Support Worker

BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES IRELAND – WEST REGION

PERMANENENT PART-TIME SUPPORT WORKER

IVY HOUSE, CHILDREN’S SERVICES

JOB REF: 79/2024C

The Role:

Support Workers provide a key-working supportive role to children. This role comprises of two main elements. Firstly, the Support Worker is responsible for all aspects of personal care required by the individual child. This includes supporting children with their meals, personal hygiene and other related aspects of physical well-being, to the extent required by the individual. Secondly, a major focus of the Support Worker role is to assist and support the child through the development of Individual Plan’s and the achievement of associated outcomes, and critically, to support children in participating in the ordinary everyday life of the community through inclusive and creative thinking.

Location:

Roscommon Children’s Respite Service provides respite services to children up to 18 years of age who have a wide range of needs including those with Autism, physical, and complex medical needs and behavioural needs. Initial assignment to West Roscommon Services initially based in the Castlerea area. Future developments within the services may require that you are prepared to transfer to another work location as the service needs demand.

Reporting/Responsible To:

Senior Staff/Team Leader/Service Coordinator/Area Manager.

Qualifications/Experience/Skills:

• Candidates must have a good general education. A recognised qualification appropriate to the field of intellectual disability is an advantage. A QQI Level 5 or higher is desirable.
• Candidates must have a minimum of six months experience of working with people with an Intellectual Disability. Experience working with people with behaviours that challenge is also desirable
• A full clean manual Driving Licence (Class B) is an essential requirement of this post. It may be necessary for the appointee to obtain a Class D1 Driving Licence (if not already in possession of one). Assistance may be given towards this purpose of obtaining a class D1 licence.
• Fluency in verbal and written English is an essential requirement of this post.
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate flexibility, communication and team-working skills, together with an enthusiasm for the post. Some basic IT skills are also essential.

Working Hours:

74 hours a fortnight based on a 7 day duty roster. The successful candidates will be required to work a variety of shifts including weekends, public holidays, split duty hours, night duty and sleepover duty to meet service needs.

The Brothers of Charity model of service is based on Personal Outcome Measures requiring employees to be flexible in their working hours to provide a quality service delivery for each individual.

Annual Leave:

22 days per annum.

Remuneration:

Department of Health Care Assistant (1st June 2024) salary scale - € 32,199 x 11 increments - € 44,690 (Max) pro rata per annum. Long Service Increment € 45,484 pro-rata per annum is payable after 3 years on the maximum of the scale. Additional payments will be made for weekends, public holidays, sleep-ins and night-duty when worked.

Tenure:

This post is permanent, part-time and pensionable.

Probation:

A probationary period of nine months from the date of appointment applies to the post. The employment may be terminated at any time during the probationary period should the employer find that the appointee is unsuitable to continue employment. The probation period may be extended at the Employer’s discretion.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Brothers of Charity model of service is based on Personal Outcome Measures requiring employees to be flexible both in their approach and their working hours to provide a quality service delivery for each individual.

Specific Conditions

• Staff must have a positive attitude towards working with persons with an intellectual disability and help to ensure that they lead as normal and enjoyable a life as possible.
• Staff must treat each person with an intellectual disability as an individual and at all times acknowledge and respect the rights and personal dignity of the person with an intellectual disability.
• Staff are required to establish and maintain relationships with children with disabilities that are based on respect and equality and that promote their independence.

Main duties and responsibilities of the post:

Team Member and Relationships:

• Be an active member of the Children’s Services Team.
• Develop and foster good relationships with children and their families.
• Be a nominated key worker, when required and ensure all documentation relating to each child is maintained.
• Co-operate on all aspects of programmes with the staff and the multidisciplinary team members.
• To foster and encourage independence and initiative amongst the children.
• To provide a stimulating and creative programme of activities which will include social and recreational activities and community integration in line with the expressed or understood needs and interests of each child.
• To support the continuation of specific programme objectives in place for the child within his/her home or educational placement.
• Keep appropriate records to enable full reports on the children to be available to the multidisciplinary staff and Team Leader/Manager.
• Facilitate reporting at individual plan meetings and children’s reviews.
• Actively contribute to and participate in ensuring compliance with HIQA standards and that care delivered is in line with our organisational policies.
• Assist and carry out in person household cleaning, cooking meals, laundry and shopping.

Health, Safety and Hygiene:

• Participate in assisting children with personal hygiene and personal care and promote their independence.
• Ensure that a high standard of cleanliness is maintained according to the service’s hygiene policy.
• To provide a home-like atmosphere for the children & assist in maintaining a clean and pleasant décor in the centre.
• Be aware of and become familiar with procedures in the event of a fire, i.e. fire detection, evacuation and fire fighting.
• Be conscious of Health & Safety matters in the workplace and, in particular, to comply with employees’ obligations as set out under Chapter 2 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
• Ensure that all accidents/incidents involving the children, staff and visitors are reported promptly via the AIRS Database.
• Complete the training on Medication Management and Administer medication when necessary in line with the Brothers of Charity Drug Administration Policy.

Personal Outcomes:

• Ensure that the care of all children is of the highest professional standard.
• Ensure that the children’s learning experiences are well planned and safe.
• Ensure that the Individual Personal Outcomes Plan and Key Worker system is actively practiced.
• Assist children in achieving their personal goals and choices.
• Be an active participant in the Team Based Performance Process and take on roles that are assigned to you.

General:

• Be aware of the Brothers of Charity Services policies, procedures and guidelines and operate within these in all aspects of your work.
• Ensure strict confidentiality in all matters concerning children including the safe storage of reports and records.
• Comply with all national regulations and standards as set down by HIQA.
• Responsibility in the maintenance of all databases associated with the Services.
• Adhere to best practice in all aspects of your work.
• Assist with escorting children while travelling on buses as required.
• Drive the service vehicle in order to meet the needs of the children.
• Be responsible for the purchase of all consumable goods and other goods, e.g. cleaning and washing materials, and record purchases as required.
• Attend and participate in training as required by the service
• Promote dignity at work and show respect to children, colleagues and stakeholders in the course of duty.
• Perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned from time to time by the Team Leader/Programme Manager. All duties must be carried out in person at all times.

The role of the post holder will not be limited by reference to this job description. It would be expected that the role will evolve as professional, structural and support needs of people supported by the services change and the post holder will be expected to demonstrate flexibility skills that will facilitate this.

Informal enquiries to Margaret Hannon,

Children’s Service Coordinator on +353(0)873804106

The closing date for receipt of all applications on-line is: 23rd October 2024

Interviews to be held on week commencing 4th November

The Brothers of Charity Services Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.