Support Worker
Post: Support Worker Service: Housing & Community Support Services (HACSS)
Base: The Action Group, The Prentice Centre, Edinburgh (or regional base as set by line manager)
Line Managed by: Team Manager
Salary Range:
Unqualified- £24,402,92 - £24,890,98 per annum pro rata
Qualified- £24,890,98 - £25,338,37 per annum pro rata
Casual rate: £12 per hour Sleepover rate (if applicable) £96 per night.
Hours: TBC with post holder (based on 39 hours working week)
Main purpose:
The main purpose of this post is to provide a caring, efficient and effective 24/7 support service to people who use The Action Group’s Services. This will include assisting people to develop their skills by supervising and participating in various support activities in a way that enriches their opportunities and promotes choice. The main duties for this post are detailed below under two headings: 1. Specific Duties (that apply to this job in particular) 2. General Duties (that apply to all staff in The Action Group)
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 maximize 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)
What you will need
Required criteria
- PVG clearance
- Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) registration or okay to register within 6 months of starting the job
- Right to Work in the UK
- Driving license
The Action Group
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.
Our History The Action Group was set up in 1976 by a group of parents and carers of people who had learning disabilities and other support needs. They began by campaigning for better services for the people they cared about in the local area of Leith and Restalrig. This group, who all lived in the north east of Edinburgh, took the name Area 5 Action Group from the Social Work Department’s area in which they lived. Providing and Improving Learning Disability Care for Over 45 Years The Action Group was, and continues to be, a membership organisation with the twin aims of campaigning for, and providing, good community care services. In 1976, services and supports in the community were few and far between and large institutions and hospitals, like Gogarburn in Edinburgh, were the main service for children and adults. Locally, The Area 5 Action Group ran a high profile political and media campaign to get learning disability and support needs on the agenda. It also explored ways to develop service-provision By 1985, now called The North Edinburgh Action Group, membership had grown and service users came from all over Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian and Midlothian. By 1992, with development plans focussing across an even wider area, a further name change to The Action Group was made. Over the years the Action Group has been at the forefront of campaigning for and providing high quality community services.
The Vision That Families caring for a person and individuals who have support needs and/or Learning Disability encounter no barriers to their chosen lifestyle, are able to follow a path of choice and can enrich their opportunities. The Mission To Value, listen and involve people so that our every action is judged to be the best. The Values An ordinary life includes the 5 accomplishments which derives from the work of John O'Brien. These values are at the heart of the organisation. People accessing our services should have: Community presence - Relationships Competency - Respect - Choice
Support Worker
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.