Job Description for Support Worker Role

Job Description for Support Worker Role

Responsible to:

/ Team Manager/ Senior Support Co-ordinator

Responsible for:

/ n/a

Important Internal Relationships:

/ Colleagues and management at Balance

Important External Relationships:

/ People with Learning Disabilities
Social Workers/CLDT
Carers and Families
Local health providers
Partner service providers
Partners in the private and voluntary sector
MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB
To provide personalised support and services to people who purchase their service from Balance.

Main Responsibilities

To be responsible for providing support to people accessing the Learning Disabilities provider services
To support people as directed by the individual, their support plans and needs assessments
To follow guidance on positive risk taking and assessment
To take part in customer reviews and meetings as required
To demonstrate a person centred approach to supporting people
To empower and enable individuals to be active citizens with choice and control

To work co-operatively as an effective team member and to contribute to the overall performance of the team.
To communicate effectively and appropriately with colleagues and customers.
To be responsible for own personal performance and development
To have an awareness of cost implications of support planning recommendations.
To ensure case information is entered into systems in a timely fashion in accordance with relevant case recording policies and shared with all relevant parties as appropriate.
To have an awareness of the safeguarding policy and raise alerts if required.
To work in accordance with Balance’s Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, and other relevant policies and legislation.
To maintain confidentiality with regard to customer and carer information, and ensure that access to, sharing of and use of the information complies with relevant policies and procedures, including the Data Protection Act.
Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post, as may be required from time to time.

Specific Duties

Postholders will work across one of the following areas:

a)Community Activities & Transport

To support people to take part in community based work activities projects
To support the Senior Support Coordinator in the development of the projects
To support people to learn and develop new skills

This role will be require the provision of specialist work based support as appropriate, in one or more of the following areas:Catering, Horticulture, Woodwork, Retail; paid employment in a range of industries; other, as required by the customer and demands of the service

b)Supported Living – APPLICANT HAS APPLIED FOR THIS JOB

To support people to;

- manage their tenancies in their own homes

- maintain and develop their independent living skills

- be an active participant in their community

- manage their personal money, including benefits applications etc.

To support people and their families to take a lead role in planning their support

c)Woodbury Residential Home and Respite Service

To support people to be active participants in their community
To provide personal care in a sensitive and respectful manner taking into account cultural needs; total care will include moving and handling, use of equipment, bathing, dressing, feeding and management of incontinence
To support people to live the life they want

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: SupportWorker,

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications and Experience: /

Experience of using case based ICT systems.

Strong literacy, numeracy, interpersonal and IT skills.

Proven experience of supporting people with learning disabilities

Experience of working with other organisations in the private and voluntary sector

Ability to: / Understand the Business and Customer Needs

Balance conflicting interests to find an effective solution

Recognise financial pressures and the need to provide value for money and maximise return on investment

Use and share best practice in service delivery from within and outside the organisation

Respond proactively to organisational change

Lead:

Display a commitment to own and team’s personal development and learning

Actively promote a culture that values equality and diversity

Continuously looks for ways to improve services and develop new ways of working

Communicate effectively:

Uses a range of communication styles to influence others

Communicate at appropriate levels, sharing information with those who need to know

Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of own communication on others

Build Relationships:

Good team player, to promote a friendly climate, good morale and team cohesiveness.

Establish effective working relationships with a wide range of colleagues and partners at all levels

Mediate conflicts with internal and external customers effectively, or recognises the need to escalate appropriately, in order to facilitate a mutually beneficial resolution.

Knowledge: /

Understanding of barriers people with learning disabilities face
An understanding of benefits and entitlements for people with learning disabilities

Knowledge of Valuing People and Valuing People Now
Knowledge of support and services available to people with learning disabilities
Knowledge of Individual Budgets and Personalisation
Relevant legislation in social care and health provision

Other Requirements: /

Available to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
Ability to think and work creatively

Support worker JD + Role Spec 2015Page 1 of 4