Support Worker - Female, 39 hours per week, Permanent, Blackburn, Driver Essential
| Posting date: | 02 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £12.0 per hour |
| Additional salary information: | £12.00 for hours worked |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 01 May 2024 |
| Location: | Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 1EX |
| Company: | Alternative Futures Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | REF-140-QZA2SO3 |
Summary
Being a Support Worker at AFG is a hugely rewarding role and could be your first step on a long and happy career in Health & Social Care.
So, what does a Support Worker do?
We have a vision to create a world where people control their lives. Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment. These principles are really important to us.
Our Support Workers work in a variety of settings including community-based services (often supporting people in their own homes) to our Treatment & Recovery Centres.
One thing that is common across all of our services is a focus on personalised support and tailoring our services to the needs and aspirations of the people we support with a diverse range of care needs (including Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Mental Health Concerns, Complex Care, Substance Misuse issues to name a few).
We value the people that work with us…
At AFG we recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you! In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development (including opportunities to undertake vocational qualifications) and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.
About you…
There are a few things that we look for in all of our support workers; we would need you to…
- be a good communicator (verbally and in writing)
- be patient, confident and enthusiastic about caring for others
- be able to use your own initiative
- be able to work as part of a team
- have flexibility to work a varied shift pattern to provide 24-hour support
- share our AFG values
We don’t ask for any other relevant training or a previous career in care as full training will be provided – you just need a willingness to learn and develop.
Your pay - our Support Workers receive a rate of £11.00 per hour for all worked hours. Once you are successful for a role with us, full details of your pay will be included in your written offer.
As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family. If you are passionate about caring for others and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.
More about this vacancy...
We asked the Team Leader to tell us more about this role and the amazing person that we need to work here.
Where is this vacancy based?
This vacancy is based in Blackburn near Ewood Park.
Who do you support?
Within this service we provide support to 2 ladies who both have learning disabilities and challenging behaviours. There is a third bedroom that is currently void but will be filled in the near future. There is a guest bedroom on site where the staff will complete their sleep in duties each night. One of the ladies that we support has limited communication and follows SALT guidance.
She requires 1:1 support when out in the community and requires staff support to complete personal care routines and all other daily living tasks. The second lady who lives in this property has more verbal communication but her understanding is limited. She also requires staff to follow strict SALT guidance and requires 2:1 support in the community. Staff must also support her with her personal care routine and all daily living tasks. Both ladies in this property have mobility cars.
Where do they live?
The property is a 4 bedroomed detached house with a small private rear garden. There is a drive to the front of the property that will comfortably fit 4 cars. The property is located on a cul-de-sac within a quiet area of Blackburn not far from Ewood Park.
What would a typical shift be like?
A typical day will start with 2x staff supporting one lady with her personal care routine and the 3rd staff will support the other lady with hers. Once dressed, they will sit at the dining table ready for their medication and breakfast. One of the ladies likes to make her own breakfast and can do this with staff supervision. Staff will ensure that choice and healthy options are given. After breakfast, staff will consult the weekly planner for the days activities. Both ladies are very dependent on routine and will struggle if this is changed without notice. Daily activities can include house food shopping, banking, walks along the canal, drives out in the car, day trips to the seaside, coffee and cake at favourite coffee shops, trips to Oswaldtwistle Mills or Boundary Mill and lunch out.
One of the ladies also attends an evening disco that is catered around people with learning disabilities. If the ladies are having lunch at home, they will choose their meal and staff will sit with them in line with the SALT guidance in place. In house activities may include support with daily living tasks, baking and arts and crafts. Both ladies enjoy alone time in their bedrooms with music or the TV on. Staff must be in the vicinity at all times. An evening meal will have already been decided in the morning by the ladies and staff will be expected to cook healthy and nutritious meals from fresh ingredients. Staff will administer medication as needed throughout the day. Once the ladies have finished their meals staff will support them to wash up their plates. After their evening meal both ladies will be given the choice to take a short walk, or they may just want to relax and get into their evening wear. Staff will support with any personal care routines that are required following the guidance in their support plans.
One of the ladies will sit and watch TV in the evening and then once she has had her supper usually around 8.30-9pm she will retire to bed - this is usually around 9.30pm. The other lady may choose to listen to music in her bedroom or watch TV. She will then also have her supper and retire to bed around 9.30-10pm.
What activities do the people that we support at this property like to do?
Both ladies enjoy drives out in their own cars, trips out for lunch or for coffee and cake and listening to music in their bedrooms. One lady loves to go to Dollys Tea Room in Darwen, Boundary Mill and Oswaldtwistle Mills. She will usually decide on the day where she wants to go. She also enjoys day trips to the seaside and walks along the canal. The other lady enjoys trips to the cinema, a local disco, long walks and day trips with fish and chips at the end. She also enjoys time alone and will make it clear when this is what she wants and will then sit in her bedroom or the conservatory listening to music.
Are there any skills or interests that a candidate could have that would be great to use to support this service?
Both ladies have a mobility car so this is a driver essential post. The successful candidate will be able to complete personal care routines and daily living tasks with the people supported. This post would suit someone who also enjoys the outdoors and long drives and who has basic level cooking and baking skills. There is some challenging behaviour from the ladies who live in this service, so candidates must be confident and able to handle difficult situations.
What is the team here or is it lone-working?
You will be working with a team of experienced support workers. There will be lone working from 9-10pm, during the sleep in shift and 7-8am but there will be a Team Leader on call at all times. You must be willing to complete all mandatory training that is essential to this role and you will also have the opportunity to complete other courses alongside this to increase your knowledge and skills.
What are your shift patterns?
An example of the shift patterns are - 8am-22pm sleep in 7am-10am 8am-21pm 8am-17pm
We hope this has given you more insight into this role and we hope to see your application soon.
Please note our Support Workers are contracted by area therefore flexibility is essential to work in other services where required.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme