October 2015

Dear Applicant

JOB INFORMATION and APPLICATION PACK

I am delighted to hear that you are considering making an application for employment with Turning Point Scotland. Turning Point Scotland’s workers make a significant and positive difference to the lives of the people we support and I hope that you will want to join one of our teams. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries regarding the post.

I look forward to receiving your completed application form by no later than Friday 30th October 2015 at 5pm.

Unfortunately it is not possible for us to respond individually to all applicants and if you have not received an invitation to an interview within the next 4 weeks, you should assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. Should there be any unforeseen delay in progressing to the interview stage I will let you know.

Regards

Kirsten Abercrombie

Service Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES
POST: PRACTITIONER GRADE 3
REPORTING TO: ASSISTANT SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR/SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR
ACCOUNTABLE TO: SERVICE MANAGER
JOB PURPOSE: To plan, co-ordinate and deliver direct support to people who use Turning Point Scotland’s services and in so doing contribute to the provision of the highest possible quality of social care support which meets the requirements of the service specification.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
SERVICE DELIVERY
1.  To directly provide person-centred supports to service users including those who have the most complex or multiple needs, and to assist them to develop their skills, abilities and confidence in all aspects of their daily lives, working in accordance with their Support/Recovery Plans, including social and recreational activities, housekeeping and household activities, attendance at medical and dental appointments, court etc where required
2.  To operate in compliance with the relevant legislation and National Care Standards, and acknowledged good practice, and in accordance with direct instructions from the Service Manager or other senior colleague.
3.  To directly provide support and assistance to service users with regard to personal and family relationships, developing links with the wider community, leisure and recreational activities and personal care (as required) in accordance with their Support/Recovery Plans
4.  To undertake initial and ongoing assessments of service users at various stages of their engagement with the service.
5.  To assist service users to recognise and exercise their rights and provide an appropriate level of professional support to service users to assist them to make informed choices.
6.  To contribute to the devising of effective Support/Recovery Plans by keeping appropriate records of events and observations and by preparation and presentation of the paperwork required to achieve the best possible outcomes for the people supported by Turning Point Scotland from service users reviews with their Care Managers and other professionals.
7.  To undertake the planning and co-ordination of elements of support to ensure that the service delivered is in accordance with the individual’s Support/Recovery Plan.
8.  To administer prescribed medication to service users in accordance with the instructions on the prescription and with additional medical advice
9.  To support the Service Manager by networking effectively with workers from other agencies who are involved with service users or could engage with them to support their stated plans and goals.
10. To support the Service Manager by contribution to specific quality assurance systems which meet the needs of the service users, purchaser’s monitoring requirements, and Turning Point Scotland’s needs.
11. To undertake driving duties (where lawful and necessary for the provision of the support), using either the service user’s vehicle or own transport.
12. To prepare paperwork for and participate in service users’ reviews on behalf of turning Point Scotland, as required.
13. To be familiar and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s operational policies and procedures, including medication.
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
1.  To be familiar and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s Finance policies and procedures.
2.  To liaise with landlords and contractors on behalf of service users and the Service Manager regarding repairs and routine maintenance of properties owned by Turning Point Scotland or premises occupied or attended by service users in the course of their supports.
3.  To comply with Turning Point Scotland’s Property and Equipment policies and procedures.
4.  To input to and maintain service users’ records.
5.  To share information gathered during the course of work appropriately with other professionals within and outwith Turning Point Scotland in compliance with the Data Protection Act and regulatory authorities’ and other legal requirements.
6.  To maintain accurate and up-to-date time sheets which can be relied on by the Service Manager for billing purposes and statistical reporting etc.
7.  To minimise expenses incurred by the Turning Point Scotland in the course of providing supports.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1.  To be aware of and operate in compliance with the Scottish Social Services Council Code of Practice for Social Services Workers.
2.  To participate purposefully in and take advantage of the opportunities for discussion afforded by Turning Point Scotland’s staff supervision and annual appraisal scheme.
3.  To be responsible for your own good practice and for the promotion of good practice among colleagues.
4.  To oversee the work of less senior workers within the service.
5.  To analyse information and data collected within the service and to compile basic reports, as required.
6.  To actively promote a positive team working and co-operative work ethic within the service.
7.  To work to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and create an atmosphere for service users which is free from conflict.
8.  To report concerns about practice or conduct issues to the Service Manager (or nominated deputy)
9.  To attend all mandatory training in order to demonstrate fitness and continued fitness to practice safely.
10. To attend training which has been identified by the Service Manager (or nominated deputy) as being necessary to provide you with the necessary skills to undertake the duties and responsibilities of your post.
11. To take any action necessary to become eligible for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council and to maintain registration once achieved.
12. To be responsible for your own continuous professional development and identify any perceived ‘gaps’ in your knowledge which require to be addressed through training, or other means to the Service Manager (or nominated deputy)
13. To provide on-the-job induction of new starts within the service, and demonstrate good practice at all times in this regard.
14. To ensure that you can demonstrate your continued suitability to work with vulnerable adults or children by completing an Application for a Protection of Vulnerable Group Scheme Record Update for Disclosure Scotland, on a 3-yearly basis or as required.
15. To be familiar and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s Human Resources and Training policies and procedures.
HEALTH &SAFETY
1.  To support the Service Manager in the management of risk, and, to comply with instructions given in relation to risk within the service especially with regard to those service users who can occasionally be violent or aggressive towards their support team.
2.  To alert the Service Manager and line managers to any actual or potential hazards to health and safety noted during the course of work activities.
3.  To take action to implement regular risk assessments and monitoring activities to ensure a hygienic, healthy and safe working environment.
4.  To take action to implement regular risk assessments and monitoring activities to ensure a hygienic, healthy and safe environment for service users, and where appropriate their families and other visitors and members of the public.
5.  To be familiar and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s Health & Safety policies and procedures.
COMMUNICATIONS
1.  To promote Turning Point Scotland’s aims and values at all times at the point of service delivery, in communications with colleagues and interfaces with other agencies.
2.  To support the Service Manager by effectively communicating with stakeholders, on behalf of the service.
3.  To safeguard Turning Point Scotland’s interests and work to maintain and enhance Turning Point Scotland’s reputation as a professional social care provider.
4.  To operate as a “named worker” while on shift and as such:
o  Be the first point of contact for the service user and their family on matters relating to the day-to-day support delivered
o  Take a lead role within the support team for getting to know the service user and for communicating their needs, wants and preferences to other colleagues within the team through the Support Plan, communications book and handover notes.
o  Be responsible for ensuring that paperwork concerning the day-to-day supports, including the Support Plan, risk assessment is updated with relevant information which will ensure the quality of the support being delivered
o  Be responsible for checking the service user’s cash
o  Gather and input accurate information to the paperwork required for a service user’s review
o  Where possible according to the rota, accompany the service user to medical and dental appointments and for ensuring that the outcomes from any such appointment are recorded appropriately in the Support Plan and Risk Assessment.
5.  To co-ordinate elements of supports and directs lower graded workers as necessary regarding those elements e.g. tenancy-related matters, family support matters, or similar.
MISCELLANEOUS
1.  To undertake sleepovers, overnight and weekend working and occasionally participate in service users’ holidays, as required.
2.  To undertake any other duties or responsibilities as may be deemed appropriate to the post by the Service Manager (or nominated deputy).

18 August 2011

Head of HR and Training

PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST: *PRACTITIONER GRADE 3
TURNING POINT SCOTLAND SECTOR: CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE
CRITERIA WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL CANDIDATES TO HAVE / CRITERIA WHICH IS DESIRABLE FOR CANDIDATES TO HAVE / ADDITIONAL CRITERIA WHICH WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR CANDIDATES TO HAVE
Education & Qualifications / E1 / Must have completed an SVQ Level 2 in Social Care or HNC in Health and Social Care (or other specialty recognised by the SSSC for registration purposes) and if not already registered, to register with the SSSC within the timescale required, where relevant. / D1 / A SVQ Level 3 (or higher) in Social Care or must be able and willing to complete the qualification as required. / A1 / Has completed additional VQ4 modules.
EXPERIENCE / E2 / Must have had direct professional experience of supporting people requiring support with, criminal justice issues. / D2 / Has experience of participation in Group Work. / A2 / Has taken a lead role within a team on a professional social care project or activity.
E3 / Must have had direct professional experience of supporting people whose behaviours can challenge services. / D3 / Has experience of working in a lone working environment. / A3 / Has had a coaching or mentoring role.
E4 / Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of professional social care workers and people who use services. / D4 / Has direct experience of working with people who are at times chaotic and marginalised and supporting them to become more socially integrated and able to access services. / A4 / Have an understanding of the wider social care framework and experience of interaction with others involved in supporting the people we support.
ATTITUDES AND VALUES / E5 / Must be able to be wholly respectful towards all service users and colleagues at all times.
E6 / Must have successfully supported a number of service users who have a wide range of support needs and personal aims on a person-centred basis. / `
E7 / Has experience of working with people who have barriers to social inclusion and supporting them to become more socially integrated.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDEGE / E8 / Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. / D5 / Has experience of working in an environment where the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers.
E9 / Must be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills in order to communicate well with service users and colleagues at all levels in the organisation.
E10 / Must have a full driving licence.
E11 / Must be prepared to use own vehicle for work activities.

*It is a requirement of this post that you undertake a PVG Scheme Record

application


MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
PRACTITIONER (GRADE 3) FIXED TERM UNTIL MARCH 2017
There are a significant number of benefits to working for Turning Point Scotland including excellent terms and conditions of service, including access to a wide range of high quality vocational and skills training, a range of family-friendly policies to help balance work-life, participation in a number of environmentally –friendly initiatives, active promotion of healthy living in the workplace, and not least the provision of a working environment where opinions and ideas are valued and arrangements are in place to ensure that there is a high level of staff representation and that people are encouraged to make their views heard and to participate in team meetings etc.
The main terms of conditions of service include the following:
The salary scale for the post will be (pro rata, per annum):
£17,584.00
£18,071.00
£18,530.00
£19,051.00
£19,661.00
£20,260.00
The annual leave entitlement will be:
25 days per year plus 8 public holidays and 2 local holidays (pro rata, per annum).
Additional annual leave is granted in recognition of 3 years’ perfect attendance and of completing 10 years’ continuous service with Turning Point Scotland.