Independence Plus Senior Support Worker

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Independence Plus Senior Support Worker

Application Deadline: 5 July 2024

Department: Independence Plus

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Harborne, Birmingham, UK

Reporting To: IP Homes Manager

Compensation: GBP 23,850 / year

Description

The post-holder will be the designated Senior Support Worker for one or more designated Independence Plus houses, providing support to IP clients, enabling them to develop independent living skills and to access activities they enjoy and the wider community.

The post holder will work in collaboration with the IP Homes Manager to ensure consistency and quality of the provision, in line with individual support plans and QAC policies and procedures. The post holder will also act as role model, mentor and support to designated staff during the day to day running of the designated home(s).

Key Responsibilities

• The post-holder will be required to work in any of the College's Supported Living homes and be expected to undertake a significant amount of lone working and work within the Community.
• Provide support to the IP Homes Manager in ensuring that the day to day operation of designated home(s) is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led and in compliance with any statutory or other requirements.
• Provide guidance within the designated home(s) to Support Workers and support the IP Homes Manager to ensure all supervisions & appraisals are complete and with managing staff induction, absence and performance management, in line with College policies and procedures and in conjunction with the HR Team.
• Allocating work/activities to individual staff, as required.
• Undertaking and leading regular Team/House meetings.
• Understand and respect individual client's right, choices, personal dignity, privacy and aspirations.
• Support through the use of prompts and guidance clients' personal care needs, such as assistance with dressing, toileting and washing
• Support clients to make their choices, in a broad range of life spheres.
• Comply with the regulations and College policies laid out for the Supported Living Service.
• To support students with healthcare needs including, but not limited to, Diabetes and Epilepsy.
• Help plan, promote and maintain good care practice and contribute to team work through good communication with other support staff and through team meetings and training as directed.
• To monitor daily support and achievements via the 'Care Log' system on Databridge MIS
• Contribute to the implementation of care programmes, Action Plans, and targets.
• Liaise with clients' families, where appropriate, providing appropriate information.
• Encourage clients' to undertake leisure activities and assist in the planning and implementation.
• Encourage integration and inclusion into the wider social community
• Maintain effective record systems to a quality standard which complies with internal and external regulations.
• Actively partake in professional supervision and attend training as required to develop and enhance your existing skills.
• Keep up to date with any significant changes in the client's situation within the IP home and other provisions with reference to the staff team, relevant meetings, care log, communications book, support plans, targets and reviews.
• Support with on entry and ongoing assessments of individual client's needs. Contribute to and manage the implementation of person centred care plans and key working systems.
• Support the IP Homes Manager in ensuring the staff team regularly review and update support plans to a high standard.
• Provide advice and guidance regarding independent living tasks and leisure activities, ensuring staff are confident with activity planning and risk assessing.
• To have a good working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and to support with Mental Capacity Assessments/ DOLs/ Best Interest meetings.
• Support the IP Homes Manager in facilitating clients' and families' access to and take up of other support services and benefits, liaising with other organisations as appropriate and sign posting families to relevant agencies.
• As appropriate, ensure that all medicines are administered as directed/prescribed and in accordance with QAC's medication policies. Support the staff team with following the medication policy and health protocols.
• Maintain effective record systems to a quality standard which complies with internal and external regulations.
• Be familiar with all policies and procedures pertaining to IP activities, including Health and Safety, Complaints procedures, First Aid and Safeguarding etc.
• Support the IP Homes Manager to ensure compliance/application of the health and safety policies within the IP homes, including completion of health and safety checks and risk assessments as required.
• To support the IP Homes Manager with ensuring the rota meets service needs. Arrange cover for staff absence as required and act as a point of contact for the team.
• Respond flexibly to timetable or rota requirements, including sleep-in requirements - i.e. occasional cover for sickness or holidays of colleagues and devise cover for sickness or holidays of colleagues.
• Perform such other duties commensurate with the status of the post as the Principal shall from time to time decide.

How to Apply

We look forward to receiving your application and knowing more about your qualifications, skills, personal qualities and experience that you would bring to the role and to QAC. Please take time to review the job description above.

You are required to upload a CV with details of your full employment history (since leaving school, including education, employment, and voluntary work) including reasons for any gaps in employment. Your CV/Resume* will be re-produced in a standard format by the system (without personal identifiers) to assist us in our anonymised shortlisting process.

Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College's Safeguarding Policies are available here

As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, and in line with updated guidance published in September 2022, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part of your application, we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on, or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further information.

QAC complies with Safeguarding guidelines and all appointees are required to have DBS Check and two reference.

Why work at Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham

Join our team at Queen Alexandra College!

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has just gone through an exciting rebrand, dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.

The newly structured Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high.

Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:
• Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals
• Make a difference to the educational experience of young people
• Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education
• Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self-development and self-confidence
• Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.

Our benefits include;

• Access to on site car parking
• Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours)
• Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF)
• Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff
• Mental Health First Aiders
• BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services
• Annual Flu vaccination/voucher
• Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers
• Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off
• 5% discount on National Express West Midlands bus passes at nxbusportal3.co.uk/education
• Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling)
• Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities
• Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes)
• Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period)
• Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding)
• Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.