thistle's supported living service in a variety of different ways, as required.

Candidates must demonstrate excellent communication skills both verbal and written across interpersonal, phone and IT platforms. Other responsibilities include:

Responding to calls regarding sickness and information

• Supporting a variety of different people with specific needs
• Communicating with management regularly
• Good level of IT

If you would like an informal chat about this vacancy, please contact

Nicole.lawrie@thistle.org.uk

Please click here for the full job description.

Job ref: PRT251

What we offer

We are committed to supporting you to develop your skills as a practitioner and creating career development opportunities. At Thistle, you will have access to sector-leading training courses and be supported to achieve your SVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care accreditation.

Employee Benefits

From 1st April 2025, starting salary £12.60 per hour (£25,552 per annum (FTE)) rising to £12.90 per hour (£26,161 FTE)).

Fantastic training (on full pay)

This includes enhanced learning in person-centred practice, leadership skills, IT and other bespoke training courses.

SSSC registration paid for by Thistle

Support to achieve SVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care

Support from regular meetings with your team, Lead Practitioner or Coach

Contributory pension scheme

Non-contributory death in service benefit scheme

30 days of annual leave, increasing by 1 day/year up to 35 days

Free Thistle Gym membership

Membership of the HSF Health Plan

Refer a Friend scheme, paying £250 for successfully referring someone to work with us