EASTER ROSS SUPPORT SERVICE JOB DESCRIPTION SENIOR SUPPORT WORKER

EASTER ROSS SUPPORT SERVICE JOB DESCRIPTION SENIOR SUPPORT WORKER BACKGROUND Birchwood Highland is a progressive charitable company based in the Highlands that supports people through mental ill health towards mental well-being. Our services are based in Easter Ross, Lochaber, Inverness, and Easter Ross. In Inverness we also have a recovery centre, which provides accommodation for up to 23 service users. LOCATION: Easter Ross Support Service REPORTS TO: The Team Manager, Easter Ross Support Service, who will provide supervision, conduct an annual appraisal and encourage a professional staff development programme, REMIT: As Senior Support Worker of a registered Community Social Support Service within the Easter Ross area to support the Team Manager in providing a service of the highest quality up to and including as appropriate operating on a 24 hour per day, 7 days per week, and 52 weeks per year basis. The senior support worker will support the Team Manager in ensuring that there is appropriate staffing and volunteers in post to provide the necessary support to service users. The senior support worker will supervise some staff posts/volunteers as and when directed by the Team Manager, and will stepping up to cover when the Team Manager is not available for example during annual leave times. The Senior Support Worker will also participate in an out of hour s on-call rota if and when required. The service will meet the needs of service users through provision of personal care, social support, personal support, and housing support depending on which services are being commissioned, liaising with partner agencies to ensure that all health and support needs are attended to, including opportunities for life-long learning, personal growth and development, and maintaining and/or building active links with the community. The Senior Support Worker will work closely with the Team Manager to ensure a consistent service, providing direct support to service users alongside providing leadership to the team in aspects of management that are delegated by the Team Manager. SALARY: 18,135-19,110 pro rata 1

HOURS: 37.5 per week plus on-call and may require occasional sleep-overs depending on service requirements over time. 1. JOB ROLE The Senior Support Worker will support the Team Manager in their role of the ongoing management and further development of Birchwood Highland s Easter Ross Community based service ensuring that the required outcomes of all service users are met and that the service works to the standards at all time required by our Commissioners, the Care Inspectorate and the SSSC. The Senior Support Worker will promote the safeguarding of service users, their independence, and support achievement of individual goals with opportunities for choices that support a healthy lifestyle, lifelong learning, and being an active member of their community in line with their wishes. Also responsible for upholding the best interests of the service user in relation to their physical environment, finances, and any other matter that may have a bearing on their quality of life, now or in the future. Specific aspects of the role include: Working closely with service users, the Team Manager, and other Birchwood Highland staff, professionals, carers and family members and others to assist a smooth transition for service users in joining the Easter Ross Support Service, and ensuring that staff have adequate time to build relationships with service users, family members and professionals to ensure service user needs are being identified and met. Assist in managing, developing and monitoring the service rota and allocations ensuring that the appropriate number of suitably trained and experienced staff are on shift at any one time, and allocated appropriately to meet the needs of the service users and the service whilst not over-allocating resources. Rota shifts may need to change from time to time to work optimally, and these changes will need to be discussed with the Team Manager and the staff team. To ensure that service users are assisted in developing social skills, occupational and leisure activities and are actively encouraged and facilitated to make community links and access any mainstream events, facilities, and/or services that may be of interest. To encourage service users to be actively involved in liaising with other professionals concerning their support, being mindful of any need for assistance with communication, and supporting arrangements for individualised and specialist assistance in this area if/when required and keeping these arrangements under review. Where relevant to promote and help facilitate service users accessing volunteering opportunities, education and work experience and to facilitate placements or other opportunities, drawing on the expertise of specialist organisations and agencies where appropriate. 2

To promote joint training and learning opportunities for service users and staff wherever feasible for example recruitment training to enable service users to be involved in selection of staff. To work closely with other Birchwood Highland service team and staff, and other agencies to ensure continuity of care and support for service users and the best possible person centred outcomes for them. To help ensure that service users involvement in the decision making and running of the service is maximised ensuring appropriate support is offered to enable people to participate where needed, including through the development of a local service users group. As delegated by the Team Manager to be responsible for taking decisions concerning service users, financial and other matters as they arise on a daily basis in line with Birchwood Highland policy and practice, outlined by the Care Inspectorate, SSSC, and National Care Standards and to ensure that services are provided in line with contractual agreements. To attend and facilitate both internal and external reviews and other identified meetings for service users. To ensure that appropriate risk assessments are in place for all service users at all times. To embrace and promote the philosophy of recovery and person centred planning in all aspects of work and to ensure that all personal plans developed are person centred, reviewed and updated regularly and that outcome measurement tools are put in place for each service user. To take responsibility and delegate to others as appropriate for their learning, the auditing of standards of practice, assisting in identifying a programme for this. Effective management and reporting of any incidents, accidents, and/or near misses including notifying the Lead Professional as appropriate, in line with Birchwood Highland policy. In the absence of the Team Manager to take a lead in collating service data for preparation of the Housing support MPRs (Monthly Performance Returns) and to complete tracker documents as appropriate, ensuring that service delivery stays within agreed policy and performance requirements. 2.1 Staff Management Alongside the Team Manager, to be responsible for the selection, appointment and retention of staff within the Easter Ross Support Service in accordance with Birchwood Highland s recruitment and equal opportunities policies and to abide by these at all times. Working with the Team Manager to ensure effective leadership on all aspects of staff support and management., ensuring that staff are embracing a person centred care 3

approach that is recovery focussed and identifying personal goals and outcomes with services users, enabling service users to retain and develop skills, and to exercise choice in all aspects of their lives. To support and motivate staff through regular supervision and through team work ensuring that the training needs of all staff are identified, prioritised and addressed as appropriate, in terms of the individual and the group with regular in-house training on pertinent issues. To participate in regular team meetings, and additional team training sessions with staff, using this opportunity to promote policies, national care standards and standards of work to ensure that staff continuously develop their skills and knowledge, ensuring that there is sufficient time and an appropriate atmosphere for a people to participate in a meaningful way. To be aware of, and ensure that, all staff have access to the Care Inspectorate s Standards and Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) Codes of Practice and are able to apply its principles in practice, giving clear direction, advice, and training as indicated. To continually promote staff development and continuous improvement in all aspects of service delivery within Easter Ross Support Service. 2.2 Wider role To be familiar with and be able to cover certain aspects of the Team Manager s role in their absence including financial management, following the Company s financial regulations at all times. To keep informed and up to date with local and national developments that relate to the work of the post and to attend all necessary training to keep updated. To support Company initiatives in developing new opportunities for education, volunteering, work or activities for service users, whilst actively promoting these opportunities within the Easter Ross Support Service. To assist in the completion of the annual Care Inspectorate self-assessment, helping to facilitate meaningful staff, service user and carer input into this process. In accordance with the Health and Safety Act 1974, to take care of your own health and safety at work and of any service users/visitors/staff you are working with. This includes identifying and managing any risks or potential hazards calling on specialist advice as needed. To be part of, and fully participate in relevant aspects of management as delegated by the Team Manager that will contribute to organisation wide policy development, service developments and initiatives. The Senior Support Worker will also contribute to developing new areas of the Easter Ross service as delegated by the Team Manager. 4

Support the Team Manager in ensuring the Easter Ross Team base is clean, safe and welcoming, and meets the needs of the service. 3.0 CRITICAL COMPETENCIES Please see Person Specification below. 3.1 QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE Please see Person specification below 3.2 CAPABILITIES The post holder is aware that their own values, attitudes and cultural assumptions will have an impact on others, and of the need to work in a recovery focussed, person centred manner. Demonstrates a commitment to reflective practice, and continuous development of their own skills and knowledge. Is aware that they will be required to adapt and change to continually meet and keep under review, the needs of the people they support, to show initiative, and be adaptable and flexible within their role. Good communication skills, both oral and written, with self-awareness as to own communication style. Flexible approach to service requirements, including flexible shift work patterns. Is aware that everyone has different feelings and values and is aware of the need to respect and acknowledge these at all times. Demonstrates an awareness of the individual needs and choices of individuals who use services and that these can change over time. Also the role of carers, family members, friends, partners, spouses etc. in each individual case. Is fully aware of the role and scope of the Easter Ross service and is able to communicate clear boundaries to colleagues, external professionals, service users and those who support them as to what the service can and cannot provide. 4.0 Standards of practice The post holder will be personally responsible for registering with SSSC as a supervisor, for maintaining their registration and complying with any requirements relating to registration set out by SSSC. The post holder has a personal responsibility as a social care worker to adhere to SSSC codes of practice, and these can be seen at: www.sssc.uk.com. As a senior support worker the post holder also must ensure the SSSC code of practice for employers is upheld within their area of responsibility. 5

5.0 SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS The post holder will hold a current PVG scheme membership or will secure this prior to commencement in post. The post will be offered subject to two acceptable references and a health clearance. The appointment is subject to a six-month probationary period with an initial review at 3 months. The post holder will participate in monthly supervision sessions and will have an annual appraisal. The list of duties in this job description is not intended to be exhaustive but highlights a number of the major tasks of the post. You may be required to undertake additional duties, which might reasonably be expected of you and which form part of the function of the post. Every job description will be subject to review on an annual basis, or As a result of a change of strategic management, or As a result of team/operational requirements, or As a result of agreed staff development and appraisal needs and objectives. November 2015 Due for Review: November 2016 BIRCHWOOD HIGHLAND SENIOR SUPPORT WORKER PERSON SPECIFICATION ATTRIBUTES Essential 1. Qualifications 1. SVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care. 2. Personal Development Award or other relevant Management qualification in supervision and 2. Work Experience and Management medication, or in the process of obtaining these. 1. Experienced support worker who has previously provided supervision in mental health services and or learning disability services and is confident in stepping up in the absence of more senior staff. 2. Sound knowledge of current care philosophies, the standard of care expected by Birchwood Highland, and the recovery model in practice in mental health. 3. Good skills in staff management, communication and leadership. 4. Budget management experience and skills. 5. Competent in the use of IT and able to share these skills with staff. Desirable 1. Use of quality assurance tools 6

3. Skills, Abilities and Knowledge 4. Interpersonal Skills 5. Personal Qualities 1. Ability to manage and delegate work. 2. Effective administrative and finance skills. 3. Sound knowledge of health and safety at work regulations. 4. Sound knowledge of, and commitment to, equal opportunities and practices. 5. Experience of training and developing staff and obtaining results. 1. Excellent verbal and communication skills. 2. Ability to lead staff. 3. Ability to work co-operatively with fellow Managers. 4. Able to relate with people affected by mental illness. 5. Ability to network imaginatively with other interested bodies and agencies. 1. Professional integrity. 2. Ability to manage stress and work under pressure. 3. Awareness of own strengths and weaknesses. 4. Ability to work as part of a team. 5. Good sense of humour. 6. Ability to see bigger picture while maintaining focus. 6. Health Attributes 1. Good physical health to meet the commitment required for this post. 7. Circumstances 1. Able to undertake weekend and evening work where a need is identified, and to work flexibly as required. 2. A full driving licence and access to own transport with business insurance. 8. Commitment /Flexibility 1. Commitment to undertake relevant training courses and attend meetings, outside of Easter Ross where appropriate and to travel to services outside of Inverness to network with other professionals. 1. Knowledge of disciplinary and grievance policies and procedures. 1. Willing to stay overnight occasionally out-with Easter Ross for courses/meetings if required. 7