Social Care Worker

Waterford Intellectual Disability Association are currently recruiting for a Part Time (120 hours per 4 weeks) Social Care Worker to join their Children's residential service.

Who We Are:

WIDA is a community based voluntary provider of services for adults and children with an intellectual disability and/or autism in Waterford City and County.

WIDA is registered charity, with a voluntary Board of Directors, and is fully funded by the Health Service Executive.

Hours of Work:

You will work a minimum of 120 hours per 4 weeks

What We Offer:

• Company Pension
• Death-in-Service Benefit
• Continuous Professional Development
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Bike to Work Scheme
• 23 days holidays (Pro Rata)

Essential Requirements:

        Qualifications;

        Applications will be considered from candidates holding a minimum level 7 qualification in Social Care/Social Care Practice/Applied Social Studies

        Post graduate qualification in the field of intellectual Disability related field desirable

        Applicants must possess the competencies and skills appropriate to working with persons with an intellectual disability.

        Full Driving Licence essential

        Experience and Personal Attributes;

        2+ years experience working with people with an intellectual disability in a position of responsibility

        Experience of dealing with behaviours that challenge.

        Experience of Supervising a Team.

        Positive attitude towards individuals with disabilities based on understanding their rights and needs.

      Capacity to plan, implement and evaluate care plans, risk assessments and personal development plan programmes as part of a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring the written and verbal reporting of

general and individual programmes

       Good organisational skills with the ability to support individuals to access activities and roles in the community.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities of the Position;

        The position requires a high degree of understanding and commitment to the individuals availing of our services and to the WIDA ethos.

   A positive attitude towards working with persons with an intellectual disability is a prerequisite, thus enabling them to have a positive fulfilling lifestyle. Each person with an intellectual disability must be treated as an individual, at all times acknowledging their personal dignity, according them their full rights and privileges.

        All members of WIDA staff are obliged to ensure that the person/s we support have good, meaningful and inclusive lives.

Duties & Responsibilities of the Post will be;

        Take a lead role in the co-ordination, development and implementation of individual plans in order to meet the aspirations and goals of each person you support. These plans must be reviewed on a regular basis and a minimum of twice a year.

        Undertake the role and responsibilities or delegated responsibilities of the Person-in-Charge in line with legislative and regulatory requirements and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) standards.

        Be responsible for all aspects of risk management within work location.

        Ensure that the team worker provides support that complements and helps build natural relationships and community networks.

        Ensure the welfare and well-being of all individuals who avail of our service.

        Facilitate and implement a Person Centred service appropriate to the needs, wishes and requirements of the individual. The multidisciplinary team may be consulted where required.

        Foster a good relationship with the individual, parents of the individual, staff, volunteers and visitors, by at all times behaving in a professional manner.

        Assist in the recruitment and induction of support workers.

        Ensure the one to one reviews are completed annually. Optimise the review so as to have a good work plan process for continual improvement and growth.

        Support individuals to have valued roles which facilitate them to contribute in a positive way in their local community.

        Ensure new concepts, innovations and ideas are developed in consultation with the team and Management and to take on board the necessary changes in line with these.

        Encourage and support community inclusion and foster positive links with other agencies and services.

        Carry out driving duties as required in WIDA vehicles.

Supporting the Individual:

        Work with individuals in a way that promotes their equality, dignity, diversity and rights.

        Provide personal assistance in all aspects of personal development, personal care while adhering to safe practices at all times.

        Assist the individual in the selection and preparation of meals to ensure a healthy nutritional balance.

        Support individuals to identify their future aspirations and current support needs and consider how these can be met.

        Assist each individual in reaching their maximum potential in independence, communication and personal development.

        Promote advocacy through listening to the individuals wishes and assist them by advocating on their behalf and to access the self-advocacy groups and the Independent Advocacy Service.

        Ensure the service you are providing is reviewed with your manager to ensure it is working well and within budget.

        Hold individual planning meetings and circles of support meetings to ensure that decisions are arrived at in a spirit of co-operation and to ensure that each individual's voice is heard in the decision making process.

        Ensure that the working file is kept in line with the Files and Record Keeping Policy.

        Celebrate social occasions and other events that occur during the year.

        Ensure that supports are utilised in a way that facilitates individuals to participate in educational and recreational activities of their choice.

        Ensure compliance with HIQA standards. Take responsibility for delegated duties to ensure compliance with HIQA.

        Ensure all necessary reports and notifiable events are communicated to WIDA Management.

        As required assist individuals with budgeting, banking and management of their personal finances, ensuring individuals monies are accounted for and recorded as appropriate.

Health & Safety Duties and Responsibilities:

        Be conscious of Health & Safety matters in the workplace and, in particular, to comply with employees' obligations as set out under current legislation. Ensure that the procedures set out in the Safety Statement are implemented at all times. Become familiar with and practise fire drill procedures within places of work,

        Promote safety in all environments for individuals supported by our Services and employees in line with the WIDA Health and Safety Statement.

        Ensure that all recommendations from fire inspections/audits are followed up on.

        Report all accidents to your line manager immediately as they occur.

        Comply with health and safety legislation and ensure the safe use and regular maintenance of all aids and appliances used within the houses/places of work.

        If deemed essential for your role, you will be expected to undertake Occupational First Aid and Refresher.

        Assist the individual in the taking of their medication while at all times being in compliance with the Medication Management Policy.

Overall Duties and Responsibilities:

        Ensure the general condition of the home/workplace and garden is kept to a high standard and that all maintenance, internally and externally is carried out in a timely manner.

        Attend all training that is offered to you, so that you fully understand and work with all the procedures and guidelines within the organisation.

        It is your duty to report any concerns you have for the safety and welfare of the clients of the WIDA to your Manager immediately in line with legislative and best practice obligations.

        Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

        An essential requirement of the position is a commitment to deal with any emergencies, which may arise outside normal working hours

        Ensure that the vision statement of the WIDA is promoted and actively implemented.

        As the duties and responsibilities of any post in the Services are likely to change with the ongoing needs of the Service, staff are expected to have a high level of flexibility, and a willingness and an ability to develop new approaches to their work, which may also involve working in different geographical areas. The context of this post may change as the organisation grows.