Support Worker

Overview of the role

The support team are responsible for supporting the delivery of an effective, needs led and personalised service to our clients. They work in partnership with teachers, social workers and senior staff, as well as external colleagues and family members. However support workers are encouraged to contribute to discussion and add amendments in the support plan where possible.

The support staff deliver day to day interventions with clients and they may be delegated responsibilities such as devising timetables, completing activities or health and safety tasks where appropriate.

The support worker should ensure the smooth running of the shift, creating and implementing routines, ensuring young people are well fed, cared for and and living in a positive environment. The staff all contribute to the clients holisitc pedagogic development by sharing in educational, social and health related learning tasks.

Finally the support worker is responsible for achieving a positive relationship with the client and contributing to a culture of relationship based practice within the team/home. Overall, the support worker has responsibility for ensuring the clients wellbeing is paramount and raising any concerns or potential areas for development to a senior member of staff.

FEVACA recruitment policies are in line with legislation and guidance related to the safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable adults; including Safer Recruitment guidance 2007 and the Keeping children safe in education 2014.

Please note that all candidates must:

• Complete a good standard of application form
• Meet FEVACA expectations in interview
• Complete an enhanced DBS check
• Provide evidence of their right to work in the Uk
• Provide satisfactory references for 5 years or more (inc most recent employer)

Job Description

To be responsible for managing the project whilst on shift, taking full responsibility for managing the establishment, the resources and the fabric of the building) and, most importantly, the welfare of the young people.

Clients

• Promote the development of the young people
• Protect young people from threats to their health, welfare and normal development, both from inside and outside the home. Understand and implement all safeguarding related policies.
• Ensure that key stages in the stay of young people such as admission and discharge are properly managed and reflect decisions recorded in care plans
• Ensure that young people facing particular crises and stresses are offered appropriate additional support
• Ensure that young people are responsible for their own lives, involving them in planning their lives, supporting them and helping them towards taking greater control and responsibility
• As a support worker, participate in the development, implementation and monitoring of individual support plans and engaging young people in learning.
• Contribute to and complete risk assessment regarding clients when necessary.
• Support and deliver FEVACA education programme (life skills programme)
• Support and deliver FEVACA Health & wellbeing programme
• Support our clients with transport when required

Community

• Use the community as a means of support and social learning for the young people
• Encourage, and where possible ensure, that our clients respect others in the community.
• Build positive relationships with communty members, ensuring that the privacy of the clients is not effected.
Interagency Working
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with family members where appropriate, social workers, school staff and other professionals with a concern for the young person’s needs.
• Offer support where necessary to staff on site at other Fevaca Houses.
• Ensure constructive and positive communication and negotiation with referring agencies regarding young people.
Meeting standards of practice
• Ensure that practice is anti-discriminatory and ensure specific needs are met where appropriate such as dietary requirements, religious observance and culturally significant activities
• Ensure compliance with the Children’s Act 1989/ 2004 and associated regulations.
• Read, comply and keep up to date with all FEVACA policy and protocols.
• Ensure regular communication with Line Manager and Director of Service; including attendance at individual supervision and team meetings.
• Attendance at and completion of induction, training sessions related to the role of supported housing worker.
• Complete health and safety checks and cleaning tasks as set out within the projects daily plans.
• Complete training and subsequnelty administer medciation in compliance to policy when required.

Essential

• Positive and non-judgmental value base
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to equality of opportunity to colleagues, service users and all external personnel
• A knowledge of the Children Act and subsequent relevant legislation
• Ability to represent the organization to outside bodies and those within local communities.
• Demonstration of a commitment to supporting and motivating young people
• Ability to maintain boundaries and communicate effectively with young people
• Ability to work within a team.
• Ability to manage issues relating to health and safety
• Willingness to manage household tasks
• Experience of working with children or young people
• Good standard of written and verbal English
• Full clean driving licence and the use fo a vehicle for business use.
• Highly motivated, adaptable and able to work under their own initiative
• The ability to admit mistakes and ask for help and guidance.
• Ability to work shifts including sleep-ins – including weekends and bank holidays

Desirable

• Knowledge of health and safety requirements relevant to Houses of Multiple Occupancy
• An understanding of the legislation and guidance relating to the provision of supported housing services and social care for care leavers.
• Experience working at a level of responsibility with children and young people in a supported housing setting
• Ability to show leadership skills
• Ability to write reports and contribute to support plans

Social Worker

Social Worker – Job Description

Main Focus

To be responsible for overseeing the project and the support plans of the young people resident in a FEVACA home.   This includes the management of the establishment, supervision of staff and the welfare of young people day to day.

In regard to clients you must:

• Promote the development of the clients
• Protect clients from threats to their health, welfare and normal development, both from inside and outside the home.
• Use the residential community as a means of support and social leaning for the young people.
• Ensure that key stages in the stay of young people such as admission and discharge are properly managed and reflect decisions recorded in care plans.
• Ensure that young people facing crises and stresses are offered appropriate additional support.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with family members where appropriate, other professionals and young people
• Ensure that practice is anti-discriminatory and ensure specific needs are met where appropriate such as dietary requirements, religious observance and culturally significant activities.
• Ensure that young people are responsible for their own lives, involving them in planning their lives supporting them and helping them towards taking greater control and responsibility.
• Participate, develop and implement support plans, ensuring their suitability and success is reviewed and linked to young people’s LAC or pathway plan.
• Write monthly reports and needs assessments as well as any other appropriate document (such as risk assessments) as required.
• Complete monthly statistical data regarding the outcomes for young people
• Offer monthly (more often if needed) keywork sessions to young people, using the outcome star as a tool.

In regard to the home:

• Ensure the home you are working in is kept to a high standard and maintains a positive and warm feel
• Ensure health and safety checks are complete
• Complete all necessary training, such as food hygiene and fire safety.
• Ensure information is passed to the administrative team as required
• Manage medication, petty cash, logs/reports and admin of home to a good standard; this may include the delegation of tasks to senior staff, but social workers maintain the lead responsibility for these areas.

In regard to staff:

• Ensure all new staffs are supported fully and complete their induction packs.
• Ensure you are providing both informal and formal support to the staff working with you
• Offer formal supervision monthly to the staff in your line management
• Raise any concerns about staff to your line manager
• Contribute to and implement the internal training package.
• Develop the staff ability to learn social work theory and enhance their reflective skills.
• Ensure all meetings are implemented regarding your house, as per the meeting protocol of FEVACA.

In regard to your own practice and development:

• Ensure you meet regularly and communicate with your line managers regarding any issues as soon as practically possible.
• Ensure you manage your CPD to meet the registration requirements of HCPC.
• Attend all training as allocated by FEVACA.
• Bring to supervision areas of interest which you wish to develop.
• Agree to engage in reflective supervision, including work with the CFSWP to develop reflective practice groups in the organisation.
• Adhere to the HCPC standards of conduct.
• Adhere to the GSCC code of Practice
• Adhere to all policies and practice deemed appropriate by FEVACA, to include the safeguarding policy.

* There may be occasions where you are asked to work with client in other settings; this will be within a reasonable setting and distance from home and embrace the same qualities and skill set required as set out above.

Legislation and Policy

• Ensure compliance with the Children Act 1989 and associated regulations, such as Children’s Homes, National Minimum Standards, and the Supported People’s Quality Assessment Framework, the Leaving Care Act 2000
• Adhere to all FEVACA policies including Safeguarding and Health and Safety.

Working with external agencies

• Create, develop and ensure positive and constructive communication occurs between FEVACA and other professionals in the field: Social Work Teams, Police, Housing, Voluntary Sector, Connexions etc.

Social Worker – Person Specification

Essential

• Registration with the HCPC and social work qualification
• Positive and non Judgemental value base
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities and anti discriminatory practice
• A knowledge of the Children Act, Leaving Care Act and subsequent guidance.
• Ability to represent the organisation to external bodies and members of the community.
• Ability to oversee and contribute to the management of the households.
• Willingness to work shift including sleep INS, weekends and bank holidays.
• Experience of working with children and young people
• Good standard of written and verbal English, including report writing and assessment skills.
• A knowledge of the regulatory framework for Supported Housing (QAF & minimum Standards)
• Ability to supervise and lead other practitioners within the project.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and guidance
• Knowledge of Housing legislation and the process of moving young people on
• Knowledge of Criminal Justice and young peoples experience of this process
• Knowledge of mental health issues and services which can respond to this need
• Knowledge of drug and alcohol issues and service which may support clients in this area.

Social Worker/Service Manager

The Service Manager is responsible for the overarching service delivered within FEVACA Supported Housing in each locality.

They are responsible for supervising, supporting and managing the other staff within their department.  They report directly to the Operational Manager.

Within FEVACA, the service manager is a professional with significant experience in their field and holds a qualification and registration in social work. The role requires a positive value base, a good understanding of social work perspectives and an ability to manage staff, environment and clients with complex and challenging behaviours.

The service manager will supervise the staff within their line management, including completion of appraisals and ensure the cohesive consistency amongst the team.  Most importantly they are responsible for ensuring the clients needs are met, the environment is positive and the statutory or contractual obligations of FEVACA are met.

The Service Manager will review and ensure good standards of practice in recording and monitoring, liaison with other agencies, and contact with the local community.  They are responsible for developing and maintaining a positive and ‘warm’ culture throughout the team and the service.

The role includes contributing to a network of peer review and audit and will include some travel.

SOCIAL WORKER/SERVICE MANAGER

Job Description

CLIENTS

• Promote the development of the clients
• Protect clients from threats to their health, welfare and normal development, both from inside and outside the home.
• Ensure that key stages in the stay of clients such as admission and discharge are properly managed and reflect decisions recorded in care plans.
• Ensure that clients facing crises and stresses are offered appropriate additional support.
• Ensure that young people are responsible for their own lives, involving them in planning their lives supporting them and helping them towards taking greater control and responsibility
• Participate, develop and implement support plans, ensuring their suitability and success are reviewed. This includes chairing internal EHC plan reviews to ensure high quality.
• Write or delegate the duty of monthly reports and needs assessments as well as any other appropriate document (such as risk assessments) as required.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships clients

STAFF

• Develop and maintain good working relationships with staff
• Ensure all new staffs are supported fully and complete their induction packs.
• Ensure you are providing both informal and formal support to the staff working with you
• Offer formal supervision monthly to the staff in your line management; ensure supervision is delivered throughout the supervision structure of your department and that this is of good quality.
• Raise any concerns about staff to the Directors
• Contribute to and implement the internal training package.
• Develop the staff ability to learn theoretical perspectives, implement these in practice and enhance their reflective skills.
• Ensure all meetings are implemented regarding your department, as per the meeting protocol of FEVACA.

• Manage any staff concerns, encourage whistleblowing and where necessary complete investigations, staff disciplinary and complaint processes.

• Contribute to the on call rota.

INTERAGENCY WORKING

• Create, develop and ensure positive and constructive communication occurs between FEVACA and other professionals in the field: Social Work Teams, Police, Housing, Voluntary Sector, Connexions etc.
• Develop local knowledge of your field and build networks.

FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY

• Use the residential community as a means of support and social leaning for the client and team.
• Introduce and involve yourself and your team in the local community and represent FEVACA and our ethos positively.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with family members and carers

GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS.

• Ensure the reporting to organisations such as OFSTED, CQC and local authorities is accurate and timely:  This includes the facilitation of inspections and supporting staff to manage these visits.

MEETING GOOD PRACTICE STANDARDS

• Adhere to the HCPC as appropriate.
• Adhere to the company code of conduct
• Attend all training as allocated by FEVACA.
• Bring to supervision areas of interest which you wish to develop.
• Agree to engage in reflective supervision and reflective practice groups in the organisation.
• Ensure appropriate cover of rota throughout the service.

REPORTING

• Ensure the Directors receive complete monthly statistical data

• Ensure the packages of care commissioned are delivered to clients and raise any issue in delivering this to the Operational Manager immediately.
•  Ensure the working environment is kept to a high standard and maintains a positive and warm feel, including health and safety checks.
• Ensure information is passed to the administrative team as required

LEGISLATION AND POLICY

• Ensure compliance with all appropriate legislation to the field of care in which you are working; to include wider legislation which is relevant for example Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities and Data Protection etc
• Adhere to all FEVACA policies including Safeguarding , Performance Management and Health and Safety.

Social Worker/Service Manager

Essential

• Registration with appropriate body
• Positive and non Judgemental value base
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities and anti discriminatory practice
• A good working knowledge of the relevant legislation to your role including safeguarding and health and safety legislation
• Ability to represent the organisation to external bodies and members of the community.
• Ability to oversee the management service.
• Willingness to complete direct work and shifts including sleep in’s, weekends and bank holidays, when necessary.
• Experience of working with vulnerable clients
• Experience of managing staff
• Experience of managing budgets
• Good standard of written and verbal English, including report writing and assessment skills.
• A knowledge of the regulatory framework for the field

Desirable

• Management Qualification
• Full UK driving licence and  use of a vehicle for business purpose.

Support Worker (Epilepsy)