The Rowans Care Agency

THE ROWANS CARE AGENCY

JOBDESCRIPTION

Job Title: / Senior Community Care Assistant
Accountable to: / Director of Quality
Reporting to: / Registered Care Manager
Job Purpose: /

Provide care to clients
Develop and maintain positive relationships with clients through quality assurance (QA) visits and service reviews, phone calls and cards.
Conduct follow up activities as necessary, reporting any serious issues to the Care Manager.
Participate in on call services
You will be required to work both in the main office and in the field providing care to our customers within a specific zone.
Be part of the senior supervisory team, to lead, motivate and supervise a team of care assistants within a defined geographical area.
To support the Registered Care Manager and work with internal and external colleagues to provide a responsive integrated home care service. To be fully conversant with rostering, monitoring and on call IT systems. Participate with the on-call rota

Position in Organisation
Contact with others
Internal: All staff, Executive Group
External: Clients, carers and relatives, Nursing Homes, Social Care Providers, Public Sector Commissioners, NHS or private organisations that utilise care agency staff
Main areas of responsibility
Clients / The duties of the role include but are not limited to:

To provide home based care visits when required to our clients in their own home supporting people with their personal care and social activities
Liaising with clients and care workers to ensure an efficient service provision
Carry out home environmental assessments, writing initial risk assessments and updating them if required
Writing initial Care Plans and updating and auditing Care Plans
Being a role model by demonstrating good practice
Contacting Clients and Carers with any changes to timing of client visits including any delays with expected time of arrival of Carers
Through regular communication, review and continuous monitoring, ensure that a person-centred effective and high quality service is delivered to every service user, enabling them to remain safe and independent in their own homes.
To ensure that the delivery of the care and support reflects the client needs, desired outcomes, preferences and diversity, promoting their wellbeing and quality of life in line with their individual care plans and meeting continuity of care.
To communicate openly, honestly and effectively with the client, carers and other professionals involved in their care and support plan.
To report immediately any concerns to your line manager relating to significant changes in the client health and support needs.
Telephone liaison with potential new customers to set up “meet & greets” at their home/in the office in preparation for the initial risk assessment and care planning
To undertake individual client care and support planning at formal reviews, with the client and all involved parties.
To ensure that clients are able to meet their desired outcomes, in a safe non-risk adverse manner, promoting their independence at all times.
To undertake shadowing, supervisions and team meeting with the care worker team
To provide a confidential way for staff to raise concerns about risks to people who use the service, poor practice and adverse events in line with the company whistle-blowing policy and legislative requirements.
To support the monitoring of the quality of each care assistant’s work practice through regular assessment and spot checks and report accordingly.
To ensure that where equipment is provided as part of the care and support plan, it is safe and fit for purpose, detailing any remedial actions to be taken as part of the risk assessment process.
To develop the care plan in corroboration with the client, family and external professionals
To review service assessments within appropriate timescales as directed.
Ensure that all documentation relating to the care package is complete and up to date.
To accompany Care Workers on their first/introductory visit to a new client where practicable.
To ensure that high quality standards are adhered to.
To develop relationships with other health and social care professionals for the purpose of benefitting the agency.
Being conversant and comply with the policies and procedures of the Care Agency.
Accepting and processing changes and amendments to existing care packages
To support the Registered Care Manager, with the review of all client care plans ensuring staff have up to date and clear instructions about the needs of each client as directed.
Liaise with clients, their relatives, social services and other health and care professionals regarding the well-being of Rowans Care Agency clients.
Represent The Rowans Care Agency at client review meetings or other meetings regarding the health and wellbeing of clients.
Ensure that the company’s complaints policy is followed for all client complaints.
Ensure effective communication between, professionals and clients.
Inform Registered Care Manager/Director of Quality should issues arise with clients or health, social service or and other care providers that might be detrimental to the delivery.

Staff/General /

To assist with staff rotas and to contact staff with alterations of work patterns and changes to service user requirements, as necessary.
Carry out supervision of staff in the community including spot checks and competency assessments.
In the absence of the Registered Manager/Deputy Manager, to take responsibility allocating work to Care Workers, providing emergency cover should the situation arise.
To provide out of hours on-call cover to support front-line staff
Monitoring and advising Carers when On Call
Support the Registered Care Manager with the appointment of new care staff
Ensure that all mandatory updates for staff are completed in a timely manner.
To participate in regular team meetings
Participate in Agency audit/evaluation programmes and data collection and contribute to policy and procedure development as required.
To participate with spot-checks and care reviews in place.
Ensure that necessary Health and Safety requirements in place are maintained for all care staff.
To support the RCM/Deputy to ensure all care related documentation meets current legislative requirement and reflects good practice and is made available to all staff and clients
To support the monitoring of content and quality of record keeping.
To maintain accurate and relevant records.
To support the investigations for untoward incidents, medication errors, accidents, complaints, losses or staffgrievance etc, in accordance with organisational policy.
Offer every assistance to CQC inspectors to ensure the registration of the Company is maintained
Represent the company at external events as appropriate and as requested by the Registered Care Manager/Director of Quality.
Promoting the Care Agency and act as an ambassador to clients, fellow healthcare professionals and the general public.
To promote the aims and ideals of the care agency and how this links in with the Hospice service to the general public.

Health & Safety /

In conjunction with the Registered Care Manager, responsible for health, safety and well-being of staff, ensuring that they take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and other people who may be affected by their actions at work.
To implement policy changes and practices in relation to all aspects of health and safety.
Ensure compliance with relevant statutory requirements as they affect the service, e.g. Health & Safety at work (including manual handling regulations), fire safety, food hygiene, COSHH, Electricity at Work and Control of Infection etc.
To attend mandatory training i.e. manual handling, fire safety, COSHH, food hygiene, health and safety.

Education /

To support an environment that optimises training and development.
To support the monitoring of the care team regularly, ensuring that they are attending scheduled visits at the agreed time and for the agreed length of time.
To complete all training under the care certificate and any additional training to update skills and knowledge necessary for the supervisor role
To undergo and participate in personal reviews.
To maintain and develop own knowledge and skills applicable to the job requirements.
To actively contribute and teach both formally and informally as appropriate.
To ensure that recommendations where appropriate from audit/ service user questionnaires are implemented.
To support buddying concept for all new carers.
To attend and participate in supervision.

Freedom to Act
Freedom to make decisions within the boundaries of their job description.
Responsible for knowing own limitations and when to seek advice/help
Direction and guidance is always available from more senior managers.
Qualifications, skills and knowledge required
Qualifications and/or Experience – Essential requirements
Qualifications
Level 3 in health and social care.
Clean driving licence and permanent use of a legal and reliable car.
Experience

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
To be able to work on weekends and flexible in regards to availability.
Minimum 1 years' experience gained in last two years as Senior Carer
Ability to communicate effectively at all levels
Team player
Ability to manage pressure and conflicting demands and prioritise tasks
Willingness to participate in Vocational Training Programmes
Ability to be flexible and who can work unsupervised as part of a busy team
Previous supervisory experience
Good time management/prioritisation skills

Knowledge

Knowledge of CQC, homecare standards and best practice.
Health and Safety legislation, regulations and requirements

Skills and aptitudes

Striving for excellence
Excellent telephone manner
To be able to stay calm and act efficiently in an emergency situation.
Ability to be caring and empathetic
Ability to set and maintain high standards
Positive attitude and ability to solve problems to achieve a desired outcome
Excellent communication skills
Ability to work on your own initiative
Computer literate
Ability to motivate staff
Ability to command the respect of staff and clients/relatives/other professional
Flexibility
Commitment to the company, responsibility of the job and a contribution to the on-call rota

OTHER DUTIES

To undertake any other duty within your ability and within reason, as may be required from time to time, at the direction of your line manager.

CONFIDENTIALITY

You should be aware of the confidential nature of the Care Agency and/or your role. Any matters of a confidential nature, relating to patients, carers, relatives, staff or volunteers must not be divulged to any unauthorised person.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

Post holders have a general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role. All staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report any circumstances where they feel vulnerable adults or children are being subjected to abuse to a senior person or the ‘Safeguarding Lead’.

DATA PROTECTION

You should make yourself aware of the requirements of the Data Protection Act and follow local codes of practice to ensure appropriate action is taken to safeguard confidential information.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

You are required to take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your acts or omissions and you should ensure that statutory regulations, policies, codes of practice and safety and good house-keeping rules are adhered to, attending safety and fire lectures as required.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This Job Description is not intended to be restrictive and should be taken as the current representation of the nature of the duties involved in your job and needs to be flexible to cope with the changing needs of the job and the Hospice.

AGREEMENT

Senior Manager’s name Signature

Job Holder’s name Signature

DATE AGREED

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