Male Support Worker, 39 hours per week, perm - Kirkby, Merseyside, 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: | 02 May 2024 |
| Location: | Kirkby, Merseyside, L32 8RD |
| Company: | Alternative Futures Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | REF-132-DKRE5M8 |
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 Kirkby.
Who do you support?
We support a gentleman with a leaning disability, Autism, epilepsy and challenging behaviour.
The gentleman we support is non verbal who communicates using his own preferred method of communication called The Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS, which allows him the ability to communicate using pictures.
He uses pictures to communicate with his support staff by showing them a picture of his desired item, he understands simple language and some Makaton signs.
The gentleman presents behaviours that concern and is commissioned for 2-1 support over a 24 hour period to keep him safe and well.
The gentleman requires full support with medication, his finances, attending medical appointments to maintain his physical health.
He is very active and likes to access his vehicle daily to pursue his hobbies and interests in the community.
The gentleman is a very complex individual who requires intensive support from his support staff to de-escalate behaviours and support him through difficult periods of behaviour .
The gentleman has a great sense of humour, his family are very important to him and it is essential that his support staff support him to maintain his family relationships.
The service presents many challenges on a daily basis which are managed well, it is also very rewarding when the gentleman achieves his goals.
Where do they live?
The property is a bungalow with large garden to the rear and parking space to the front of the property.
The property has a living area, kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms, one being utilised for a sleep in room for staff. The property is close to Kirkby town centre and close to public transport. The property is within walking distance of the local shops and nearby park
What would a typical shift be like?
At the start of each shift you will support with personal care, which includes helping to choose his clothing, assisting with bathing, showering and shaving, full support is required with food preparation and cooking of all meals.
He requires full support with all aspects of medication and his finances.
We encourage the gentleman to take an active role in the planning of his support by ensuring he is fully involved in planning his days . It is important that he has a driver on each day to enable him to go out in his vehicle.
What activities do the people that we support at this property like to do?
He enjoys listening to music, using his iPad to stream his favourite programmes from his iPad to his TV, his favourite programmes are Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet.
He enjoys going out in his vehicle daily and going for long walks and connecting with the outside world, going for walks along the beach and paddling in the sea, he has a great love for Blackpool and going on all the big rides, he sometimes prefers just to go for long rides and listen to music in his vehicle.
He enjoys spending time in his garden on his trampoline and playing ball games with his support or using his swimming pool in the nice weather .
He likes to spend time with his support staff and use his iPad and look at photographs. It is important that he has his own space which he will request.
He enjoys watching his support staff cook some of his favourite meals and will sometimes assist with some basic household tasks which is encouraged at all times.
Are there any skills or interests that a candidate could have that would be great to use to support this service?
We have a mobility car at the property so it is essential that you can drive as this is a big part of his support,.
Have you got what it takes and want to make a difference to someone's life.
Good communication skills both verbal and written
Able to use own initiative and work as part of a team
Good sense of humour
Caring * Patient
Good understanding of how to communicate with people using their preferred method of communication
The ability to listen, display kindness and empathy
Creative and Dynamic
Supporting Individuals to pursue their hobbies and interests To provide positive support in a positive non judgmental and creative way to enable the gentleman we support to make informed choices in his daily life
To work with the gentleman to ensure we deliver positive outcomes in line with his person centered plans, ensuring he lives the life he chooses.
Have the flexibility to work a varied shift pattern to provide 24 hour support
Good Knowledge of IT to support the gentleman with his digital journey
What is the team here or is it lone-working?
The gentleman is support on 2-1 over a 24 hour period, you will be part of an experienced team who will help you settle in to your role and learn new skills, you will have the support of a Team Leader and an on call system is available at all times. You will be working in two's at all times, when completing a waking night you will have the support of a sleep in shift if required
What are your shift patterns?
You will work a varied shift pattern which will include waking nights, sleep in shifts which are optional, shifts at the service are as follows 08.00 - 21.00 - Long Day 10.00 - 23.00 Long Day followed by sleep in shift which is optional - 23.00 - 08.00 Waking Night 21.00 - 10.00 There is always 2 staff on shift due to complex behaviours - sleep in shift to support the waking night
We hope it 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