November 2016
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.
Please note an application form is attached to the bottom of this recruitment pack. You have 2 options, you can complete the application and email directly to the Service, or alternatively you may print off the application and complete by hand before returning to the service by post. The service contact details are provided below and are highlighted in purple.
I look forward to receiving your completed Application Form by no later than Tuesday 6th December 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
Carmen McShane
Service Manager
JOB DESCRIPTIONHOMELESSNESS SERVICES
POST: SUPPORT WORKER Grade 2
REPORTING TO: SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR
ACCOUNTABLE TO: SERVICE MANAGER
JOB PURPOSE: To provide direct support to people who use Turning Point Scotland’s services and in doing so, contribute to the delivery 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 to assist them to develop their skills, abilities and confidence in all aspects of their daily lives, working in accordance with their Support Plans, including social and recreational activities, housekeeping and household activities, attendance at medical and dental appointments, court etc the provision of personal care 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 services users with regard to personal and family relationships, developing links with the wider community, leisure and recreational activities and personal care in accordance with their Support Plans
4. To assist with initial and ongoing assessments of service users at various stages of their engagement with the service.
5. To assist the people supported by Turning Point Scotland 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 Plans by keeping appropriate records of events and observations and by attendance and participation in 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 Plan.
8. To participate in Group Working sessions with service users, as required.
9. To administer prescribed medication to service users in accordance with the instructions on the prescription and with additional medical advice.
10. 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.
11. To support the Service Manger 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.
12. To undertake driving duties (where lawful and necessary for the provision of the support), using either the service user’s vehicle or own transport.
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 and as directed 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 work to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and create an atmosphere for service users which is free from conflict.
5. To report concerns about practice or conduct issues to the Service Manager (or nominated deputy)
6. To attend all mandatory training in order to demonstrate fitness and continued fitness to practice safely.
7. 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.
8. To take any action necessary to become eligible for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council and to maintain registration once achieved.
9. 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)
10. To assist the Service Manager with the on-the-job induction of new starts within the service, and demonstrate good practice at all times in this regard.
11. 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.
12. 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 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.
3. 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:
· Be the first point of contact for the service user and their family on matters relating to the day-to-day support delivered
· 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.
· 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
· Be responsible for checking the service user’s cash
· Gather and input accurate information to the paperwork required for a service user’s review
· 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.
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).
PERSON SPECIFICATIONPOST: SUPPORT WORKER* GRADE 2
TURNING POINT SCOTLAND SECTOR: HOMELESSNESS SERVICES
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 / (If not already completed), must be in a position to undertake study towards an appropriate vocational qualification and be willing, if not already registered, to register with the SSSC within the timescale required, where relevant. / D1 / Has completed an SVQ Level 2 or 3 in Social Care or HNC in Health & Social Care (or other speciality recognised by the SSSC for registration purposes).
EXPERIENCE / E2 / Direct experience of working with people who have experienced addictions, mental health conditions or other difficulties which may affect their ability to maintain tenancies etc. / D2 / Direct experience of working with people who have experienced homelessness or difficulties maintaining tenancies etc.
E3 / Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of professional social care worker operating in homelessness services. / D3 / Has direct experience of supporting people whose behaviours can challenge services.
E4 / Has experience, personal or professional of providing social care-type supports to an individual in their own home or on a social care premises. / D4 / Has experience of working in a lone working environment.
ATTITUDES & VALUES / E5 / Has experience of providing direct support to people who use homelessness services.
E6 / Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the need to maintain professional boundaries between social care workers and people who use services. / D5 / Has experience of working with people who have barriers to social inclusion and supporting then to become more socially integrated. / A1 / 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.
E7 / Must be able to be wholly respectful towards all service users and colleagues at all times.
SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE / E8 / Must have successfully supported a number of service users who have a wide range of support needs and person-centred basis.
E9 / Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. / D6 / Has experience of working in an environment where the SSSC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers applies.
E10 / Must be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills in order to communicate well with service users and colleagues at all levels in the organisation.
E11 / Must have good cooking and housekeeping skills. / D7 / Have a full driving licence.
D8 / Have access to and be prepared to use own vehicle for activities.
*It is a requirement of this post that you undertake a PVG Scheme Record application.
8
MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
FULL TIME SUPPORT WORKER (GRADE 2) – 37 HOURS PER WEEK
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:
£15,603
£15,944
£16,300
£16,602
£17,040
£17,465
The annual leave entitlement will be:
25 days per year plus 8 public holidays and 2 local holidays.
Additional annual leave is granted in recognition of 3 years’ perfect attendance and of completing 10 years’ continuous service with Turning Point Scotland.
Turning Point Scotland
Employment Application Form
POST DETAILS
Title:
Reference:
1. PERSONAL DETAILS
SurnameInitials or First name(s)
Address
Post Code
Home Telephone
Work Telephone
May we ring you at work with discretion?
Mobile
Email address
National Insurance No
Do you hold a current UK Drivers Licence at this time?
Do you require a work permit?
Are you willing to use your own vehicle for work activities?
Do you hold a valid passport?
Are you able to work shifts flexibly according to a planned rota?
2. GUARANTEED INTERVIEW SCHEME
Turning Point Scotland welcomes and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities. We would undertake to invite for interview all disabled applicants who meet all essential aspects of the proposed role as set out in the Person Specification.
Do you wish to be considered in terms of this scheme?If you are invited to attend for interview we will contact you to establish any specific requirements you may have.
3. RECOVERY INFORMATION
Please note, because of the nature of the work undertaken by Turning Point Scotland we cannot employ anyone with a personal history of addiction unless he or she has ceased drug or alcohol misuse for a minimum of two years.