Careers

HILLSVIEW CARE SERVICES LTD

JOB DESCRIPTION

SUPPORT WORKER

Responsible to:          Home Manager

Reports to:                 Senior care / Support Assistant

The support worker is responsible to the manager for ensuring that the following is performed in a caring, efficient, effective, and professional manner.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reporting any concerns or complaints to the Manager or in the Manager’s absence, the
  Senior Support Worker

• Participating in reviews of residents.

• Supervising the work of junior staff, assisting in recruitment and selection of new staff and also training of new staff. Raising any staffing concerns with the Manager.

• Participating in supervision from the Manager and giving supervision to junior staff.

• Implementing the philosophy of the home in a way that reflects the needs of the current
  resident group, based on respect for the individuals’ right to self-determination.

• Implementing the service user plans of all residents and assisting in formulating (as key-
  worker) service user plans. Evaluating the plans with discussion and input from the
  service user, and discussion with the manager.

• Attending regular supervision sessions with the Manager

• Ensuring that a report is made to the Manager of any significant incidents affecting
  resident care.

• Making friends and relatives of resident’s welcome at Hillsview Care services and offering adequate privacy for meetings.

• You are expected to be punctual, and although there is no formal dress code, you are expected to be clean and tidy when on duty.

• You will assist service users to maintain their independence and dignity by offering
  appropriate levels of practical assistance to enable their emotional, physical and spiritual
  needs to be met within the home and community.

• Ensure that all service users are offered an adequate diet, according to their wishes and
  cultural/religious needs

• Carrying out a range of duties within the day-to-day programme of care for individuals,
  such as:
  Assisting service users with personal hygiene, according to each individual’s ability to
  self-care. Assisting service users to rise from bed, working from each service user plan
  of care when determining the level of assistance given.
  Observing physical well-being and reporting any significant changes in health or mental
  state to the responsible person on duty, OR taking appropriate action such as medical
  assistance as necessary.

  Attending to service users who are ill, and performing such tasks as may be required.

  This may be serving meals on trays, washing and combing hair, oral hygiene, assistance
  with bathing and any other aspects of care as necessary, including observing and
  reporting pressure areas/sores/wounds and taking appropriate action and documenting
  action taken, then reporting to the manager.

  Helping to move service users as required, and according to each individual’s risk
  assessment.

  Assisting service users when required to retire to bed, ensuring that their room is at a
  comfortable temperature, also that their dignity is preserved (Closing curtains, switching
  lights on etc)

  Assisting service users who are unable to self-medicate to take medication, after
  attending training from the Home’s visiting pharmacists and being deemed competent.
  Reporting any drug errors, according to policy and procedure of the home.

  MEALS

• Assisting service users to prepare meals, snacks and drinks according to individual service user plans and risk assessments. Cooking meals with/for service users and ensuring that meals are nutritious, healthy and attractively presented, taking into account cultural or religious needs and working from
  suggestions based on the wishes of service users. You will also assist those residents who have poor dexterity/sight impairment in cutting up food, observing food and fluids taken and documenting foods actually eaten at mealtimes. You will report any concerns directly to the manager, entering this into the daily report of the individual, disseminating information to the team, as instructed by the
  manager

CLOTHING:

• Ensuring that all service user’s clothing is properly cared for and when supporting
  anyone to wash their clothing, to wash them in accordance with instructions found
  on the clothing. Encouraging service users to do their own laundry, in relation to
  the individual plan of care and risk assessment, in order to maintain maximum
  independence and, in some cases, to develop new skills. Ensuring that all
  members of staff understand their roles in relation to this.
• Ensuring that all junior support workers know and understand their roles in
  connection with service users clothing/footwear and reporting any deficiencies. 
• Ensuring clothing is clearly marked with the name of the service user in an
• inconspicuous place (i.e. inside collar)
• Noting any repairs needs and supporting service users to do this, or delegating the
  task to a team member if the individual cannot or does not wish to do this.
• Supporting service users to return clean clothing to their rooms, or doing this if
  service users are unable to do this. Assisting them to keep their wardrobes and
  drawers tidy and rooms clean.
• Ensuring the team has knowledge of how to support the service user with caring
  for their spectacles, dentures and reporting any loss or damage immediately, so
  appropriate action can be taken to remedy this.

BEDS

Ensuring that the staff team support service users to make their beds, or to make them is
service users are unable to do so., ensuring that beds are clean and comfortable, and that
bed linen is changed regularly or as required.

SHOPPING

• Ensuring that the staff team know and understand how to support service users to shop, doing so yourself as and when necessary. You must observe that service users receive the correct change from shopkeepers so that a care-plan can be accurate as to the ability of the service user. You must encourage service users to choose their own items with guidance from staff only where needed, following individual care-plans with budgeting.

TRIPS AND OUTINGS

• The senior support workers will, as required, accompany service users on trips and outings. At least once yearly the service users will go on an annual holiday of their choice, supported by members from the staff team. You will be expected to hold a valid passport to accompany service users abroad. You may be required to work different hours in order to fulfill these duties, notice of which will be given well in advance. On holidays you will be paid your usual daily amount plus some sleep-in amount, as the cost of your holiday will be paid for by the company.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• You are to be familiar with the health and safety policy of the establishment, missing service user policy, confidentiality policy, safeguarding adults, Emergency procedures and to read and understand all policies regularly.
• You must attend fire training and fire drills
• You are expected to attend monthly staff meetings and contribute to same, taking minutes as may be required by the manager.
• Undertake duties delegated to you by the manager on a day-to-day basis.
• You will be expected to ensure that you work according to anti-discriminatory practice and understand the equality and diversity policy of the home.
• The Senior Support Worker should ensure that all service users are encouraged to be as independent as possible, to choose their own lifestyles, clothing, and personalize their own rooms, with support if necessary. All staff are to encourage service users to clean their own rooms, vacuuming carpets and dusting furniture. Spillage is expected to be mopped up by members of staff on shift.
• Night support workers are to complete some cleaning duties and iron service user clothes, if they are unable to do so, hanging them on rails when they are finished. Underwear etc., is to be folded for individual service users.
• The Senior Support Worker should encourage monthly service user meetings and support them in their chosen activities, such as reading, music, college, volunteering opportunities, swimming, sport and any other interest or hobby. Board games/card games are available. Service users should be encouraged to hold parties and invite friends, according to individual risk assessments. You are to ensure that service users receive support to find gainful employment if an opportunity arises, or their ability to work increases due to developing new skills.

CONFIDENTIALITY

• The Senior Support Worker should ensure that any information relating to service users acquired in the course of your working duties must be treated in the strictest confidence, and discussed only within the home with the appropriate members of staff.
• Any information relating to members of staff acquired in the course of duty must be treated in the strictest confidence and discussed only with the manager.
• It is your duty to ensure that you must not impart any information regarding service users/staff to any other care homes, or members of staff working in other care homes. This will be looked on as a breach of the confidentiality policy, with which you will be expected to make yourself familiar, and disciplinary action will be taken. This applies to all members of staff employed by Hillsview on a permanent or flexi-bank basis
• This list is not exhaustive and additions may be required in line with future policy.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DIVERSITY

• At Hillsview, we believe that all employers have a duty to avoid discrimination when employing staff and in providing services, and has committed itself to take appropriate steps to avoid discrimination occurring anywhere in the home. Employees will be recruited on their ability to carry out their work competently, and diversity encouraged.
• Any employee having a complaint of discrimination or victimization is encouraged to raise the matter under the grievance procedure. This will be fully investigated and all possible action taken to resolve the problem
• As an employer, we will work to retain a broad representation of people with appropriate skills and knowledge and to avoid a bias towards any particular group in society.
• All appointments or promotions will be based on merit and no job applicant or employee will be discriminated against by reason of race, religion, sexuality, gender, disability or marital status
• You will have an annual appraisal from your line manager concentrating on performance and your personal development.

MEETINGS

• The Senior Support Worker is expected to attend various meetings as requested by the manager, either internally or externally.
• Training will be offered; some will be in-house and some external and either funded or part-funded by the establishment. We will offer appropriate training, including refresher courses.

OTHER DUTIES

To acquire a working knowledge of the administrative requirements of the organisation and
implementing procedures as required. Your duties may be changed or additions made according
to the needs of the home, which will be discussed in supervision sessions.

HILLSVIEW CARE SERVICES LTD

JOB DESCRIPTION

SUPPORT WORKER

Responsible to:          Home Manager

Reports to:                 Senior care / Support Assistant

The support worker is responsible to the manager for ensuring that the following is performed in a caring, efficient, effective, and professional manner.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reporting any concerns or complaints to the Manager or in the Manager’s absence, the
  Senior Support Worker

• Participating in reviews of residents.

• Supervising the work of junior staff, assisting in recruitment and selection of new staff and also training of new staff. Raising any staffing concerns with the Manager.

• Participating in supervision from the Manager and giving supervision to junior staff.

• Implementing the philosophy of the home in a way that reflects the needs of the current
  resident group, based on respect for the individuals’ right to self-determination.

• Implementing the service user plans of all residents and assisting in formulating (as key-
  worker) service user plans. Evaluating the plans with discussion and input from the
  service user, and discussion with the manager.

• Attending regular supervision sessions with the Manager

• Ensuring that a report is made to the Manager of any significant incidents affecting
  resident care.

• Making friends and relatives of resident’s welcome at Hillsview Care services and offering adequate privacy for meetings.

• You are expected to be punctual, and although there is no formal dress code, you are expected to be clean and tidy when on duty.

• You will assist service users to maintain their independence and dignity by offering
  appropriate levels of practical assistance to enable their emotional, physical and spiritual
  needs to be met within the home and community.

• Ensure that all service users are offered an adequate diet, according to their wishes and
  cultural/religious needs

• Carrying out a range of duties within the day-to-day programme of care for individuals,
  such as:
  Assisting service users with personal hygiene, according to each individual’s ability to
  self-care. Assisting service users to rise from bed, working from each service user plan
  of care when determining the level of assistance given.
  Observing physical well-being and reporting any significant changes in health or mental
  state to the responsible person on duty, OR taking appropriate action such as medical
  assistance as necessary.

  Attending to service users who are ill, and performing such tasks as may be required.

  This may be serving meals on trays, washing and combing hair, oral hygiene, assistance
  with bathing and any other aspects of care as necessary, including observing and
  reporting pressure areas/sores/wounds and taking appropriate action and documenting
  action taken, then reporting to the manager.

  Helping to move service users as required, and according to each individual’s risk
  assessment.

  Assisting service users when required to retire to bed, ensuring that their room is at a
  comfortable temperature, also that their dignity is preserved (Closing curtains, switching
  lights on etc)

  Assisting service users who are unable to self-medicate to take medication, after
  attending training from the Home’s visiting pharmacists and being deemed competent.
  Reporting any drug errors, according to policy and procedure of the home.

  MEALS

• Assisting service users to prepare meals, snacks and drinks according to individual service user plans and risk assessments. Cooking meals with/for service users and ensuring that meals are nutritious, healthy and attractively presented, taking into account cultural or religious needs and working from
  suggestions based on the wishes of service users. You will also assist those residents who have poor dexterity/sight impairment in cutting up food, observing food and fluids taken and documenting foods actually eaten at mealtimes. You will report any concerns directly to the manager, entering this into the daily report of the individual, disseminating information to the team, as instructed by the
  manager

CLOTHING:

• Ensuring that all service user’s clothing is properly cared for and when supporting
  anyone to wash their clothing, to wash them in accordance with instructions found
  on the clothing. Encouraging service users to do their own laundry, in relation to
  the individual plan of care and risk assessment, in order to maintain maximum
  independence and, in some cases, to develop new skills. Ensuring that all
  members of staff understand their roles in relation to this.
• Ensuring that all junior support workers know and understand their roles in
  connection with service users clothing/footwear and reporting any deficiencies. 
• Ensuring clothing is clearly marked with the name of the service user in an
• inconspicuous place (i.e. inside collar)
• Noting any repairs needs and supporting service users to do this, or delegating the
  task to a team member if the individual cannot or does not wish to do this.
• Supporting service users to return clean clothing to their rooms, or doing this if
  service users are unable to do this. Assisting them to keep their wardrobes and
  drawers tidy and rooms clean.
• Ensuring the team has knowledge of how to support the service user with caring
  for their spectacles, dentures and reporting any loss or damage immediately, so
  appropriate action can be taken to remedy this.

BEDS

Ensuring that the staff team support service users to make their beds, or to make them is
service users are unable to do so., ensuring that beds are clean and comfortable, and that
bed linen is changed regularly or as required.

SHOPPING

• Ensuring that the staff team know and understand how to support service users to shop, doing so yourself as and when necessary. You must observe that service users receive the correct change from shopkeepers so that a care-plan can be accurate as to the ability of the service user. You must encourage service users to choose their own items with guidance from staff only where needed, following individual care-plans with budgeting.

TRIPS AND OUTINGS

• The senior support workers will, as required, accompany service users on trips and outings. At least once yearly the service users will go on an annual holiday of their choice, supported by members from the staff team. You will be expected to hold a valid passport to accompany service users abroad. You may be required to work different hours in order to fulfill these duties, notice of which will be given well in advance. On holidays you will be paid your usual daily amount plus some sleep-in amount, as the cost of your holiday will be paid for by the company.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• You are to be familiar with the health and safety policy of the establishment, missing service user policy, confidentiality policy, safeguarding adults, Emergency procedures and to read and understand all policies regularly.
• You must attend fire training and fire drills
• You are expected to attend monthly staff meetings and contribute to same, taking minutes as may be required by the manager.
• Undertake duties delegated to you by the manager on a day-to-day basis.
• You will be expected to ensure that you work according to anti-discriminatory practice and understand the equality and diversity policy of the home.
• The Senior Support Worker should ensure that all service users are encouraged to be as independent as possible, to choose their own lifestyles, clothing, and personalize their own rooms, with support if necessary. All staff are to encourage service users to clean their own rooms, vacuuming carpets and dusting furniture. Spillage is expected to be mopped up by members of staff on shift.
• Night support workers are to complete some cleaning duties and iron service user clothes, if they are unable to do so, hanging them on rails when they are finished. Underwear etc., is to be folded for individual service users.
• The Senior Support Worker should encourage monthly service user meetings and support them in their chosen activities, such as reading, music, college, volunteering opportunities, swimming, sport and any other interest or hobby. Board games/card games are available. Service users should be encouraged to hold parties and invite friends, according to individual risk assessments. You are to ensure that service users receive support to find gainful employment if an opportunity arises, or their ability to work increases due to developing new skills.

CONFIDENTIALITY

• The Senior Support Worker should ensure that any information relating to service users acquired in the course of your working duties must be treated in the strictest confidence, and discussed only within the home with the appropriate members of staff.
• Any information relating to members of staff acquired in the course of duty must be treated in the strictest confidence and discussed only with the manager.
• It is your duty to ensure that you must not impart any information regarding service users/staff to any other care homes, or members of staff working in other care homes. This will be looked on as a breach of the confidentiality policy, with which you will be expected to make yourself familiar, and disciplinary action will be taken. This applies to all members of staff employed by Hillsview on a permanent or flexi-bank basis
• This list is not exhaustive and additions may be required in line with future policy.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DIVERSITY

• At Hillsview, we believe that all employers have a duty to avoid discrimination when employing staff and in providing services, and has committed itself to take appropriate steps to avoid discrimination occurring anywhere in the home. Employees will be recruited on their ability to carry out their work competently, and diversity encouraged.
• Any employee having a complaint of discrimination or victimization is encouraged to raise the matter under the grievance procedure. This will be fully investigated and all possible action taken to resolve the problem
• As an employer, we will work to retain a broad representation of people with appropriate skills and knowledge and to avoid a bias towards any particular group in society.
• All appointments or promotions will be based on merit and no job applicant or employee will be discriminated against by reason of race, religion, sexuality, gender, disability or marital status
• You will have an annual appraisal from your line manager concentrating on performance and your personal development.

MEETINGS

• The Senior Support Worker is expected to attend various meetings as requested by the manager, either internally or externally.
• Training will be offered; some will be in-house and some external and either funded or part-funded by the establishment. We will offer appropriate training, including refresher courses.

OTHER DUTIES

To acquire a working knowledge of the administrative requirements of the organisation and
implementing procedures as required. Your duties may be changed or additions made according
to the needs of the home, which will be discussed in supervision sessions.