Voluntary and paid vacancies

Care Support Worker (Care at Home)

This temporary (locum) post is to provide personal care and support to frail, disabled and older people living at home to maximise independence for as long as possible – keeping them safe and healthy at home.

This includes getting them up out of bed, washing, taking them to the toilet, dressing, assistance with meals i.e. meal prep, feeding. Also administration of medication and social stimulation.

Hours

7am – 1pm or 4pm – 10pm shifts, but even a couple of hours at a time would be helpful.

Suited for

Ideally aged from 18 years up – all training and induction will be provided appropriate for the job. Driving is an advantage but if they can support someone who lives locally less need for a driver. They will require references and up to date enhanced disclosure.

Pay

£11.98 - £12.51 per hour.

Job title

Care Support Worker (Care at Home)

Post number

MSW103

Job profile

C3 – grade 4

Section/unit

Home care

Division

Social work

Reporting to

Home Care Manager

Responsible for

None

Job purpose

To provide for the personal/domestic care, support and emotional needs of individual clients in their own homes by working flexibly within a 24 hour service.

Where appropriate, to participate in the care planning process of individual clients in consultation with Social Work staff, Health colleagues and the line manager.

Key objectives

• As a Key Worker, deliver direct personal care and support to clients in their homes; in accordance with individual Care Plans; compatible with professional social work practice; and within the policies, procedures and standards set by the Division.
• Create and maintain a supportive atmosphere where clients can achieve maximum independence in their home; and respond sensitively and flexibly to a wide range of individual client situations.
• Report regularly to the Care at Home Organiser, both about services delivered to particular clients and about the operation and development of those services, as part of the care plan.
• Record information on individual clients that is required for collaboration with other service providers.
• Following appropriate training, provide direct personal/domestic care in accordance with the clients' assessed needs by, for example:
• assisting/supporting with personal hygiene and appearance, e.g. shaving, nail cutting*, or other tasks required to meet individual need in consultation with Line Manager,  (all services are subject to safety measures and will not be carried out if there are contraindications, e. g. nail cutting of diabetics);
  • assisting/supporting with dressing/undressing;
  • helping with getting up and going to bed;
  • assisting the individual to get to the toilet including the use of commodes, changing catheter bags and handling soiled laundry;
  • assisting in the administration of medication in accordance with Social Work guidelines including accurate recording; assisting with accurate ordering and collecting; monitoring of side effects; monitoring clients who self-medicate; changing oxygen cylinders;
  • assisting/supporting mobility;
  • enabling clients to achieve physical comfort;
  • enabling clients to maintain contacts in potentially isolating situations, e.g. due to poor mobility, communication problems due to a stroke, assistance in letter writing;
  • helping clients keep track of their pension and money;
  • undertaking routine domestic and household tasks including fire lighting, window cleaning, laundry; 
  • preparing and cooking meals and assisting clients by feeding where necessary;
  • doing shopping, collecting pensions, prescriptions, banking etc;
  • helping clients to access other services e.g. OT, Welfare Rights, etc.
• Ensure at all times that care practice is non-discriminatory and clients' personal beliefs and preferences are appropriately acknowledged.
• When required, participate in the care planning process with other Social Work staff or Health colleagues by:
  • reporting changes of circumstances to the line manager, to facilitate re-appraisal of needs such as the ability to be self-supporting;
  • providing an interim service in consultation with the manager pending reassessment;
  • liaising and collaborating with other service providers to accommodate the client's changing needs, in particular with Community Nurses who care for clients;
  • contributing to multi-agency discussions including attending care plan reviews, and providing written or verbal information to domiciliary care reviews.
• Contribute as appropriate to the monitoring and evaluation of the service.
• Be aware of health and safety issues and promote safe working practice in accordance with guidance.
• Be familiar with the missing persons procedure and to follow it when necessary in accordance with guidelines.
• Participate in appropriate staff meetings.
• Undertake training and staff development as required and be familiar with all relevant policies and procedures within the service. 
• Undertake any relevant duties as appropriate identified by the line manager.

Knowledge

The Jobholder must have a SVQ level II in Social Care and have practical experience working in a supportive role with clients delivering Individual Care Plans. They need to be able to work without direct supervision and have a mature and self-reliant approach with the ability to respond to unplanned situations in a calm and flexible manner. 

Apply

Contact the Care at Home team on 0131 271 3841.