Permanent Full time Support Worker (Care Assistant Grade)

BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES IRELAND - SOUTH EAST REGION

Waterford/South Tipperary/Kilkenny Services



Qualifications and Particulars of Employment

 

Permanent full & Part time Support Worker (Care Assistant Grade)

 

 

In accordance with the needs of the services, this roster may change from waking nights to work days, afternoons, evening and weekends

 

Tenure of Employment

This is permanent full time/part time post.  Compulsory Retirement age is 70 years.

 

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate must:

• Fetac level 5 Major Award and/or 1 year successfully completed of an ongoing third level qualification relevant to the provision of services to people with intellectual disabilities.
• 6 months relevant experience.
• Have excellent communication skills.
• Have the ability to listen and respond to the needs of people who use services.
• Have the ability to be innovative and creative and work on one’s own initiative.
• Be computer literate.
• Possess a full clean manual driving licence.
• Have experience of working with people with intellectual disabilities
• Recognise the equal rights of persons with intellectual disabilities in society and uphold and respect those rights.

 

Experience of working as a member of a team is essential.

 

Remuneration   

Salary Scale: (pro rata)

€27,435, €28,495, €29,935, €30,414, €31,190, €32,695, €34,312 , €34,877, €36,281, €37,331, €38,187, €39,148, €39,893

All new entrants to the Public Service will start at the first point of this scale.

* Successful candidates will be required to submit all documentary evidence outlining any relevant experience within 3 months of starting date.  Failure to do so will mean that any incremental credit due will only be paid from date of submission of documents.   

Health

The successful candidate must be free from any condition, which would render him/her unsuitable to hold the appointment, and must be in a state of health as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.  To satisfy this qualification, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination by the Occupational Health Nurse/Physician.  The candidate will be liable for the cost of the medical examination.

 

Duties

The general duties of the appointment are as described in the attached Job

Description.

 

1. A short list of candidates to attend before the Selection Board will be prepared by the selection Board from an examination of statements of qualifications furnished by the candidates.

1. The Team Leader/Services Manager will notify the successful candidate of the mandatory/compulsory courses/training which employees are obliged to attend.  Mandatory training, for example, manual handling, health and safety courses etc., form part of the conditions of employment along with the Organisation’s statutory obligation. 

Note re Canvassing

Any attempt by candidates themselves or by any person(s) acting at their instigation directly or indirectly, by means of written communication or otherwise to canvass or otherwise influence in the candidate’s favour any member of the staff of Brothers of Charity Services South East or person nominated to interview or examine applicants, will automatically disqualify the candidates for the position they are seeking.

 

Informal Enquiries welcome  for the above post to email to HRSouthEast@bocsi.ie

 

 

Shortlisting of candidates is on the basis of the information contained in their application form & CV

BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES IRELAND - SOUTH EAST REGION

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

TITLE:    PERMANENT FULL/PART TIME SUPPORT WORKER (CARE ASSISTANT GRADE)

 

Reports to:    Team Leader/ Services Manager or such other authorised person as the Employing Authority may designate.

Accountable to:    Regional Services Manager 

 

The Congregation of the Brothers of Charity is a religious voluntary organisation, founded in 1807 by Canon Peter Triest, to provide a Christian response to a variety of needs in society. 

 

ETHOS

The core values of our services have always been the dignity and humanity of each person.  How these are expressed has evolved over time with our greater understanding of the rights of all people with a disability, with the changing hopes and expectations of the individuals and families with whom we work, and with the growing expertise of all associated with our services.

 

DUTIES

The post holder will be required to take an active part in ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the Service reflect the ethos and vision of the Brothers of Charity Services and that all co-workers are meeting the needs of the people who use services therein. 

 

The person appointed should have the ability to participate proactively as a member of a team and contribute positively to the ongoing development of effective teamwork.

 

The person appointed will work as a member of Waterford Services facilitating the choices of and delivering supports to individuals supported by the services.  Activities such as independent living skills, community integration, personal development, occupational and leisure activities will be utilised within the context of a person centred approach to service provision.

 

Subject to the agreed policies and procedures of the Brothers of Charity Services South East, the person appointed shall: -

 

Advocacy & Rights

1. Respect each individual supported by the Services as an equal citizen.
2. Uphold and respect the human, legal and constitutional rights of each individual supported by the Services, recognising their individuality and equality, and empowering them to grow, thereby achieving the highest possible level of personal autonomy.
3. Facilitate, encourage and develop the choice and decision making skills of individuals supported by the services.
4. Facilitate, encourage and develop the self-advocacy skills of and opportunities for involvement in advocacy for individuals supported by the Services.

 

Person Centred Support for Living and Work

1. Ensure a person centred approach to service delivery
2. In the context of the individual person centred plans support individuals supported by the services with aspects of individual and group service responses including:
   • Occupation and leisure activities
   • Communication
   • Behaviour support plans
   • Independent living skills
   • Social Integration and the use of community facilities
   • Personal Care
   • Personal Development
3. Act as a “Key Worker” for specific individuals.
4. Take the lead in developing and implementing person centred plans for those individuals for whom you act as key worker.
5. Develop and implement appropriate training, leisure, social, and personal activities for individuals within the service area.
6. Facilitate individuals to actively participate and integrate into the community, through the use of generic community facilities.
7. Ensure that all behaviour support plans that are put in place by the Multidisciplinary Team are carried out and adhered to.
8. Foster, encourage and develop the self help and social skills of each person so as to achieve the highest possible degree of personal autonomy.
9. Ensure that individuals supported by the services have an awareness of required personal hygiene and personal appearance standards and support them in attaining such standards.  This may include the participation in and support of individualised personal hygiene programmes.
10. Facilitate and encourage participation of individuals supported by the services in recreational and leisure activities.
11. Contribute to and participate in social and recreational activities of individuals supported by the services and liaise as appropriate with the Social & Recreational Department.
12. Achieve competency in driving the assigned transport and participate in transport duties as required.
13. Encourage and promote the involvement of each individual supported by the services in the prudent management of his/her personal monies
14. Encourage and promote each person’s full participation in their home while at the same time ensuring that their home and its environs are maintained to acceptable standards
15. Encourage and promote the participation of each individual supported by the services in buying, preparing, cooking of meals and packed lunches are required.
16. Ensure that the religious and pastoral needs of each individual are adequately supported.
17. Administer medication as prescribed and in keeping with the Brothers of Charity Services, South East medication procedure.
18. Organise and participate in holidays for each individual supported by the services where required.

 

 

Management and Leadership:

1. In accordance with the Health Act 2007 and HIQA Regulations and Standards, ensure the legislation requirements are adhered to by continuous monitoring, inspection and audit of the designated centres.
2. Be responsible for the physical and emotional well being of individuals supported by the services.
3. Be responsible for the safe use and care of equipment and report faulty equipment etc., as it arises.
4. Be familiar with and ensure that policies, procedures and codes of practice of the Services are adhered to.
5. Ensure that all records in relation to individuals supported by the services are up to date, correctly filed and managed as per the service’s records management system.
6. Utilise efficiently the transport services available to the service area and advise the appropriate staff on transport needs.

Money and Budgets

1. Ensure that all petty cash and the personal monies of individuals supported by the services are properly accounted for.
2. Be responsible for maintaining a petty cash float, keeping relevant records and ensuring that accounts are checked and balanced.
3. Ensure that goods and services received are prudently used for purposes intended, and that all such goods and services are properly accounted for.
4. Assist the Team Leader in the preparation and monitoring of budgets.

 

Communication

1. Attend and participate fully in regular staff meetings where all aspects of the service area are discussed with a view to maintaining high standards. 
2. Promote open communication among staff and good levels of staff morale.
3. Co-operate and develop and maintain effective working relationships with:

• Individuals supported and their families
• All other staff involved in the provision of both residential and day services
• Families, visitors, volunteers and other such personnel who visit

1. Operate effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team in promoting the best interests of the individuals in the service area.
2. Encourage families of people who use services to develop their involvement in the ongoing development of the person.
3. Report all matters of concern immediately to the Team Leader/Services Manager.
4. Organise, attend and participate fully in meetings as required e.g. Person Centred Planning meetings, Service Area reviews, team meetings.  Record meetings in line with agreed procedures.
5. Actively participate in developing and maintaining good relationships with local residents and community organisations.
6. Develop and participate fully with the implementation of a team based performance management approach to achieving the goals of the Services’ strategic plan.

 

Training and Development

1. Be informed of current developments in services for people with intellectual disabilities e.g. Person Centred Planning, Personal Outcome Measures, Human Rights and Citizenship.
2. Attend and contribute appropriately at lectures, courses and meetings as required and share information and knowledge gained with colleagues.
3. Be responsible for identifying personal training and development needs and communicating them to the Team Leader/Services Manager.
4. Attend mandatory training courses and achieve required standard.

 

Health and Safety

1. Be conscious of health and safety matters in the work place and in particular to comply with employees’ obligations as set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and to ensure that the procedures set out in the Safety Statement are implemented at all times.
2. Carry out regular safety audits and fire drills.
3. Be conversant with existing fire regulations and emergency procedures and participate in the implementation of same.  Make people who use services aware, in so far as possible, of Fire Drill procedures.
4. Ensure equipment is properly operated and maintained.
5. Report accidents/irregularities or other matters of safety concern to the Team Leader or in her/his absence to the Services Manager or such person as the Employing Authority may designate.
6. Identify risk, assess and document appropriately.

 

Flexibility

Employees are expected to have a high level of flexibility and a willingness and ability to develop new approaches to their work. Duties and responsibilities of any post in the Services are likely to change with the ongoing needs and developments of the Services. Employees will therefore be required to carry out such other duties appropriate to their employment as may be assigned to him/her from time to time. 

 

Confidentiality

In the course of the employment the post holder may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of people who use services and/or staff, or other health service business.  Such records and information are strictly confidential and unless acting on the instructions of an authorised officer, on no account must information concerning people who use services, staff, or other health service business be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty.  In addition records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required.

Full Clean Manual Driver's licence is essential

Fetac level 5 Major Award and/or 1 year successfully completed of an ongoing third level qualification relevant to the provision of services to people with intellectual disabilities.

At least 6 months relevant experience.