Support Worker, Ballytobin

BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES IRELAND - SOUTH EAST REGION
KILKENNY SERVICES

Qualifications and Particulars of Employment
Permanent Full Time Support Worker (Care Assistant Grade)
Ballytobin Services

1. Tenure of Employment
This post is Permanent Full time 78 hours per fortnight. Compulsory retirement age is 70 years.

2. Qualifications and Experience
The successful candidate must:

1. Fetac level 5 Major Award and/or 1 year successfully completed of an ongoing third level qualification relevant to the provision of services to people with intellectual disabilities.
2. 6 months relevant experience.
3. Have excellent communication skills.
4. Have the ability to listen and respond to the needs of people who use services.
5. Have the ability to be innovative and creative and work on one’s own initiative.
6. Be computer literate.
7. Possess a full clean manual driving licence.
8. Have experience of working with people with intellectual disabilities.
9. Recognise the equal rights of persons with intellectual disabilities in society and uphold and respect those rights.
10. Experience of working as a member of a team is essential.

3. Remuneration
Salary Scale: (pro rata)
€31,880; €32,999; €34,521; €35,026; €35,844; €37,434; €39,142; €39,737; €41,220; €42,329; €43,233; €44,248; €45,034 LSI

* Successful candidates are required to submit all documentary evidence outlining any relevant experience within 3 months of starting date. Failure to do so will mean that any incremental credit due now will only be paid from date of submission of documents.

4. The normal working fortnight is 78 hours. Starting and finishing times will be notified to, and agreed with, the appointee from time to time by the Services Manager.

5. Health
The successful candidate must be free from any condition, which would render him/her unsuitable to hold the appointment, and must be in a state of health as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. To satisfy this qualification, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination by the Occupational Health Nurse/Physician.

6. Duties
The general duties of the appointment are as described in the attached Job Description.

7. Selection Process
A short list of candidates to attend before the Selection Board will be prepared by the Selection Board from an examination of statements of qualifications furnished by the candidates.

8. Training
The Team Leader/Services Manager will notify the successful candidate of the mandatory/compulsory courses/training which employees are obliged to attend. Mandatory training, for example, manual handling, health and safety courses etc., form part of the conditions of employment along with the Organisation’s statutory obligation.

9. Note re Canvassing
Any attempt by candidates themselves or by any person(s) acting at their instigation directly or indirectly, by means of written communication or otherwise to canvass or otherwise influence in the candidate’s favour any member of the staff of Brothers of Charity Services South East or person nominated to interview or examine applicants, will automatically disqualify the candidates for the position they are seeking.

*A panel may be formed for Permanent, Temporary Full Time & Part Time vacancies for Ballytobin Services for a period of 6 months.

Enquiries can be made to Elaine Webster, Service Manager at 056 7755213 or by email to [email].
Closing Date for receipt of completed Applications Forms/CV’s on-line is 6th October 2024.
Shortlisting of candidates is on the basis of the information contained in their application form & CV.

The Brothers of Charity Services Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.

JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Permanent Full Time Support Worker (Care Assistant Grade)

Reports to: Team Leader or such other authorised person as the Employing Authority may designate.

Accountable to: Kilkenny Services Manager

The Congregation of the Brothers of Charity is a religious voluntary organisation, founded in 1807 by Canon Peter Triest, to provide a Christian response to a variety of needs in society.

ETHOS
The core values of our services have always been the dignity and humanity of each person. How these are expressed has evolved over time with our greater understanding of the rights of all people with a disability, with the changing hopes and expectations of the individuals and families with whom we work, and with the growing expertise of all associated with our services.

DUTIES
The post holder will be required to take an active part in ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the Service reflect the ethos and vision of the Brothers of Charity Services and that all co-workers are meeting the needs of the individuals who are supported by the services therein. The person appointed will be a member of the Ballytobin Services Team who will work intensively with individuals to discover what will constitute a good life for the individual and to establish what supports the individual will need to achieve their goals. In order to do this there is a requirement that the post holder will work in partnership with the individual’s family and other important people in the individual’s life. A high degree of flexibility is required as the timing and location of the supports provided will be dictated by the individual’s plan. The person appointed should have the ability to participate proactively as a member of a team and contribute positively to the ongoing development of effective teamwork.

Advocacy & Rights

1. Respect each person who uses services as an equal citizen.
2. Uphold and respect the human, legal and constitutional rights of individuals recognising their individuality and equality, and empowering them to grow, thereby achieving the highest possible level of personal autonomy.
3. Facilitate, encourage and develop the choice and decision making skills of individuals who use services.
4. Facilitate, encourage and develop the self-advocacy skills of and opportunities for involvement in advocacy for individuals.

Person Centred Support for Living

1. Ensure a person centred approach to service delivery.
2. In the context of the individual and group Programmes, support people using services and their families with aspects of individual and group programmes including:
   
   1. Communication
   2. Behaviour support programmes
   3. Social integration, including use of local community facilities
   4. Independent Living Skills.
   5. Personal development
3. Assist with fostering, encouraging and developing each person using the services’ self-care skills, particularly in relation to personal hygiene, health matters and care for their personal appearance;
4. Act as a Key Worker for specific individuals.
5. In consultation with the individual take the lead in developing and implementing person centred plans for those individuals for whom you act as key worker and ensure that the needs identified are appropriately addressed.
6. Ensure that all behaviour support plans that are put in place by the Multidisciplinary Team are carried out and adhered to.
7. Facilitate and encourage participation of individuals in recreational and leisure activities.
8. Achieve competency in driving the centre transport and participate in transport duties as required. This may necessitate flexible starting and finishing times.
9. As a team member to accept delegated responsibility for the physical and emotional well-being of the people who use the service.
10. Participate and assist with the organisation of centre outings.
11. Facilitate person using services to actively participate and integrate into the community, through the use of generic community facilities.
12. Encourage and promote the involvement of individuals in the prudent management of his/her personal monies.
13. Encourage and promote the participation of individuals in buying, preparing, cooking of meals and packed lunches as required.
14. Ensure that the religious and pastoral needs of each individual are adequately supported.
15. Ensure that the personal clothing of individuals is looked after and cared for and that the household and bed linen is changed and laundered regularly.

Management and Leadership:

1. Be familiar with and ensure that policies, procedures and codes of practice of the Services are adhered to.
2. Ensure that all records in relation to people who use our services are up to date as per HIQA requirements, correctly filed and managed as per the service’s records management system.
3. Report all accident/incidents and take appropriate action.
4. Utilise efficiently the transport services available to the service area and advise the appropriate staff on transport needs.

Money and Budgets

1. Ensure that all petty cash and the personal monies of the people who use the services are properly accounted for.
2. Be responsible for maintaining a petty cash float, keeping relevant records and ensuring that accounts are checked and balanced.
3. Ensure that goods and services received are prudently used for purposes intended.
4. Be responsible for requisitioning consumable and durable goods when duly authorised and ensuring that due economy is exercised both in the making of such requisitions and in their subsequent use, and that they are fully accounted for.

Communication

1. Attend and participate fully in regular staff meetings where all aspects of the service area are discussed with a view to maintaining high standards.
2. Promote open communication among staff and good levels of staff morale.
3. Co-operate and develop and maintain effective working relationships with:
   
   1. People who use our services and their families
   2. All other staff involved in the provision of both residential and day services
   3. Families, visitors, volunteers and other such personnel who visit.
4. Operate effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team in promoting the best interests of the individuals in the service area.
5. Encourage families to develop their involvement in the ongoing development of the person.
6. Report all matters of concern immediately to the Team Leader/Services Manager.
7. Participate fully in meetings as required Person Centred Planning meetings, Service Area reviews, team meetings. Record meetings in line with agreed procedures.
8. Actively participate in developing and maintaining good relationships with local residents and community organisations.
9. Participate fully with the implementation of a team based performance management approach to achieving the goals of the Services’ strategic plan.

Training and Development

1. Be informed of current developments in services for people with intellectual disabilities Person Centred Planning, Personal Outcome Measures, Human Rights and Citizenship, “New Directions- Review of day services and implementation Plan 2012-2016”, Supported Self Directed Living.
2. Attend and contribute appropriately at lectures, courses and meetings as required and share information and knowledge gained with colleagues.
3. Be responsible for identifying personal training and development needs and communicating them to the Team Leader/Services Manager.
4. Attend mandatory training courses and achieve required standard.

Health and Safety

1. Be conscious of health and safety matters in the work place and in particular to comply with employees’ obligations as set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and to ensure that the procedures set out in the Safety Statement are implemented at all times.
2. Carry out regular safety audits and fire drills.
3. Be conversant with existing fire regulations and emergency procedures and participate in the implementation of same. Make people who use our services aware, in so far as possible, of Fire Drill procedures.
4. Be responsible for the safe use and care of equipment and report faulty equipment etc., as it arises.
5. Report accidents/irregularities or other matters of safety concern to the Team Leader or in her/his absence to the Services Manager or such person as the Employing Authority may designate.
6. Identify risk, assess and document appropriately.

Flexibility
Employees are expected to have a high level of flexibility and a willingness and ability to develop new approaches to their work. Duties and responsibilities of any post in the Services are likely to change with the ongoing needs and developments of the Services. Employees will therefore be required to carry out such other duties appropriate to their employment as may be assigned to him/her from time to time.

Confidentiality
In the course of the employment the post holder may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of the children and their families who use services and/or staff, or other health service business. Such records and information are strictly confidential and unless acting on the instructions of an authorised officer, on no account must information concerning people who use services, staff, or other health service business be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required.