Post: Support Worker Service: Housing & Community Support Services (HACSS)
Base: The Action Group, The Prentice Centre, Edinburgh (or regional base as set by line manager)
Line Managed by: Practice and Wellbeing Leader
Salary : Casual rate, £12.60 per hour. Sleepover rate (if applicable) £100.80 per night.
Hours: Casual
We're currently looking for Casual Support Workers in the West Lothian area! Whether you're an experienced Support Worker or looking to start a rewarding role, this could be for you. Being a casual worker means you'll have flexible shifts that fit around your life – perfect if you're balancing other commitments! A driver is preferred, but you must be able to commute in and around West Lothian using public transport. If you're caring, reliable, and ready to make a difference – we’d love to hear from you!
Please note: Due to visa restrictions and our shift requirements, candidates on restricted visas may be offered a maximum of 15 hours per week.
To learn more about our recruitment process please click the link - Our Recruitment Process
To support our commitment to a fair and inclusive recruitment process, we invite all candidates to optionally complete the - Equal Opportunities Form for Applicants
Equality Statement | The Action Group
This is a regulated role and requires PVG Disclosure Scotland membership for adults and children.
As part of our recruitment process, candidates who have lived outside the UK for more than 12 months in the last 10 years will be required to provide a Criminal Convictions Certificate (or equivalent) from the relevant country or countries. Please note that the cost of obtaining this certificate will be the responsibility of the candidate.
Since this is a registered service with the Care Inspectorate, all applicants must be at least 18 years old
If you need any support or adjustments during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are committed to making this process as accessible as possible for everyone.
The Action Group Recruitment recruitment@actiongroup.org.uk 0131 285 5207
Main purpose:
The main purpose of this post is to provide a caring, efficient and effective 24/7 support service to people who use The Action Group’s Services. This will include assisting people to develop their skills by supervising and participating in various support activities in a way that enriches their opportunities and promotes choice. The main duties for this post are detailed below under two headings: 1. Specific Duties (that apply to this job in particular) 2. General Duties (that apply to all staff in The Action Group)
About The Role
About the role
Specific Duties
- Practice the TAG Key Worker system. For example, organising support plans / case reviews as required for individual people we support with all relevant stakeholders, ensuring effective handovers between staff, and maintaining records, case files etc.
- Promote the physical and emotional wellbeing of the people we support at all times (eg. supporting people to maintain acceptable and adequate levels of self-care, carrying out risk assessments, etc)
- Actively develop meaningful and trusting relationships with the people we support (eg. helping people to gain insight into their own behaviour, attitudes and reactions)
- Encourage independence in all daily living activities wherever possible, and support them with this only when necessary (e.g. housework, food preparation, household admin etc)
- Promote people’s hobbies, interests and activities, and encourage participation in all aspects of community life. For support workers in the Children and Adults in Transition Services this may include organising day trips and activities with young people as required, as well as accompanying them to sporting activities such as swimming, and participating in these activities as appropriate.
- Directly assist with the personal care as required
- Work with the people we support to maximize their ability to communicate effectively and promote self-advocacy wherever possible
- Advocate on behalf of the people we support when needed (e.g. liaising with external organisations regarding benefits, education, tenancy and employment etc)
- Work with relatives and carers of people we support (e.g. arranging support plans, dealing with complaints and frustrations, etc) and help to ensure that relatives have a significant role in the person’s life wherever possible and appropriate.
- Find out about the wide range of local services, amenities and organisations available to people we support.
- Work with both individuals and groups of in all of the above, according to need
- Participate flexibly in the various shift work patterns required by the needs of the people we support (including regular working outwith weekday office hours; for example, in the evening and at weekends, where applicable)
- Regularly undertake ‘sleepover’ or ‘waking night’ duties where required
- From time-to-time, the postholder may be asked to cover short-term absences of Support Workers in other teams.
General Duties (these are applicable to all The Action Group staff)
- Read, and work in accordance with, TAG’s Mission, Aims & Objectives, and current Business Plan
- Manage own work time effectively
- Keep on top of own paperwork and maintain effective and organised filing systems, as appropriate to the specific job role
- Treat everyone with consideration and respect
- Ensure prompt, polite and clear communication (whether responding to a query from a member of staff or a complaint from person we support)
- Keep up to date and comply with all applicable TAG policies and procedures (covering everything from personal Health & Safety to Care Commission Standards)
- Promote and respect individual rights and responsibilities at all time
- Retain the highest standards of confidentiality, as appropriate to the specific role
- Assist your manager and other work colleagues as appropriate and whenever possible
- Take charge of own CPD (Continuous Professional Development) and contribute to TAG maintaining the Investors In People standard
- Be responsible for own work life balance (e.g. taking annual leave at regular intervals, etc)
Required Criteria
- Shares our values - Equality, Inclusion. Flexibility, Person Centred Support, Respecting differences.
- Practically-Minded - Can budget and manage a home – Assesses Risk Well – Plans stuff in advance -Responds well to challenging situations
- A nice person Listens- Interested in people-Patient and Calm- Fun- Caring and considerate
- Good in a Team- Communicates well – Takes responsibility- Asks for advice - Helps others
- Get the details right – Punctual – Consistent – Follows procedures- Finds out and remembers stuff – Completes paperwork
- Not afraid to think – Reflects on practice – Learns from experience – Puts self in other’s shoes- Suggests ideas.
- This post requires registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). Applicants who are not registered with the SSSC when starting will have 6 months in which to register. Applicants already registered with the SSSC must inform that body of their employment with The Action Group.
- This post requires PVG clearance. Applicants who are not members of the PVG scheme should be prepared to join before commencing employment.
Skills Needed
About The Company
Our History
The Action Group was set up in 1976 by a group of parents and carers of people who had learning disabilities and other support needs. They began by campaigning for better services for the people they cared about in the local area of Leith and Restalrig. This group, who all lived in the north east of Edinburgh, took the name Area 5 Action Group from the Social Work Department’s area in which they lived.
Providing and Improving Learning Disability Care for Over 45 Years
The Action Group was, and continues to be, a membership organisation with the twin aims of campaigning for, and providing, good community care services. In 1976, services and supports in the community were few and far between and large institutions and hospitals, like Gogarburn in Edinburgh, were the main service for children and adults.
Locally, The Area 5 Action Group ran a high profile political and media campaign to get learning disability and support needs on the agenda. It also explored ways to develop service-provision
By 1985, now called The North Edinburgh Action Group, membership had grown and service users came from all over Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian and Midlothian.
By 1992, with development plans focussing across an even wider area, a further name change to The Action Group was made.
Over the years the Action Group has been at the forefront of campaigning for and providing high quality community services.
Company Culture
The Vision
That Families caring for a person and individuals who have support needs and/or Learning Disability encounter no barriers to their chosen lifestyle, are able to follow a path of choice and can enrich their opportunities.
The Mission
To Value, listen and involve people so that our every action is judged to be the best.
The Values
An ordinary life includes the 5 accomplishments which derives from the work of John O'Brien.
These values are at the heart of the organisation.
People accessing our services should have:
Community presence - Relationships
Competency - Respect - Choice
Company Benefits
Looking to make a difference?
Make a difference in your community and in people’s lives by becoming a support worker with us!
Your goal will be to help people with additional support needs to gain or maintain their independence, and going about their lives in general, to support with work, health and wellbeing, or attending and participating in activities.
HSF Health Plan to all our Full-time & Part-time employees
Pension
Good annual leave entitlements
TAG Rewards – our exclusive discounts and savings programme
Travel time payable where applicable
Ongoing support, training and development opportunities
Mileage allowance where applicable
Casual dress, Blue Light Card, On the job learning
Salary
£12.60 per hour