Senior Support Worker -Belfast

Main Purpose of Role:

To provide high quality support to people, and to mentor, coach and act as a strong role model for other staff in delivering high quality support. 

PEOPLE FIRST – the people we support will always be our top priority.

OPPORTUNITIES – we seek out opportunities to make life better for the people we support through the commitment and dedication of our staff and volunteers.

SPEAKING OUT – working in partnership with the people we support, we will champion their rights at every opportunity with decision makers, with government – locally, regionally and nationally – and in the media.

INNOVATION – we are a learning organisation that is always looking for new, creative and better ways to do things.

TENACIOUS – we don’t give up – if it needs to be done, we believe it can and will be done.

INVOLVEMENT – the people we support and our staff will always have a say in the running of the organisation and we will celebrate with our partners and stakeholders what we achieve together.

VALUE FOR MONEY – we deliver life-long results and transform peoples’ lives in a cost-effective man

EXCELLENCE – we will always aim to be the best we can be in supporting people to achieve their dreams and transform their lives.

Core Responsibilities

1. People we support  

Providing Person Centred Support

• Form a positive relationship with the person supported, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with the people we support and their families.
• Provide high quality support at all times to every person we support. This means giving each person the individual support they need (as outlined in the individual’s Person Centred Portfolio and, if relevant, their Behaviour Support Plan) to live the life they want. 
• Work as part of a team with other staff and volunteers to provide the right support to enable people to have a good life. 
• Learn about the person and share that knowledge with others who are also supporting the person.
• Have Co-ordinator responsibility for a number of people who use the service. This includes involvement in the development, implementation and evaluation of Person Centred Portfolios. 
• Have lead responsibility for co-ordinating reviews with the people we support, their families / carers and any other significant people. 
• Ensure any risks that are identified during support of a person are responded to promptly and escalated in line with Positive Futures’ Risk Management Policy.
• Act as a strong role model for other staff and volunteers, promoting best practice in delivering support.

Supporting People to be Safe and Healthy 

• Support people to be safe and healthy in all aspects of their lives including:
• Maintaining their physical and emotional wellbeing
• Looking after their homes.
• Support people to look after themselves in all aspects of personal care as needed and/or provide personal care if needed, ensuring that people are treated with dignity and respect at all times.
• Support people to understand and protect themselves from different types of abuse.
• Ensure every person we support is protected from abuse at all times and report any issue of concern in line with Positive Futures’ Adult Safeguarding Policy.
• Act as a strong role model at all times for other staff and volunteers in relation to the delivery of safe and effective support, including appropriate reporting and escalation of any issues of concern in line with our policies. 

Supporting Independence, Social and Communication Skills

• Support people to have choice and control over all aspects of their lives.
• Support people to make decisions based upon informed choices and speak up for themselves and/or seek support from advocacy services where needed.
• Support people to understand their responsibilities in relation to decision making and lifestyle choices.
• Enable people to participate in, and contribute to, their local community as active citizens (e.g. involvement in social, leisure and community-based activities, engagement in volunteering, training and employment opportunities as relevant).
• Support people to keep in touch with important people in their lives (including friends, family, carers, advocates and any other significant people). 
• Support people to plan for and go on holiday, going with them if needed.
• Act as a strong role model at all times for other staff and volunteers in relation to ensuring support promotes people’s independence, self-advocacy, social and communication skills.

Supporting People to Develop and Maintain Key Skills

• Support people to understand and fulfil their responsibilities to look after their home in line with any tenancy agreements.
• Support people with domestic chores such as shopping, preparation of healthy meals, cleaning, gardening, washing clothes and ironing.
• Support people to manage their medication and finances as independently as possible.
• Support people to get any benefits they are entitled to.
• Support people to get help from the right people (e.g. their Social Worker, Doctor, Dentist etc). 
• Act as a strong role model at all times for other staff and volunteers in terms of ensuring support promotes the development and maintenance of skills.

1. Coaching, Mentoring and Supervision of Staff

• Be involved in the induction, coaching and mentoring of staff in relation to active support, empowering the people we support to develop their independence, learn new skills, and have new experiences (including those that involve taking positive risks).
• Provide mentoring and coaching to staff in relation to managing behaviour which challenges, in line with stress and coping plans and Positive Behaviour Support Plans.
• Provide support in the use of person centred thinking tools and person centred approaches to ensure that the people we support have maximum choice and control and are supported to lead full and valued lives.
• Take responsibility as “Shift Leader” offering advice and guidance to other staff as required.
• Provide regular, good quality Person Centred Supervision to assigned staff. 
• Chair and/or actively participate in meetings as required (e.g. team meetings, statutory meetings and meetings with the people we support and their families). 
• Positively promote volunteering within the service, be familiar with volunteer processes and encourage volunteers in their role. 
• Challenge any poor practice and report any concerns to your line manager. 
• Maintain positive professional working relationships with key individuals and agencies.
• Represent the service and/or the organisation as required.

Administration and Monitoring 

• Accurately and effectively maintain and store records and short reports within the service, using appropriate systems, templates and record keeping processes in relation to medication, finance, behaviours, incidents, communication, risk assessment etc.
• Use ICT systems to carry out the responsibilities of the post (e.g. Microsoft Office, HR and Finance information system, staff scheduling system).
• Have responsibility for Health & Safety checks including the escalation and coordination of maintenance and repair work, safe management and storage of medication etc.
• Report and maintain records of incidents, accidents and near misses for the people we support and staff as appropriate.
• Conduct regular checks of finance records of people supported, addressing and/or escalating any issues of concern in line with our policies and procedures. 

Professional Practice

• Work in line with Positive Futures’ Mission, Values and Code of Conduct and Practice.
• Maintain up to date registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) or other relevant professional body and adhere to their Standards of Conduct and Practice. 
• Take part in relevant learning and development courses / activities as required, and maintain your own mandatory training as required.
• Take part in Person Centred Supervision and performance review with your line manager.
• Read, understand and follow all policies, procedures and guidance, keeping up to date with any changes and/or developments.

General

• Seek to make continuous improvements in your area of work.
• Promote and encourage the involvement of the people we support in the everyday work of our services and the wider organisation.
• Understand and respect confidentiality and maintain personal data in line with Positive Futures’ policies, procedures and guidance.

This job profile provides a summary of the core responsibilities of the role, however, the job holder may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as Positive Futures may reasonably require.  

PERSON SPECIFICATIONSENIOR SUPPORT WORKER

Tell us how you meet the following criteria in the shortlisting section of your application form. We will use this information to decide whether to invite you to an interview.

Essential Criteria:

• It is essential for us that this is the right fit for you and the person we support.
• We have found that the best people are those who have some previous experience providing care or support for someone.
• Do you have at least 6 months paid experience supporting people in a health and social care or community setting.

Desirable criteria:

• Previous experience using a person centered support plan to support someone with a learning disability, acquired brain injury or autism within a health and social care or community setting
• QCF / NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent* 

Consideration will be given to candidates who do not possess this qualification but are willing to undertake the QCF qualification within an agreed timescale. It is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate how their qualification is equivalent.

Positive Futures reserves the right to enhance the shortlisting criteria.

At Interview

If you demonstrate that you meet the shortlisting criteria, you will be invited to an interview. To flourish at Positive Futures and ensure the people we support receive the highest quality support, our staff need to share our values and display a range of competencies. We will test a selection of these at interview.

• Our Values

Our values are integral to how we work at Positive Futures. At interview, we will ensure that you share our values. Please refer to the first page of the job profile where our values are displayed.

• Our Competencies

• Respecting and Understanding Others

Is able to understand issues from others’ viewpoints and builds an atmosphere of trust and openness so that others are treated with respect and dignity without discriminating or stereotyping. Tailors their approach depending on who they are with and acts as an advocate for people.

• Effective Communication

Is able to communicate effectively with others through the use of verbal and non-verbal communication methods. Recognises the needs of others when seeking agreement to their plans, adapting their communication style to match the situation.

• Working With and Developing Others

Is an active member of the team, working co-operatively with others and assisting when they need support. Provides direction and empowers others to help them achieve personal learning and development targets.

• Results and Quality Focus 

Is conscientious, strives to complete work to high standards and looks to improve and maintain the quality of performance in themselves and others. Completes work with the best interests of others in mind.

• Problem Solving and Decision Making

Is able to collect, interpret and evaluate information to develop a deep understanding of a problem, explores alternative ways of resolving problems including new possibilities. Makes timely and well considered decisions, is aware the impact their decisions may have and is willing to make difficult but necessary decisions to improve the practice.

• Resilience to Change and Challenges

Is open to change and embracing new developments / initiatives, adapts well in new and unfamiliar situations responding to changing plans quickly, works independently without direction, is resilient and copes well in emergency situations.

JOB INFORMATION SHEET

SENIOR SUPPORT WORKER

1. OVERVIEW OF OUR SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES

We support adults with a learning disability and/or acquired brain injury and/or autistic spectrum condition to live in their own homes. 

Some of the people we support may have other conditions such as complex medical conditions, physical disabilities and/or mental health needs. Some may also need support with their personal care such as with toileting or showering. If you support anyone who has personal care needs, there will be clear support plans and training to ensure that you know how to treat them with respect and dignity at all times.

Some of the people we support may also have behaviours of concern (this may include physical and/or verbal behaviour that is challenging to manage). If you support anyone who has behaviours of concern, there will be clear behaviour plans in place as well as training and support from our Positive Behaviour Support Team. 

All support staff must ensure that the people we support have choice and control over their support and in all other aspects of their lives. Staff providing direct support actively promote this. They do not direct or instruct. They encourage, empower and enable. They respect and uphold people’s rights. 

The role is to:

• provide safe and high quality support at all times to every person we support
• act as a ‘shift leader’, be a strong role model and offer support and guidance to other staff
• complete key shift tasks such as providing support for new staff during their induction, completing Health & Safety and finance checks and using person centred tools to develop and update Person Centred Portfolios. 

The Senior Support Worker role involves working shifts on a rota which may include days, nights, weekends and public holidays. Night-time support may include sleepovers (when you sleep overnight in the home of the person you are supporting), waking nights or stand by support. The type of shifts will depend upon the needs of the people you support. You will agree with your line manager what hours and shifts you will work, taking into account the needs of the people we support as well as your own circumstances.