Care Assistant

Job Specification and Terms & Conditions

Job Title & Grade

Care Assistant - Intellectual Disability Service

• Permanent Full Time, Part-Time, Relief roles available

Job Reference: Various roles available

Closing Date Monday: 17th March 2025

Proposed Interview Date: Week of 24th March 2025

Taking Up Appointment: To be outlined at interview

Location of Post: Peamount Healthcare, Newcastle, Co. Dublin

Details of Service

Peamount Healthcare is an independent voluntary organisation providing health and social care to the community in conjunction with the HSE. The services provided include rehabilitation for the older person and those with respiratory disabilities, continuing care services for the older person, adults with neurological disabilities, and individuals with intellectual disabilities. A community diagnostic service is also available. Peamount Healthcare seeks to provide an environment that encourages and develops an improved quality of life for all of its clients characterised by independence, self-determination, and dignity.

Peamount Healthcare Is Committed To The Following Values:

1. Person centred - seeing each person as unique, giving them a voice, and focusing on ability.
2. Respect - creating a supportive environment where everyone is given courteous and respectful care and support.
3. Excellence - enabling interdisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality integrated care, meaningful outcomes with a focus on continuous improvement.
4. Team working - fostering an inclusive, healthy working environment where people are valued and recognised for their individual and shared achievements.
5. Quality improvement - supporting teams to embed continuous improvement methodology as part of everything we do.
6. Education & Research - partnering with academia to support education, learning, research, and evidence-based care.

Reporting Relationship

Clinical Nurse Manager/ Person in charge.

Overall Purpose of the Role

The purpose of this position is to assist and support members of the staff team in providing residential care, respite, educational, development, meaningful activities, and training services for residents with an intellectual disability within Peamount, or a Community Support service in accordance with Peamount Healthcare policies, procedures, and guidelines and the Peamount's Safety Statement. The successful candidate will be required to work within the guidelines of both HIQA and New Directions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Responsible for the wellbeing of service users in the care.
2. Support staff in facilitating the development of interpersonal relationships in each service, both within Peamount Healthcare and the wider community.
3. Enable the service users to value themselves and enhance their feelings of self-worth and individuality.
4. Care for the day-to-day needs of the service users in the service.
5. Personal Care - helping those that require assistance in such tasks as dressing, washing, cooking, shopping, cleaning, looking after service user's clothes. As far as possible the service user will be encouraged to partake in these activities.
6. Partake in full meal preparation in the home, where necessary.
7. Support service users on holidays away from the centre.
8. Engage in training and skill progression in line with changing needs of service users.
9. Attend Safe Administration of Medication (SAM) training to support service users with medication administration.
10. Facilitating service users to use their leisure time tailored to their needs, with an emphasis on community integration.
11. Support the resident in planning and engaging with meaningful activities, in accordance with their wishes and ability.
12. Empowering residents to partake in planning by facilitating house meetings.
13. Supporting residents with their religious and spiritual needs.
14. Contribute to goals and completion of the personal support plan.
15. Work positively and constructively with service users who present with behaviours that challenge.
16. Use of person-first language in verbal and written communication.
17. Work with and liaise with all grades of staff in your assigned centre and other centres. Support staff and ensure that families and visitors to the service are attended to with consideration.
18. Undertake driving duties in Peamount vehicles and/or own transport.
19. Work a shift rota, spread over 7 days, as determined by management.
20. Maintain records and reports required by the Unit Manager for the efficient running of the service.
21. Ensure that the health and welfare of staff and service users is maintained in accordance with Peamount Healthcare procedures and that all safety precautions are implemented.

Health and Safety

The Care Assistant (Intellectual Disability Service) Will:

1. Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards.
2. Understand and adhere to all relevant HSE policies, guidelines, and procedures, comply with health and safety, infection control, and risk management procedures, comply with statutory obligations.
3. Report any incident or potential incident which may compromise the health and safety of patients/clients/residents, staff, or visitors and take appropriate action.
4. Report any accidents, near misses to the person in charge and ensure completion of incident/near miss forms.
5. Not undertake any duty related to patient/client/resident care for which he/she is not trained.
6. Attend training courses as required (e.g. CPR, Hygiene, HACCP, Fire Prevention, Studio III, SAM, etc.).
7. Conduct himself/herself in a manner that ensures safe patient/client care.

Eligibility Criteria Qualifications & Experience

1. Leaving Certificate standard of education.
2. FETAC Level 5 Healthcare Support certificate or a commitment to undertake the same.
3. One year's continuous experience of working with adults with an intellectual disability.
4. A flexible, committed, and caring approach to carrying out the range of duties associated with the post.

Administrative Duties

The Care Assistant (Intellectual Disability Service) Will:

1. Attend staff meetings and contribute constructively to the smooth running of the unit.
2. Contribute to the maintenance of updating of patient/client/resident documentation.
3. Conduct themselves in a manner that conveys respect for the individual and ensures safe client care.

Education & Training

The Care Assistant (Intellectual Disability Service) Will:

1. Attend induction and mandatory in-service education.
2. As directed, participate in the induction of new staff.
3. Maintain continuous personal development and participate in team-based education, training, and learning.
4. Participate in appraisal and the development of a personal development plan in conjunction with his/her line manager.
5. Attend other education as required to enhance service delivery.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

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 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.

Campaign Specific Selection Post

A ranking and/or short-listing exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your CV. The criteria for ranking and/or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies, and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore, it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Code of Practice

Peamount will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity, and fairness might be applied on a principles basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of Code of Practice.

Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.hse/ie/eng/staff/jobs.

Terms & Conditions of Employment

Peamount Healthcare, Newcastle, Co. Dublin.

Tenure

The current vacancies available are Permanent Full-Time, Part-Time, and Relief roles.

The post is pensionable. A panel may be created from which permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled. The tenure of these posts will be indicated at the 'expression of interest' stage.

Appointment as an employee of Peamount Healthcare is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.

Remuneration

Remuneration is in accordance with the salary scale approved by the Department of Health from 1st October 2024: 6482 Care Assistant €32,699 (Point 1) - €45,984 (Point 13) LSI.

Working Week

The hours allocated to this post are 39 hours per week (19.5 part-time). The allocation of these hours will be at the discretion of the Department Head and in accordance with the needs of the service.

Annual Leave

As per Health Service Executive (HSE).

Probation

All Employees Will Be Subject To a Probationary Period As Per The Probation Policy. This Policy Applies To All Employees Irrespective Of The Type Of Contract Under Which They Have Been Employed. A Period Of 6 Months' Probation Will Be Served:

1. On commencement of employment.
2. Fixed term to permanent contract.
3. Permanently employees commencing in promotional posts will also undertake a probationary period relating to their new post.

Pension

Employees of Peamount Healthcare are required to be members of the Hospitals Superannuation Scheme. Deductions at the appropriate rate will be made from your salary payment.

Maternity

Maternity leave is granted in accordance with the terms of the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2001.

Sick Leave

Peamount Healthcare operates a Sickness Absence Management policy in line with the new Public Service Sick Leave Scheme as introduced on 31st March 2014.

Pre-Employment Health Assessment

Prior to commencing in this role, a person will be required to complete a form declaring their health status which is reviewed by the hospital's Occupational Health Service and if required undergo a medical assessment with this department. Any person employed by Peamount Healthcare must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Validation Of Qualifications & Experience

Any credit given to a candidate at interview, in respect of claims to qualifications, training, and experience is provisional and is subject to verification. The recommendation of the interview board is liable to revision if the claimed qualification, training, or experience is not proven.

References

Peamount Healthcare will seek up to two written references from current and previous employers, educational institutions, or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated. The hospital also reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness, and relevance of such references and referees.

Garda Vetting

Peamount Healthcare will carry out Garda vetting on all new employees. An employee will not take up employment with the hospital until the Garda Vetting process has been completed and the hospital is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to clients, service users, and employees.

Character

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Health & Safety

These duties must be performed in accordance with the hospital health and safety policy. In carrying out these duties, the employee must ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply with the Health, Safety, and Welfare at Work Act. Staff must carry out their duties in a safe and responsible manner in line with the Hospital Policy as set out in the appropriate department's safety statement, which must be read and understood.

Quality, Risk & Safety Responsibilities

It Is The Responsibility Of All Staff To:

1. Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to Quality, Risk, and Safety.
2. Participate and cooperate with external agencies on safety initiatives as required.
3. Participate And Cooperate With Internal And External Evaluations Of Hospital Structures, Services And Processes As Required.

To initiate, support, and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with the hospital's continuous quality improvement programme. It is the responsibility of all managers to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for Quality, Safety, and Risk within their area/department.

Education and Training

Participate in mandatory training programmes and pursue continuous professional development in order to develop professional knowledge and keep updated with current legislation.

Specific Responsibility for Best Practice in Hygiene

Hygiene in healthcare is defined as "the practice that serves to keep people and the environment clean and prevent infection. It involves preserving one's health, preventing the spread of disease and recognizing, evaluating, and controlling health hazards." It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure compliance with hospital hygiene standards, guidelines, and practices. Department heads/managers have overall responsibility for best practice in hygiene in their area.

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