Social Care Worker

Principal Roles and Responsibilities

Policy and Procedures

• Adhere to all policy and procedures in the Organisation.

• Maintain a strong understanding of the Safety Statement and all associated Health and Safety Risk Assessments.

• Ensure the Health and Safety of young people, team members and visitors by ensuring thorough oversight on the premises. Report any concerns immediately to the Health and Safety Rep/ Deputy/ Centre Manager and conduct health and safety risk management assessments.

• To work closely as part of the Harmony Residential Care team to develop and maintain Harmony Residential Care Policies and Procedures and Best Practice Standards within a caring and homely environment.

• Maintain young person, employee, and business confidentiality at all times.

• To report any shortfalls to the management team.

Care of the Children

• To work directly with the children in your care: focusing on developing a therapeutic, professional and caring relationship to ensure that their physical, psychological, social and emotional needs are met in accordance with the Child Care Act, 1991.

• To facilitate family time in line with the Child’s Care Plan.

• To promote education/ training and employment in line with the Child’s Care Plan.

• Ensure that the social, educational, occupational, recreational, medical, dietary, and religious needs of young people are met.

• Ensure that all young people are enabled and encouraged to participate in all decisions affecting their lives.

• To work in partnership with the children in your care and their families and significant others in order to implement each child’s individual care plan.

• To undertake a key working role where delegated.

• To design and implement Placement Plans in line with the Child’s Care Plan/ Aftercare Plan and other assessment recommendations.

• To attend Child in Care Reviews and other meetings where applicable.

• To respond to any identified risk with regard to the risk management framework in place to reduce risk/ eliminate risk.

• To work with the Children in line with the identified Model of Care in Harmony Residential Care.

Teamwork and Professional Engagement

• To engage in specific duties assigned by your management team (keyworker, health and safety rep etc).

• To attend all team meetings.

• To attend trainings required to support you in your role.

• To foster good working relationships with professionals from other disciplines and agencies.

• To engage in any inspections taking place in the Centre

Professional Development

• To maintain effective self-care practices

• To engage in training appropriate to your role as provided by the Organisation.

• To undertake any additional training and development programmes the Centre may consider appropriate to enhance your contribution to the work.

• Be responsible for your own personal training and development plan.

Safeguarding

• To perform all duties related to your role as a mandated person.

• To report any child protection and welfare concerns to Tusla immediately.

• To notify the DLP of any child protection and welfare concerns.

• To ensure solid knowledge of the Organisations Child Safeguarding Statement in regard to potential risks of harm and the risk management plan in response to the potential risks.

• To engage in risk management assessments for any identified safeguarding concern relating to young people in your care.

• Raise any issue that amounts to a protected disclosure in line with the relevant policy and procedures within the Organisation.

Other Responsibilities

• To carry out general housework and preparation of meals, involving the children as appropriate.

• To ensure that petty cash is reconciled at the commencement and conclusion of every shift.

• To keep accurate and up to date records and reports in respect of individual children and the daily activities of the home.

• To ensure that recording systems are fully completed on a daily basis and that handover follows the correct procedure to ensure effective communication.

• To agree a supervision contract with your supervisor and adhere to the conditions agreed.

• To maintain and develop a good understanding of current research and theory in order to keep abreast of ongoing developments in Social Care.

• To professionally represent Harmony Residential Care in all capacities.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Team Member Benefits

• Two-day induction which is further supported by a 6-month employee development programme.

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) available to team members and their family/ partners (over 16 years)

• 192 hours of annual leave per annum plus bank holiday entitlements

• Structured Supervision

• Professional Development Opportunities to support career progression.

• Complimentary paid core professional training provided.

• Full rate of pay for sleeping hours and sleeping hours are included in employees working week.

• Designated Mental Health Officers in place in each Centre and a strong focus on Employee Wellbeing. 

• Social Days (twice per annum per team) and these events are planned by Centre Teams.