Recruitment Pack: Carer Support Worker 2017 Contents: Letter & Information on Crossroads Care Surrey Guidance on completing the application form Job description and person specification Charity Registration Number: 1125048 www.crossroadscaresurrey.org.uk Giving a break to those who need it most
Dear Applicant We are looking for Carer Support Workers who can demonstrate compassion and empathy in their approach to caring for people of all ages from children to older adults. You will be providing a variety of care, including personal care and supporting people to take part in a wide range of activities in their own homes or in the wider community. As a Carer Support Worker you would provide much needed breaks for Carers by giving support to the person they care for. Our respite care breaks normally cover a minimum of a 3 hour break and this usually takes place on the same day and at the same time each week. Crossroads Care Surrey is a registered charity that provides much needed respite breaks to support Carers of adults, children and young people with care needs. We provide highly trained care staff to take over the caring responsibility for a few hours a week, enabling the Carer to have some precious time to themselves. We improve the quality of life for Carers and the people for whom they care by enabling them to take a break from their caring responsibilities. Our services operate throughout Surrey and include; our Core Service, which is primarily funded by Surrey County Council and the NHS, provides Carers with a 3 hour weekly respite break. This usually takes place on the same day and at the same time each week. We try to ensure that the same Carer Support Worker (CSW) attends each visit so that the family gets to know them and in turn the CSW has a clear understanding of the family s needs, Social Clubs that give Carers an extended break and a variety of self-funded Care Packages that offer Carers overnight and weekend respite breaks at a low cost. In partnership with the NHS we also provide an unlimited end of life service for those caring for someone in the last twelve months of their life. Crossroads employ professional staff that are trained to the highest standards and as an organisation we are compliant with the Care Quality Commission, and other required regulatory bodies. Having fully trained and competent staff is important to us and you will be supported by a programme of continuous training and development. Our Carer Support Workers are encouraged and supported to see their work in terms of helping people to achieve their personal goals and not just to perform set tasks. In addition to training and development we offer: Pension scheme Entitlement to sick pay after a qualifying period Mileage costs paid at 45p per mile 20 days annual leave plus bank holidays and this increases to 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays after 5 years of service. Free Disclosure and Barring service check A degree of flexibility is required in respect of working hours but all applicants are expected to be available to work a minimum of 14 hours each week.
Crossroads Care Surrey is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and expects staff and volunteers to share that commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend upon the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of those offences. Completed applications should be emailed to job@crossroadscaresurrey.org.uk. If you can t email your application, please post it to the HR Department, Crossroads Care Surrey, 121 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7SU marked Private and Confidential. If you have any queries about the post please phone the HR department on 01372 869970. We accept applications in alternative formats and if you wish to receive an application in large print please contact us. Closing date for applications: Ongoing Thank you for your interest in Crossroads Care Surrey and we look forward to receiving your completed application form soon. We value diversity in our workforce and we encourage applications from all sectors of the community. Further information on Crossroads Care Surrey please visit our website www.crossroadscaresurrey.org.uk Guidelines on completing the application form General points These notes are intended to help you complete the application form. Please complete the application form in black ink or type. We use this application form to decide whether you will be given an interview so please fill it in carefully with as much relevant information as possible. Please complete all sections of the application form. Only applications made on the form are accepted as we do not accept CVs. If you need more space for a particular section then continue on a separate sheet of paper. Please put your name on any additional sheets. Criminal convictions This appointment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Where appropriate this check will also show whether a person is barred from working with vulnerable adults and / or children. Because of the nature of this work you need to provide information about any criminal record you have, spent or unspent. This includes cautions, reprimands and warnings. Amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are protected and are not subject to disclosure to employers, and cannot be taken into account. Guidance
on criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website. If you do have any previous or outstanding convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings that are not protected, you will only be asked to supply details if you are invited for interview. You will need to give written details of the offence, the penalty and dates. This should be put in a sealed envelope and sent in advance of the interview to the HR Manager. At interview or, in a separate discussion there will be an open and measured discussion about any offences or other matters that might be relevant to the position. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working at Crossroads Care Surrey. This will depend upon the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences. Information in support of your application Read through the job description and person specification. Selection for interview will be made on how well you demonstrate you meet the criteria in the person specification. Try to outline examples from your present or most recent job or other relevant life experience that show you have the required skills and / or experience. If you are unemployed or have been out of paid employment for some time, or have just left school / college / university, you may wish to include relevant experience from voluntary work or education. Do continue on additional sheets if necessary. Data protection The personal details on this application form will only be used for selection and interview purposes and for employment records if the application is successful. If the application is unsuccessful, the information on the application form will be kept for six months and then destroyed. The Equality Act We accept applications in a number of formats including audio and large print. A disability is defined under the Act as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term effect on a person s ability to carry out normal activities. If you tell us you have a disability we will make reasonable adjustments during recruitment. If you are appointed to the post we will make reasonable adjustments to where you work and to your working arrangements. Diversity Monitoring Section C Crossroads Care Surrey values diversity and promotes equality. We encourage and welcome applications from suitably skilled candidates from all backgrounds. Monitoring recruitment and selection procedures is one way of helping us to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination in the way that we recruit people. To do this we need to know about the diversity profile of people who apply for posts with us. This information is given in confidence for monitoring purposes only and is not seen by anyone responsible for making recruitment decisions. This part of the form will be removed before short listing takes place to ensure decisions are not influenced by unfair or unlawful discrimination
Job description Carer Support Worker The job description is a broad description of the duties a Carer Support Worker will be expected to perform with some examples given for what the main duties actually involve. The exact duties to be carried out for each person with care needs are not limited to those examples, these will be agreed with a senior member of staff before the Carer Support Worker begins providing support and will then be set out in a care plan. Comprehensive induction training will be provided. Staff will not work unsupervised until induction has been successfully completed. Job title: Responsible to: Carer Support Worker Care Co-ordinator Main aims of the post Provide support to carers and people with care needs including emotional support. Provide personal care. Carry out domestic tasks. Duties to include 1. Assist with personal hygiene, for example helping the person with care needs to have a bath or shower, to go to the toilet or to care for their skin or hair. 2. Assist with dressing / undressing, choice of clothes and personal appearance. 3. Support the person with care needs with their medication. 4. Assist with mobility including use of wheelchairs, hoists etc 5. Assist with a therapeutic programme designed by a medical professional. 6. Provide emotional support, companionship and a safe environment for those in need of supervision and help. 7. Carry out basic first aid and summon emergency services. 8. Report any concerns about abuse or the welfare or safety of any adult or child there is contact with at work to a line manager / nominated person / person on call. 9. Undertake specialised tasks as agreed and after appropriate training, for example, administration of medication by specialised techniques, toe nail care and assistance with oxygen therapy. 10. Support the person with care needs with activities outside their home, for example community activities, shopping or attending medical appointments. 11. Provide support with organised group activities for people with care needs. 12. Prepare meals and drinks and provide assistance with eating / drinking. 13. Help clean the home for example: washing up, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom and doing
laundry. 14. Look after pets. Health and safety 15. Implement, operate and maintain safe systems of work in accordance with Crossroads Care policies, procedures and guidance, training and associated risk assessments. 16. Report to your manager any situations or issues for concern relating to significant foreseeable risks, incidents (including near misses) and / or accidents which give cause for concern in relation to safe systems of work (affecting your own health and safety or that of others affected by your work activities). General Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children. Work at all times within the philosophy and policies of Crossroads Care. Comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and with Crossroads Care policy, paying particular attention to the reporting of dangerous situations. Respect the personal choice and lifestyles of colleagues, carers, and people with care needs, ensuring that Equal Opportunity principles are applied at all times. Comply with the Code of Conduct. Undertake any other duties that may be considered commensurate with the level of the post and that are set out in the care plan.
Essential Experienced/Competent at being: Person specification Desirable Experienced/Competent at: Courteous, approachable, caring and professional Empowering and supportive ensuring that people are always treated with dignity and respect Focussed on the views and needs of clients to deliver care that is person centred Effective communicator who listens, encourages feedback and is dependable Accurate and able to record information in a clear logical manner Working with people of all ages (children to older adults) within a working environment Ensuring care is focussed on each individual taking into account their particular experiences and cultural preferences Health and Social Care NVQs level 2 or 3 / Health and Social Care Diploma level 2 or 3. Problem solver able to use initiative to resolve difficulties, whilst working within stated procedures and guidelines Reflective and keen to improve your own working practice and learning and development needs Car Driver with daily use of car