‘IN SAFE HANDS’
CARE ORGANISER JOB DESCRIPTION
'In Safe Hands' provides short breaks for carers of older people, through the services of around 60 volunteers and a number of paid workers. The Male Care Worker Scheme started in January 2000 and the Women Care Worker Scheme started in January 2003. The schemes are run by five part time office based staff: the Manager responsible for the overall management of 'In Safe Hands', three Care Organisers who set up the sitting arrangements, the Administrative Officer. 'In Safe Hands' operates within the boundaries of the City of York Council.
The Service is registered with the Care Quality Commission and there are procedures in place to ensure that the service complies with CQC minimum standards e.g. for Assessment, paperwork, risk assessment, moving and handling and administration of medicines.
('In Safe Hands' appears below as ISH)
Aim
Primarily to set up and monitor successful care arrangements for the ISH schemes, ensuring risk assessments are carried out to ensure the safety of those who use our service and the volunteers.
Responsibilities and Duties
1. Interview potential new volunteers and workers with another member of the ISH staff.
2. Assist with volunteer induction training and with the ongoing training supervision and appraisal of Care Workers.
3. Set up respite care arrangements by:
a) making an assessment visit to the older person in their own home, identifying the care needs and carrying out a risk assessment to identify the risks involved.
b) selecting a suitable volunteer or worker
c) introducing the volunteer or worker to the older person and their carer and agreeing the care plan.
4. Monitor the success of the arrangements.
5. To continue to support carers, including signposting to other services where appropriate.
6. Ensure accurate records are kept to support our requests for continued grant funding and to comply with Care Quality Commission registration.
7. Support the volunteers and workers.
8. Attend training courses for ISH Volunteers and workers as appropriate and undertake own professional training.
9. To assist other members of the ISH team in covering ‘duty’ calls each week. This involves responding to requests for Information and Advice from people phoning or attending the Walmgate office.
10. Attend supervision sessions with the ISH Manager.
11. To work alone or with other members of the ISH team, to promote the service.
12. Assist other sections and members of Age UK York staff, where necessary.
13. Share in general duties as appropriate for Age UK York as taken on by all members of Age UK York staff; e.g. St Crux twice a year.
14. Any other duties outside working hours commensurate with the post.
For example: to ensure the safety of volunteers, Care Workers and clients, it is necessary for the service to respond to situations which occur out of hours e.g. Moving and Handling issues, illness of volunteer, illness of service user, challenging behaviour from the cared-for person which might put the volunteer at risk. The Care Organisers respond to these emergency situations out of hours (overnight or at weekends) and lieu-time is given for any work done.
Authority
1. To set up arrangements and to refuse an arrangement after consultation with the other Care Organisers and/or Manager.
2. To recruit new volunteers and Care Workers in consultation with another member of the ISH team.
3. To represent ISH to other agencies and to the general public.
4. To have access to all ISH records.
5. To use other ISH and Age UK York equipment as necessary for the completion of duties.
Accountability
Directly to the ISH Manager, under the overall authority of the Chief Officer of Age UK York.
Essential Skills and Experience
· Understanding and sensitivity to the needs of older people and those caring for them.
· Ownership of a car and possession of a current clean driving license - essential.
· An ability to assess the needs of older people and their carers through telephone conversations and home visits.
· An ability to identity possible risk factors and ensure that volunteers/care workers are instructed in correct procedures to minimise the risks.
· An ability to match a suitable volunteer or worker with the older person.
· Good communications, literacy and interview skills.
· Ability to work on own initiative and good time management.
· Ability to work in a team, closely sharing a pool of volunteers and workers with the other Care Organisers.
· Respect for confidential information about older people using the service and their families, the volunteers and workers and other ISH and Age UK York staff.
· A willingness to learn new skills.
· A willingness to work outside the contracted hours: time off in lieu is given.
Conditions of Employment
Hours: 17.5 hours a week over 3 or 4 days. This must include Tuesday and Thursday.
Salary: £8.98 per hour.
Travelling expenses: 41p per mile for essential ISH and Age UK York work.
Holiday: Annual entitlement is 5 weeks 1 day pro rata to be taken between 1 April and 31 March.
There is a 6 month probationary period. Four weeks notice of termination of employment, on either side, is required.
There is no restriction on membership of a union.
The post holder will be entitled to sick pay and join the Age UK pension scheme if they wish.
Age UK York operates an equal opportunities policy and has a complaints procedure.
17.9.12
S:\ISH\Staff\CARE ORGANISER JD Sep 12.doc