Support Worker

St. Hilda's Services; Athlone; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Hilda's Services in Athlone, Ireland, is seeking a Support Worker to provide high-quality, person-centred supports to adults with disabilities in day services or residential settings.

You will develop and review PCPs with individuals, families, and professionals, while promoting autonomy and community participation. The role emphasizes safeguarding, health and safety, and ongoing professional development, with opportunities to collaborate across teams and with external services.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates empathy and respect for diversity.
• Applies person-centred thinking and active listening.
• Works effectively as part of a care team.
• Shows initiative and problem-solving in daily tasks.
• Remains adaptable to changing client needs and schedules.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centred, rights-based supports to adults with disabilities.
• Develop, implement and review PCPs with individuals and families.
• Promote community inclusion and access to mainstream services.
• Maintain detailed records of supports, incidents and progress.
• Assist with health needs, medication management, and safety policies.

Skills

Empathy

Person-centred thinking

Teamwork

Initiative

Adaptability

Job description

Job Description

Job title:Support Worker Purpose of the Role: The Support Worker will provide high-quality, rights-based, person-centred supports to adults with disabilities in a day service and/or residential/respite setting, aligned with New Directions: Personal Support Services for Adults with Disabilities, Supporting a Valued Role in the Community, and the standards of regulatory authorities such as the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). The Support Worker will empower each individual to achieve their personal goals, live full lives of their own choosing, and become actively involved and valued in their community. Key Responsibilities Person-Centred Practice Develop, implement, and review Person-Centred Plans (PCP) in partnership with each individual, their family, and relevant professionals, under the guidance of your service. Contribute and participate in ongoing PCPs. Use approaches that promote choice, dignity, autonomy, and respect. Encourage and support individuals to express their preferences and make informed decisions. Promoting Community Inclusion and Active Citizenship Enable individuals to access mainstream services, community facilities, and inclusive opportunities such as employment, volunteering, further education, and recreation. Foster connections within the community to enhance the individuals social participation and integration. Encourage exploration of new interests and engagement in personally meaningful activities. Valued Social Roles Support individuals to identify and develop socially valued roles (e.g., worker, student, volunteer, friend, neighbour). Use in house training to challenge devaluation and promote positive image enhancement and competency development. Assist individuals in building self-esteem and positive identities by recognising and celebrating achievements. Safeguarding, Rights Protection and Advocacy Ensure that the rights of all service users are upheld in accordance with national policy, legislation, and international human rights frameworks (e.g. UNCRPD). Respond proactive to concerns about abuse, neglect or exploitation, in accordance with Children First, Adult Safeguarding Policy, and organisational procedures. Facilitate and promote self-advocacy and/or access to independent advocacy services. Support with Health and Wellbeing Promote a holistic approach to wellbeing including physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Provide personal care and support where required, ensuring it is delivered in a dignified and respectful manner. Support the management of medication and healthcare plans in line with the organisational policies and training. Maintain a high standard of personal health and hygiene. Prepare and support service users to maintain a healthy diet. Compliance, Quality Assurance and Record Keeping Maintain detailed and accurate records of supports provided, incidents, complaints, and progress toward individual goals. Ensure compliance with HIQAs National Standards for Disability Services, Interim Standards New Directions and relevant legislation (e.g. Health Act 2007, Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015), and all organisational policies. Participate in audits, inspections, and continuous improvement initiatives. Receive and report complaints in line with policy. Teamwork and Professional Development Work collaboratively with team members, families, clinicians, and other professionals to ensure coordinated, person-centred care. Engage in continuous professional development, training, and reflective practice. Actively participate in team meetings, supervision, and service planning discussions. Cover as required in the event of an emergency. Undertake transport duties in the company vehicle where required and provide escort duties as the need arises. Health & Safety/Risk Management Observe, report and take appropriate action on any matter which may be detrimental to service user care or well being. Complete incident reports or near miss forms as required. Adhere to all organisational Health & Safety procedures, policies and legislation. Complete and review risk assessments, including the development of a positive risk management plan for service users. Be safety aware and responsible for yourself and all colleagues. Education & Training Attend and participate in all mandatory training within the service as required. Participate in performance reviews with the Line Manager, identifying areas for improvement and appropriate plans to achieve them. Have a working knowledge of the HIQA regulations/New Directions Guidelines and all IPC standards as relevant to the role. Key Competencies: Empathy and respect for diversity. Strong ethical framework and professional integrity. Person-centred thinking and active listening. Initiative and problem-solving skills. Collaborative teamwork. Adaptability and resilience. Reflective practice and continuous improvement. Working Conditions The role involves supporting individuals in the community, in work placements, education or different service locations. Some travel, evening work, or occasional weekend hours may be required based on individual needs for those in day services. Manual handling and personal care duties may form part of the role. Report to the Line Manager and carry out any other duties as identified by the Line Manager. Adherence to St. Hildas Services Principles and Approach as listed above. This job description is subject to review and modification in accordance with the development of the service. TPBN1_IJ