/ POSITION DESCRIPTION DISABILITY SUPPORT WORKER

SECTION A: POSITION CONTEXT

Position Title / Disability Support Worker
Industrial Award / Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services
Industry Award 2010
Classification / Level 2
Region / Newcastle / Central Coast
Minimum Qualification / Certificate III in Disability
Reports to / Service Manager
Communicates with /
  • Service users
  • Families and care givers
  • Other Response Staff
  • Community members and other service providers

Purpose of role / The Disability Support Worker creates a positive and proactive environment and provides quality supports and opportunities to enable service users to:
  • achieve their goals and preferences;
  • develop skills and abilities;
  • make connections with the local community; and
  • develop a sustainable network.

Response Services Inc.

Position Description – Disability Support Worker

Doc 063

Approval Date: June 2014

Review Date: June 2016

/ POSITION DESCRIPTION DISABILITY SUPPORT WORKER

SECTION B: KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS

The key responsibility areas (KRAs) are the main areas for which the position is responsible; they are not a comprehensive statement of the position activities.

KRA 1: Assistservice users
  • Respect the human rights and dignity of service user as a valued member of the community
  • Assist service users to identify their rights and needs and to advocate for themselves or seek appropriate advocates as necessary
  • Listen to and act on service user’s feedback and issues
  • Provide service user with information, in suitable formats, to make informed decisions
  • Consider service user’s goals and preferences in all activities
  • Provide support that is appropriate to service user’s culture, religious beliefs, life stage and sexual identity
  • Provide quality direct support to service user in line with individual support needs and plans
  • Support service users within the community positively
  • Implement skills development activities and report back further learning opportunities
  • Use appropriate tools and technology to support the service user skill development
  • Follow and provide feedback on existing plans to support service user, including where applicable any specific health and lifestyle requirements e.g. medication or behaviour support plans
  • Modify activities and supports, within job role boundaries, to meet service user’s goals and abilities
  • Assist service user to manage risks in achieving goals
  • Assist service user to understand and manage their financial resources to get value for money in achieving their goals
  • Report back achievements and progress made toward individual goals

KRA 2: Contribute to an effective workplace
  • Communicate appropriately with service users, families and carers, co-workers and community members
  • Respect the privacy and confidentiality of service users, families and carers and co-workers
  • Work in a self-motivated way and be accountable for your actions
  • Organise your own work tasks to meet priorities and service user outcomes
  • Read and follow workplace documents and guidelines
  • Solve small day-to-day problems around service user supports, escalate problems to Service Manager when required
  • Identify and share resources for service users or program use
  • Be flexible to the changing circumstances of your job requirements or service user’s needs
  • Develop a range of competencies needed to complete job requirements
  • Maintain and update professional skills by actively participating in personal and professional development opportunities
  • Participate in training opportunities, both formal and informal, offered by Response.
  • Assist in the orientation of new staff (co-workers) in the workplace
  • Show respect and work cooperatively with co-workers from diverse backgrounds
  • Contribute and work towards team objectives
  • Share knowledge and information with other staff members
  • Resolve conflict where possible or work to avoid conflict situations

KRA 3: Follow organisational requirements
  • Follow the RSI Code of Conduct and all Policies and Procedures
  • Complete and maintain reports and documents in a timely and accurate manner
  • Contribute to the review of program outcomes for service users
  • Collect evidence of individual service user’s progress and give feedback
  • Follow your Service Manager’s directions (or in their absence the person with delegated authority)
  • Maintain confidentiality for all service user files, informationand organisational resources and processes
  • Suggest changes to improve systems, reports and documentation as required
  • Make and maintain community networks
  • Educate community members and networks as required
  • Complete housekeepingand maintenance tasks as required.
  • Ensure any concerns / issues are reported to the Service Manager as soon as possible.
Work, Health and Safety Requirements
  • Follow all WHS policies and procedures.
  • Contribute to risk assessments and report allWork Health and Safety matters.
  • Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and the health and safety of others.
  • Follow safety instructions given by your Service Manager.
  • Attend training in areas of Work Health and Safety as identified.

SECTION C: POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications: Includes all educational and training qualifications, licences, and professional registration or accreditation, criminal record checks etc required for the position
1 / Certificate III in Disability or equivalent experience
2 / Current valid driver’s licence, can drive manual vehicle
3 / LR licence, or willingness to obtain LR licence within 6 months of commencement
Staff Signature: ______Date: ______
I have read and discussed the above position description with my manager and understand its contents.
Service Manager Signature: ______Date: ______

Response Services Inc.

Position Description – Disability Support Worker

Doc 063

Approval Date: June 2014

Review Date: June 2016