November 2013
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 applications form by no later than Thursday 14th November 2013 @ 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
Gillian Tod
Partnership Manager
JOB DESCRIPTIONPOST: 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).
Revised May 2009 Page 1 SPS GUIDANCE ON APPLICANTS WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS
Purpose
The policy is based on the following principles:
The public is entitled to expect that the Prison Service recruit staff with proven integrity.
Prison Officers are vulnerable to pressure from prisoners and others to disclose information etc.
The SPS should not recruit people with convictions, which may call into questions the integrity of the applicant or the Service. Each case should be dealt with on its individual merits.
This policy sets out the protocol that should be applied.
Please refer to glossary of legal terms for terminology clarification.
Criminal Convictions
1. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2003 (as amended), the SPS is listed as an exempted employment. The SPS is therefore entitled to ask prospective candidates to reveal spent convictions during the recruitment or vetting process.
2. The criminal convictions criteria defined by this policy must be used to assess each applicant on an individual basis. It is not an exhaustive list. There may be circumstances where an individual does not fall within the criteria, but whose suspected involvement in crime, or criminal associations make an offer of employment inappropriate.
3. Applications should be rejected at the sift stage if the applicant has been convicted for a serious offence such as:
Murder
Attempted murder
Manslaughter
Rape
Kidnapping
Gross Indecency
Death by reckless driving.
Firearms Offences
Violence ie offences involving violence or injury, relating to:
Unlawful possession of weapons or firearms
Acts of indecency
Abuse or neglect of children
Public order offences
Racially motivated or homophobic offences
Revised May 2009 Page 2
Assault
Dishonesty ie:
Burglary
Fraud
Theft
Deception
General:
Any offence committed as an adult or young offender, which resulted in a prison sentence.
Cautions for recordable offences within the last 5 years.
Any recordable offence.
4. Convictions which will also lead to rejection, unless there are very compelling circumstances, include:
Drugs ie involvement in drugs including possession of a Class A drug or more than one Class B drug and/or supplying drugs of any kind.
Reckless or dangerous driving within the last 10 years.
One offence of drink driving or drunk in charge or drugs driving within the last 10 years.
More than one offence of drink driving or drunk in charge or drugs driving.
Other serious motoring offences within the last 5 years (failing to stop after an accident or driving whilst disqualified).
More than 3 endorseable driving convictions within the last 5 years.
2 or more convictions of regulatory offences within the last 5 years.
Other Offences for Consideration
5. An applicant’s age at the time of an offence and the aggravating circumstances surrounding the offence may be considered in the following cases:
Drunk and disorderly – no more than one offence and only after 3 years from conviction.
Breach of the Peace - not more than one offence in the last 5 years.
Driving offences - driving without insurance / MOT when a reasonable explanation can be provided
Undisclosed Convictions
6. Where it is established that an individual had deliberately failed to disclose a conviction or caution, his or her application must be rejected.
RECRUITMENT SERVICES
HR DIRECTORATE
PERSON SPECIFICATIONPOST: PRACTITIONER GRADE 3
TURNING POINT SCOTLAND SERVICE SECTOR: CRIMINAL
JUSTICE
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 3 in Social Care or HNC in Health and Social Care (or other specialty recognised by the SSSC for registration purposes) / A1 / Has completed additional VQ4 modules.
EXPERIENCE / E2 / Must have had direct professional experience of supporting people requiring support with criminal justice issues. / D1 / Has experience of participation in Group Work / A2 / Has taken a lead role within a team on a professional social care project or activity
EXPERIENCE / E3 / Must have had direct professional experience of supporting people whose behaviours can challenge services. / D2 / Has experience of working in a lone working environment / A3 / Has had a coaching or mentoring role
ATTITUDES AND VALUES / E4 / Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the need to maintain professional boundaries between social care workers and people who use services. / D3 / 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.
EXPERIENCE / E5 / Must be able to be wholly respectful towards all service users and colleagues at all times.
EXPERIENCE / E6 / Must haves successfully supported a number of service users who have a wide range of support needs and personal aims on a wholly person-centred basis.
EXPERIENCE / E7 / Has experience of working with people who have barriers to social inclusion and supporting them to become more socially integrated
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE / E8 / Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. / D4 / Has experience of working in an environment where the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE / 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.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE / E10 / Must have a full driving licence
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE / E11 / Must be prepared to use own vehicle for work activities