JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION SUPPORT WORKER (GENERIC)

JOB TITLE: Support Worker / DEPARTMENT: Operations
REPORTS TO: Area manager, Contract Manager or Team Leader (depending on post) / COMPLIER: Head of Operations
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Assistant Support Workers, Domestic Staff, Personal Support Assistants (where appropriate) / DATE: January 2012
PURPOSE: Support Workers enablepeople with particular needs to managetheir tenancies and live independent lives of their choosing in the community.
CUSTOMER CRITERIA: Look Ahead customers know from experience what they need and expect from a Support Worker; they say:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Look Ahead Support Workers have the personal qualities required to manage these customer expectations alongside the responsibilities of their role. Day to day Support Worker activities include:
Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers
Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
Supporting key customers to set personalised goals in the form of a Support Plan
Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of ‘positive risk taking’
Providing support with daily living activities, including practical assistance where skills are not yet developed, to ensure that customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
Proactive development of links with local statutory and voluntary organizations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community
Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service
Empowering customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to
Encouraging and enabling tenants to pay their rent and ensure that rent accounts are managed
Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies are adhered to at all times and to uphold all health and safety responsibilities within relevant policies and local protocols.
Adhering to all other Look Ahead’s policies and procedures
Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills
Day to day instruction/ supervision of Assistant Support Workers/ domestic staff/ Personal Support Assistants where appropriate
Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/ Manager.
OTHER QUALITIES: Look Ahead Support Workers embody and promote the organisations values of quality, creativity, innovation, continuous improvement, integrity, transparency, openness and trust.
PERSON SPECIFICATION: Look Ahead Competency Model Framework (non-management)
As a business, Look Ahead requires all staff to demonstrate key skills. The framework below brings together the needs of customers and managers and places them in the business context.
Relationships
With key customers (end service users)
Within team and organisation
With external partners and agencies / Organisation
Planning and organising workload
Awareness of policies and procedures
Time and resource management
Team membership
Promote team ethos and values
Positive contribution to team environment
Personal development in team context / Results Orientation
Assist customers to achieve Support Plan goals
Achievement of local business objectives
Financial awareness
In submitting your CV/ Application (dependant on the job you have applied for), consider what indicators you would expect to see under the three headings within each competency quadrant and demonstrate how you meet them.
BENCHMARK QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Typical Support Worker Qualifications are NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent with little or some previous relevant sector work experience.
REMUNERATION:
Grade S2
2012SalaryRange £14,000 - £31,000 pa + benefits and membership of S1, S2 and JM PRP Scheme.
For recruitment purposes, the benchmark salary range is set by the Head of Operations and will depend on the post and its location.
Note: The Company may change this Job Description and Person Specification from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the business. Substantial changes could require a job evaluation and reassessment which could affect the job grade and contractual terms of this job.