JOB DESCRIPTION

Post:                           Senior Support Worker

Accountable to:        Service Manager

Job Purpose:            

To support and work alongside the Service Manager to manage the staff teams and work with the individuals we support within the philosophy, procedures, and established values of Kingwood.

To ensure the individuals we support are enabled to participate in society through a lifestyle based on personal choice and to place the needs of individuals at the centre             of all work undertaken.

To work alongside the Service Manager and colleagues to prepare and monitor support plans to assist in supporting individuals to develop and experience new opportunities within the wider community.

To promote the standards for effective team working to enhance staff contribution to the service and people’s lives and to act as a role model, ensuring staff work to national regulatory standards and code of conduct.

Principal Accountabilities

People supported:

1. To work creatively and appropriately with individuals, continually encouraging them to seek opportunities that are of interest to them. To promote independence and develop skills and support individuals in achieving goals that they have set for themselves.

2. To support individuals to exercise their rights and responsibilities and to make their own choices.

3. To support individuals both inside and outside of their home with all tasks related to daily living, including assistance with meal preparation, housekeeping and managing money.

4. To accompany individuals in the community and where needed to provide assistance and support for activities such as shopping, leisure and attending appointments.

5. To provide assistance with personal care and administration of medication as required.

6. To foster and maintain positive links with family, friends and other external agencies (as agreed with the individual) and to support and encourage individuals to develop and maintain their relationships.

7. To work with Area Managers, Service Manager and Active Support Specialists, to contribute to the planning, implementation, review and ongoing development of person centred support services.

Service management:

1. To assist Service Manager with staff development, training, supervision and appraisal and ongoing staff performance management ensuring that matters of concern and / or excellence in staff is brought to the attention of the Service Manager.

2. To deliver structured, recorded and constructive supervision using Kingwood’s organisational policy and format to all staff on a regular basis; variable for occasional and agency staff dependent on the number of hours they work.

3. To take the lead in the induction of new staff to ensure they will work to organisational and legal practices, policies, procedures and systems.

4. To lead and attend team meetings as agreed with the Service Manager & Area Manager.

Administration and record keeping:

1. To participate in the development of individuals’ Support plans through a process of implementation, monitoring and review.

2. To conduct effective risk assessments with individuals supported and ensure risk management is monitored for each service.

3. To ensure the homes of the people we support are safe by co-ordinating health & safety checks, repairs and maintenance and to notify these to the relevant housing provider.

4. To ensure you have full knowledge and understanding of all necessary record keeping and that this is maintained.

5. To assist the Service Manager in the effective implementation and maintenance of rotas to meet the needs of the people we support and the staff teams.

6. To assist the Service Manager to develop systems that ensures fair delegation of duties and proactive support for less experienced staff and colleagues to develop their skills.

7. To ensure accurate records of individuals’ finances, where managed, are up to date.

8. To maintain confidentiality at all times, respecting the need to share information with your Service Manager & Area Manager.

9. Highlight any concerns in the delivery of support and or management of staff to the Service Manager and/or Area Manager.

Management / Organisational Policy and Procedures:

1. To ensure that you and your staff team work within the agreed guidelines for all individuals who receives support and to adhere to the core values of Kingwood in all work undertaken.

2. To ensure that you and your team understand and support the aims and values of the organisation when dealing with individuals and colleagues and to support and carry out Kingwood’s policies and procedures to promote the aims of the organisation.

3. To demonstrate a commitment to furthering equalities and diversity in all aspects of the work.

4. To work with the Service Manager to actively contribute to the continual development and quality of the service.

5. To communicate effectively, maintaining good working relationships and promoting an atmosphere of support and encouragement.

6. To ensure complex problems and issues are referred to a more experienced and/or senior member of staff if the situation requires specific expertise.

7. In the absence of the Service Manager take on responsibilities as directed by the Area Manager.

Self-Development:

1. To participate in training and development activities relating to legislative requirements\standards for the organisation and to support the co-ordination of the training and development needs of your team members.

2. To comply with current legislation with regards to training and to participate in regular supervision and support sessions.

3. To comply with the standards of conduct and practice set by Skills for Care and/or any other regulatory body.

4. To comply with duties placed upon employees by Kingwood’s Health and Safety Policy and related procedures. To act in accordance with all instructions, information and training supplied in relation to those duties.

5. To work flexibly, being prepared to take on other duties and additional responsibilities in relation to your role that may from time to time be required. Such responsibilities may be of a short term ‘cover’ nature or may be of a longer duration.

6. As required, to take the lead on specific projects. That might include undergoing appropriate training, sharing knowledge learnt with others and meeting agreed outcomes that contribute to the development of the service and team as whole.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties, but a guideline to indicate the main area of your responsibilities and is of course subject to periodic review in order to meet the ever-changing needs of the organisation.