Healthcare Assistant (Home Care)

Purpose of role

To support customers with all aspects of their day to day living, so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life. You will mostly work alone with the customer in their home. Providing care and support offers many rewards, but can also be challenging. Compassion, good communication skills and a calm and caring manner are essential for this important role in our company.

Key responsibilities and Accountabilities

To provide safe, reliable, compassionate care and support to meet the individual needs and wishes of each customer. Each person is unique therefore you must respect each customers’ choice about how their care and support is given and promote their dignity at all times.

You may be the only person the customer sees over a period of time, it is therefore essential to report any changes or causes for concern to your line manager promptly. You need to be clear about when to seek help and advice in order to keep customers safe and promote their well-being.

Job Specification

This provides a picture of the skills, knowledge and experience you must have to carry out the role. You should demonstrate how you meet the ‘essential criteria’ by giving examples where possible. We will use this information to select suitable applicants for this post.

Essential criteria

Personal attributes

• Caring and compassionate towards people in need of care and support
• Dedicated to anti-discriminatory care practice. This means treating all people in your care with equal dignity and resect, without exception
• Self-motivated and keen to learn. Willing to seek guidance when needed and to follow instructions
• Excellent time keeper and reliable
• Good hygiene practice, including personal hygiene and a smart appearance
• Good stamina and level of fitness to meet the physical demands of the job

Knowledge and understanding

• A relevant QQI Level 5 Healthcare qualification 
• General understanding of the needs of people who require care and support
• Respect for the rights of our customers. Understanding the importance of giving the best possible care and support centred on the individual needs and wishes of each customer
• Understanding of what confidentiality means in relation to homecare services and why this is important

Experience and skills

• Ability to listen, communicate clearly and build positive working relationships with customers, their families or representatives, Bluebird Care staff and other care professionals
• Ability to give care and support to customers with all aspects of their daily living. To always respect their dignity, privacy and choices, be non- judgemental and promote their independence and wellbeing
• Good organisational skills, so customers receive the services they expect
• Ability to use own initiative and work alone or as part of a team especially in an emergency
• Numerical skills to support customers in managing their money and buying shopping or paying bills when requested to do so
• Ability to keep written records in clear English about the care and support given to each customer, including help with medicines
• Ability and willingness to follow Bluebird Care’s policies, procedures and instructions and to participate in training

Duties

Care and support

Provide care and support that values the whole person rather than merely seeing a list of care needs. Carefully listen and observe how each customer prefers their care and support to be delivered on a day to day basis. Help them make their own decisions so they can be as independent as possible.

Follow the instructions in the care and support plan agreed with each customer. This may include:

• All aspects of personal care such as showering and bathing, dressing and grooming, dental hygiene, toileting and continence care
• Assisting in prompting with medicines.
• Supporting the customer to eat and drink well. For example, helping the customer to plan what to eat and drink, giving gentle encouragement, shopping, preparing and serving food and drinks, clearing the table, washing up and keeping the kitchen area clean and tidy, agreeing with the customer how to store food safely and when to dispose of out of date produce
• Safely using aids and personal equipment in a manner that respects the dignity of customers. For example walking frames, wheelchairs, manual and electric hoists, sliding sheets and moving boards, hearing aids and other physical aids
• Housework such as dusting, tidying, washing floors, vacuuming and sweeping, doing the laundry and ironing, making beds and changing the linen
• Social and physical activities or mental stimulation such as keeping in touch with friends/relatives, taking a customer out shopping or to social activities, hobbies such as reading, photo albums, games, etc.
• Supporting a customer through temporary and terminal illness, including end of life care, hospital appointments, liaising with community health support and families

Recording and Reporting

You will be responsible and accoutabile for accurate recording and reporting such as:

• The care and support that you provide and support with medicines
• Changes to a customer’s condition or other concerns e.g. A customers unusual change in behaviour  or  faulty equipment or hazards in the home
• Response to emergencies, accidents, incidents, wellbeing and safeguarding matters
• Contact with families, representatives or carers and other professionals
• Other matters as required by Bluebird Care procedures
• Keep all information about customers and their families secure and confidential except where policy requires you to share, to protect the interests of our customers

Work well as part of the Bluebird Care team

• Follow Bluebird Care policies, procedures and guidance at all times
• Take part in staff and customer meetings
• Attend training activities, supervisor and appraisal meetings

This list is not exhaustive and you may be asked to carry out additional duties. We will provide you with full training in line with regulatory requirements

Additional requirements

• All staff are expected to meet training standards. Care assistants must attend initial Bluebird Care training before providing care and support to our customers.
• You must be willing to participate in ongoing training so you can continue to give high quality, safe care and support
• You will need to obtain a satisfactory criminal records check or international police clearance (if relevant)
• Full drivers licence, appropriate insurance and access to using own car for business purposes

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience as a care assistant or as an unpaid carer
• Experience in the provision home based (domicillary) services
• Knowledge of how to recognise abuse and safeguarding procedures
• Working knowledge of health and safety matters relating to homecare
• Flexible approach to working

Pay & Benefits

Hourly Pay Range

• Monday to Saturday €12.50 to €14.00
• Sunday €13.50 to €15.00
• Public Holidays €25.00 to €30.00 

Benefits

• Free Life Insurance (Death in Service)
• Guaranteed hours of work
• Bonus scheme
• Staff Discount schemes
• Staff mentoring
• Ongoing Training
• Career progression opportunities 
• Free annual influenza vaccination