Personal Care Assistant

Overall Purpose of the Post: To work as part of a dedicated and innovative team in a community based house providing respite and holiday breaks for children with physical disabilities, within a quality framework.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: • Adhere to Guidelines for Working with Children and Families as outlined in the Code of Practice. • Facilitate service users to be a part of their local community by assisting in their use of local resources and services, as well as taking part in activities outside the respite house. • Enable service users to make decisions for themselves in all aspects of their lives. • Through placement plans and with Service Owners’ assistance, devise and carry through appropriate goal oriented development programmes, aiming for as much independence as possible • Carry out duties in accordance with Enable Ireland Health & Safety procedures and ensuring service users safety is paramount at all times. • Be aware of health issues for each service user and administer medication according to Enable Irelands medication policy. Contact a doctor or emergency service where required. • Take particular responsibility for Service Owners through the key-working system. • Assist Service Owners with family contact – liaise with families where required. • Attend IFSP’s case conferences and other appropriate meetings. • Work with the service user to ensure that they maintain a high standard of personal and dental hygiene. Assist service users to maintain skills in these areas. • Liaise with other staff involved with service users, e.g. therapy staff, teachers etc. • Be familiar with the correct usage of service users’ equipment. • Act as a team member, sharing information and ideas with co-workers. This includes participating in house staff meetings as well as keeping a daily record of events in the house. • Maintain high standards in care practice at all times in accordance with policy document. • Participate in external courses and in service training as requested or required. Keep abreast of developments in best practice and participate in appropriate staff training/development programmes. • Participate in supervision and personal development procedures. • Establish and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and service users. • Ensure that appropriate well-balanced meals are provided. Meal planning, shopping and cooking should include service users, where possible. • Ensure the maintenance of a clean, safe and comfortable environment within the house. • Maintain a child friendly and homelike environment. • Write and keep records regarding on-going development of service users, at all times respecting the need for confidentiality. • Drive minibus and car as required, complying with Enable Ireland policy and procedures regarding use of minibus. • Carry out any duties required as a result of HIQA standards si 365-367. • Any other appropriate duties.

To minimise exposure to breaches of GDPR, strict compliance is required in the course of carrying out the duties of this job and working with others. This will include, but is not limited to compliance with Enable Ireland’s suite of GDPR Policies & Procedures, attending all GDPR training sessions and ensuring personal responsibility for implementing safeguards and measures as directed. Salary: The current salary scale for this post is €32,639 – €39,499 pro rata per annum.

A. Qualifications and Experience: • Full FETAC Level 5 Certificate in childcare, special needs or equivalent recognised qualification in childcare studies or social studies. • Minimum of 3 years’ experience in providing personal care to children. • Minimum of 1 year experience working with children 0-18 years. • Be eligible to work in the state. B. Organisational and Professional Knowledge: • Broad knowledge of the Enable Ireland organisation and the core values of the organisation. • Knowledge of the disability sector. • Understanding of the Social Model of Disability. • Understanding of the importance of the role of the adult when working with young children. • Understanding of a family centred approach in the delivery of services. • Experience of Microsoft Office packages and service related database systems. CORE COMPETENCIES

The post holder will demonstrate an ability to: C. Planning and Organising of Activities and Resources: • Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and information sharing. • Ability to work safely under own initiative. D. Professional Development and Standards in Services: • Understands the importance of maintaining accurate written records, and reports in accordance with professional guidelines.

• Promotes health, welfare and social wellbeing of service users in the service. • Understands relevant legislation and professional standards to ensure compliance with best practice. Understanding of safeguarding children, and knowledge of child protection procedures. • Demonstrates core skills around session planning, goal setting, and implementing therapy programmes in a home/ community setting. • Ability to work under pressure. E. Integrity and Decision Making: • Makes decisions and responds to events in a safe and ethical manner. • Good knowledge of health, safety and welfare issues relating to young children and their families • Experience in including families in decisions in a family centred approach. • Understands when issues should be brought to the attention of their manager. F. Building and Maintaining Working Relationships: • Develops and promotes excellent interpersonal relationships with children and their families. • Ability to communicate at all levels within the service. • Disseminates information appropriately in a clear manner. • Develop and maintain communication links with other agencies as appropriate. • Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills G. Team Working:

• Ability to work collaboratively with others.

• Understands the importance of team working. • Actively participates in team meetings.

H. Proactive Approach/Adaptability/Flexibility: • Flexible, adaptable and open to change. • Demonstrates a proactive approach to overall performance. • Demonstrates innovation and creativity. • Willingness to embrace service development and change. • Ability to provide services in the community across a large geographical area, and at multiple sites. • Is reliable, punctual and honest.