HELENSBURGH LOMOND CARERS SCIO

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title / Carers Training Support Worker
Employer / Helensburgh and Lomond Carers SCIO
Lomond House
29 Lomond Street
Helensburgh
G84 7PW
Contract Type / Fixed Term
Hours / Full-time 35 hours per week
Place of work / The post holder will be based inLomond House in Helensburgh and will deliver training support services and facilitate peer support groups at that location, as well as other suitable venues within Helensburgh and Lomond.
Reports to / For the purposes of day to day line management, the post holder reports to the Carer Services Team Leader, who is accountable to the Manager and Management Committee of the Charity in respect of all employment related matters.
Salary / SJC SCP 26 £23,546
Annual Leave / The basic annual leave entitlement for full time staff is 20 days per annum (and pro rata for part time staff) in addition to 12 public holidays per annum. A public holiday falling within a period of annual leave will not count as part of that leave.
Pension / The Charity will contribute 4% of basic salary to an approved personal pension scheme, subject to the post holder contributing a matching amount.
Duration / The post is funded for 16months fixed term from NHS Highland’s Carer Information Strategy and the Integrated Care Fund. Efforts are being made to secure continuation funding, however, this cannot be guaranteed.
The Charity’s Mission / To make a positive difference to the lives of unpaid carers.
Carers Definition / TheCharity uses the term ‘carer’ to describe‘someone, who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.’
Charity’s Operational Objective / To establish, deliver and develop an accessible range of information, advice and support services that meet the needs of unpaid carers, are valued by them and make a positive difference to their lives.
Interventions and activities pursued in support of Operational Objectives /
  • Adult carers living in Helensburgh and Lomond are identified and offered appropriate support by the Charity to assist them better manage their caring role.
  • Young carers living in Helensburgh and Lomond are identified and supported to ensure they are relieved of inappropriate caring roles and enabled to be children and young people first.
  • The mental and physical health and wellbeing of carers is promoted by ensuring they can access or be signposted to appropriate advice, support and services.
  • Information, advice and training is offered to carers, as well as local organisations that provide services for carers, to raise their awareness of carers rights and entitlements, to ensure carers are free from disadvantage or discrimination in relation to their caring role.
  • Carers are supported to exercise their right to enjoy a life outside their caring responsibilities by providing carers with access to events and activities organised by the Charity or signposting them to the support offered by others that might assist them pursue interests, hobbies and any personal development or employment aspirations.
  • The expertise carers and former carers can offer service providers, including the Charity, in designing support services both for carers and the people they care for is promoted and the value of their contribution is recognised and valued.

Outcomes / Adult Carers feel:
  • the Charity understands their personal situation and circumstances, listens to and values what they have to say and treats them with respect and dignity.
  • the range and quality of services offered by the Charity meet their personal needs and support and empower them to continue in their caring role.
  • the information, advice, training or support provided by the Charity has given them a better understanding of their rights and entitlements.
  • the support offered by the Charity has helped them enjoy a life outside caring, reduced any sense of social isolation, stress or anxiety and improved their general health and wellbeing.
  • their expertise as carers is recognised and they are appropriately supported in their caring role by the other relevant statutory and third sector service providers operating in Helensburgh and Lomond.
Young Carers feel:
  • the interventions, support and services offered by the Charity makes them feel recognised and valued, are protecting them from inappropriate caring roles, enabling them to enjoy an improved family and social life and to fulfil their educational and employment potential.

Operational Area / The Charity’s area of operation is co-terminus with Argyll & Bute Council’s boundaries for Helensburgh and Lomond. This covers a relatively large and diverse geographic expanse, extending to over 417.5 sq. kilometres, stretching from the top of Loch Lomond in the north to the village of Cardross in the south and from the Rest-and-be thankful in the west across to Luss in the east. The resident population is recorded as 26,170 and the latest estimated shows this includes 4,500 unpaid carers.
Helensburgh and Lomond has three multi-member electoral wards - Lomond North – Helensburgh Central – Helensburgh and Lomond South. Lomond North has the largest land mass, with a resident population of 9,397, who live in the villages of Rhu, Garelochhead, Rosneath, Kilcreggan, Arrochar, Luss and smaller settlements close to the shore lines of Loch Lomond, the Gare Loch and Loch Long. The Carers Centre lies within the Helensburgh Central Ward, which is the smallest of the three, but has the highest concentration of residents with a population of 9,304. and can readily be accessed by those living nearby. The resident population of 7,469 people in the Helensburgh and Lomond South ward live to the north and east sides of Helensburgh, in the village of Cardross and a number of smaller communities running alongside the River Clyde and Loch Lomond
Network Partners / The Charity is an independent organisation, but it is a member of the Carers Trust Network and the Argyll & Bute Carers Networking Board.
Purpose of the post / This post was established in 2013to develop, administer, co-ordinate and facilitate the delivery ofa comprehensive programme of learning and training events and activities, to meet the needs of adult and young carers across Helensburgh and Lomond. The post holder will act as a point of contact for partner organisations and other training providersand work closely with them in developing and delivering the programme. They will also provide assistance to other members of staff and volunteers with administrative and support functions associated with running the Charity and organising activities and events. Due to the nature of funding, 10 hours per week of the post will be specific to providing support to carers of people experiencing mental health problems, and any support network such carers may have in place. This support can be in the form of advice, training, one to one work and/or focus groups.
Induction/Training / The post holder’s knowledge, skills and experience of the main tasks and activities of the role will shape the induction and training provided by the Charity. In the first few weeks, they will work closely with the Carer Services Team Leader and ‘shadow’ other staff, before being introduced to the key components of the post.
Core Tasks/Job Activities /
  • Keep abreast of carers issues at local and national leveland ensure these are reflected in the learning and training programme.
  • Work as a member of the Charity’s staff to provide information, advice, practical and emotional support to young and adult carers.
  • Establish and maintain an understanding of the learning and training needs of adult and young carers in Helensburgh and Lomond through research, discussions with staff and volunteers and an ongoing dialogue with carers.
  • Liaise with the staff of the Carers Trust and other Carers Centres that are part of the Carers Trust Network to identify opportunities for sharing good practice.
  • Work with GP Practices, healthcare staff and social care services to identify and offer support to young and adult carers who are not registered with the Charity.
  • Work with partners and other training providers to develop the programme and enlist their support in identifying suitable trainers and venues.
  • Liaise with other members of the Argyll & Bute Carers Network to identify opportunities for joint working on the development and delivery of learning and training that can be included in the programme.
  • Participate in the provision of information talks/presentations to community groups, statutory and voluntary organisations to raise awareness of the issues for young and adult carers and the work of the Carers’ Centre and Outreach Services.
  • Promote the learning and training programme by designing and producing leaflets and other materials for distribution and preparing articles for the Charity’s Newsletter and website.
  • Produce relevant materials and resources to support events, eg. Poster, leaflets, badges, registers etc.
  • To advocate for young and adult carers by identifying their needs and ensuring these are brought to the notice of service providers.
  • Organise and facilitate the training and learning events and activities, by dealing with the administration, booking of accessible venues, catering, equipment and speakers, making introductions and co-ordinating the delivery and, thereafter, arranging an evaluation and assessment by participants.
  • Develop and maintain systems for the recording and analysing evaluations and assessment by participants and providing appropriate statistical data.
  • Manage and account for the Carers Training Budget and assist in the provision of reports to funders.
  • Manage the payment of respite and travel expenses that may be incurred by carers in participating in training and learning events.
  • Work with the Carer Services Team Leader to identify grant funding opportunities to sustain and extend the learning and training programme.
  • Prepare progress reports on the development of the Training and Outreach Service and present to the Management Committee as and when required.
  • Organise, manage and facilitate fundraising activities and events.

Complexity / Many of the specified tasks and activities will be initiated by the Carer Services Team Leader, but the post holder will be expected to work on his or her own initiative to develop efficient and effective systems and methods of working that will serve the best interests of the Charity and the delivery of high quality services to carers. They will require sound organisational skills, ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines as and when required. The post involves regular contact with carers and health, local authority and voluntary sector professionals at all levels and effective communications skills are essential.
Additional duties / Team working is essential to the smooth running of the Charity. It is the nature of the work that at times, responsibilities and tasks may be unpredictable and varied. Where the occasion arises, members of staff are expected to work in a flexible way. Any additional duties will normally be compatible with regular working and the need to provide service continuity. If the additional responsibility or task becomes a regular or frequent part of the employee’s activities, it will be included in the Job Description in consultation with the post holder.
Additional hours / In order to meet the Charity’s service requirements, there may be a need to work additional hours and staff are expected to co-operate with any reasonable request. Payment at overtime rates will be paid for any hours worked in excess of 35 hours in any week or if employees are asked to work on a Saturday or Sunday or on a local public holiday. Employees can opt to take time off in lieu, subject to the approval of the Carer Services Team Leader.
Special Conditions / The post entails work with vulnerable people and the postholder will require to be registered as a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme. This will involve a Disclosure Scotland check prior to a formal offer of employment being made.
A full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle is required for this post. A casual car users allowance is available to reimburse mileage.
The starting and finishing times have to be flexible to fulfil the requirements of the post and meet the needs of the Charity, but the actual hours worked will normally be between 9.00am and 5.00pm. The days to be worked and starting times will be agreed with the Carer Services Team Leader, who may be able to vary these to accommodate your personal circumstances.

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