Healthcare Assistant – Aurora – Kilkenny Aurora

Statement of Purpose:

Aurora Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities will enable people to live a good life, in their own home, with supports and opportunities to become active, valued and inclusive members of their local communities.
Aurora will enable a supported self-directed living (SSDL) model of provision which is underpinned by our beliefs, values and vision.

Location:

Each post holder will be required to be based within the relevant community location. The exact location will be agreed with the Director of Services in advance of commencing employment in Aurora.
You will be employed by Aurora, which includes all services run by the Company; you may be required to work from an alternative community location in accordance with the needs of the service.

Purpose of the Role:

The Health Care Assistant works as part of a Community team to assist in the provision of health and social care for the people we support. He/she supports and assists people we support in all activities of daily living in line with the needs, will and preference of the individual and as outlined in an agreed care plan.
The person appointed to the post should be flexible in their approach to service provision and should have the ability to work as a member of a team. He/she will ensure that the needs of the people we support are being met through professional work practices.
You will be required to take an active part in ensuring that day-to-day operations of the Service are in line with policies and procedures.

Reporting Relationship:

The Health Care Assistant is a team member of the Community Support Team and reports to the Person In Charge (PIC).

Key Working Relationships:

As part of the Community Support Team, the Health Care Assistant will work and interact with the following:
• Other Health Care Assistants
• Persons In Charge
• Wellness, Culture and Integration Managers
• CNMs, ADON, DON
• Multi-Disciplinary Team
• Relevant support functions such as HR, Finance, Maintenance, Health & Safety, Quality etc.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Under the direction of the PIC, the Health Care Assistant will provide care according to:
2. Professional Clinical Guidelines
3. National and regional HSE guidelines
4. Local policies, protocols and guidelines
5. Current legislation as it applies to the role

The Health Care Assistant will:

1. Support people in directing their own lives in accordance to their individual plan (SSDL)
2. Promote a home-like atmosphere for people within the home in a manner which will develop and promote the ability of each person to integrate and be included in local community life
3. Foster, encourage and develop each person’s self-care skills, particularly in relation to personal hygiene, health matters and care for their personal appearance
4. Support people to access the community, by utilising transport options
5. Ensure that the community house and its surroundings are clean, tidy and presentable both inside and outside.
6. Encourage, develop and maintain harmonious neighbourhood relationships and good communications with local residents and community organisations.
7. Act as a “Key Worker”
8. Ensure that all prescribed drugs and treatments are administered to the person, that the required records are kept of same, and that all storage and administration of drugs comply with the Drugs Policy.
9. Foster and help maintain good relationships between the person and their own families and maintain liaison with the family of each person.
10. Accompany the person to hospital, clinics or to G.P.’s surgery as appropriate
11. Work the agreed roster policy which at all times is person-driven, this requires flexibility to ensure that the persons needs are met. Waking nights will be part of any rostering system.
12. Carry out assigned and delegated responsibilities involving direct care and all activities of daily living under the supervision of House Leader, e.g. to assist people maintain standards of personal hygiene, laundry, dietary intake, physical, mental health and any other personal needs
13. Prepare and serve food as appropriate and carry out household tasks as required.
14. Contribute constructively to the smooth running of the community home
15. Contribute to the development of a multidisciplinary assessment and care plan. Assist in its implementation and evaluation in consultation with the person and family / carer as appropriate
16. Contribute to the maintenance and updating of documentation
17. Report any incident or potential incident which may compromise the health and safety of people, staff or visitors and take appropriate action
18. Maintain and monitor appropriate levels of consumables supplies in the community home where required.
19. Maintain appropriate records to facilitate the ordering process to enable cost monitoring in line with financial regulations
20. Support people in line with their money management plans
21. Attend staff meetings and actively contribute
22. Ensure the safe use and care of equipment in the community house and to report faulty equipment, etc. should it arise
23. Act as an advocate for people we support

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently the post holder may be required to perform other agreed duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Professional Expectation:

The Health Care Assistant must have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards.
The Health Care Assistant must not undertake any duty related to people for which he/she is not trained.
The Health Care Assistant must be aware of ethical policies and procedures which pertain to his / her area of practice including:

1. Statutory legislation in particular but not exclusively the Health Act 2007
2. National and St Patrick’s agreed Policies and Codes of Good Practice, including Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse, Confidentiality & Data Protection, Medication Policy
3. Notification of accidents and other Health and Safety requirements in compliance with St. Patrick’s instructions
4. Fire precautions
5. Health & Safety
6. Equal Opportunity principles
7. Attend training as and when required

Qualifications / Experience /Criteria:

Candidates must have:
Fully completed a relevant Certificate in health care support at FETAC Level 5.
Essential:
Hold a full clean Irish driving licence with use of their own vehicle.
Health:
In order to be successful a candidate must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties as above and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Character:
Satisfactorily undergo reference checks and a Garda vetting procedures prior to commencing.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge:

1. Strong communication and interpersonal skills
2. Experience in supporting individuals to live a good life
3. Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
4. Planning and organisational skills
5. Ability to ensure a safe work environment
6. Basic hygiene and infection control knowledge
7. Computer literate including Microsoft Suite and reporting writing
8. Must be willing and able to participate in swimming pool-based activities
9. Must be willing and able to drive the Aurora transport vehicles
10. Must be willing and able to work agreed rosters according to policy including days, nights and weekends

How To Apply:

Applicants can apply by contacting acoppola@aurorakilkenny.ie or visiting our website at https://www.aurorakilkenny.ie/