Perth & Kinross Relief Support Practitioner

Job Purposes & Core Details

To:

1. work to the service and organisation's aims and values and promote the citizenship of the people we support.
2. deliver support to people who use Turning Point Scotland's services and in so doing contribute to the provision of the highest possible quality of social care support which meets the service specification.
3. operate at an established level of social care practice, or engaged moving towards established.
4. work to the company's values - Because People Matter
5. undertake CPD (continuous professional development with the support of your line manager and use appraisals and supervision fully.
6. keep your registration and membership to relevant professional bodies up to date and valid.
7. undertake any outstanding require qualification for registration, or if not working in a registered service qualify at the minimum of SVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care.
8. undertake any other duties or responsibilities as may be deemed appropriate to the post by the Service Manager (or nominated deputy).
9. Provide, prompt, administer medication and healthcare & wellbeing support as required

Main duties and responsibilities

Support to people who use services - To:

• provide support and assistance to people who we support in accordance with their support plans and service aims.
• assist with initial and on-going assessments of people who we support.
• advise people who we support in accordance with guidance from senior colleagues or in accordance with the service aims.
• be a key worker as required.
• maintain professional confidentiality and boundaries at all times.
• support and assist people who we support in crisis situations, and/or manage physical risk or behaviour likely to cause incidents, in accordance with the support plan or service protocol.
• travel within the service area you are contracted for and supporting the travel and transportation of people who we support in accordance with their support plan (mobility, own car, service vehicles, public transport etc).
• have an understanding of the causes and effects of social exclusion as is relevant to the service and area in which you work.

Planning, policies and record keeping - To:

• devise, review and update support plans, record events and observations and keep appropriate records as require in the service.
• attend and contribute to service user reviews often as a key worker or as required.
• co-ordinate elements of support in accordance with the support plan.
• follow risk management plans, and follow and update risk assessments.
• work with data in line with the data protection act.
• work with and comply with standard operation (finance, operational, Health and Safety and Human Resources) and service procedures. 

Interactions with other people - To:

• administer or prompting medication and ensure that medication protocols are adhered to.
• support or buddy new staff and volunteers/those on placement to show them how your practice complies with the SSSC Codes of Practice.
• have a collegiate approach, ask when you need support or guidance and team work with a diverse group of people.
• manage and resolve conflict promptly and raise issues appropriately using the correct internal processes.
• directly communicate with the families of the people we support as appropriate.
• liaise with workers from other agencies when requested to do so by senior colleagues.
• work in accordance with the service, meeting the relevant legislation and National Care Standards.
• liaise with landlords and similar others on behalf of people who we support when requested to do so by senior colleagues.
• maintain confidentiality with shared information.
• be aware of health and safety and contribute fully to keeping my work environment, community, people who use services and myself safe.

Leadership - To:

• provide buddying or informal coaching to new staff.
• support the delivery of a specific part of the service such as group work.
• continuously contribute to service development and improvement.
• contribute to Turning Point Scotland.
• keep abreast of changes or sector requirements that are relevant to you.
• appropriately challenge oppressive or potentially abusive behaviours or practices and report any concerns quickly to senior colleagues.

Miscellaneous - applies only in certain services

• to undertake sleepovers, overnight and weekend working and occasionally participate in people who we support holidays as required.
• to undertake training that may be technical or specialised that will benefit the service.
• to perform lone working.

Services for People with Learning Disabilities in Perth & Kinross

Turning Point Scotland in Perth & Kinross supports people who have a learning disability to live in their own homes. We have been working in partnership with families, social workers, health professionals, Perth and Kinross Council, and a range of other agencies since April 2007 to develop services for people with learning disabilities with associated behaviours which challenge the service.  Many of the people we support have composite forensic histories and some have fluctuating mental health.

The service offers support to people in different living situations from single flats to shared living. The tenants hold assured tenancies with all the consequent rights and protections, and Turning Point Scotland provides the necessary support to maintain their tenancies. The houses are based in Perth enabling easy access to facilities within the local community

The staff team provide 24 hour support with waking and/or sleep-in cover. Each person we support has a key worker who works with them and other significant people e.g. families, friends, advocacy, sheltered employment and leisure resource staff.  Person centred support plans are developed specific to each individual; these provide fine detail into the appropriate support that is provided for each person. 

Individuals are supported to do many activities, such as sheltered employment, volunteering, a wide variety of leisure pursuits dependant on interests and choice, accessing local health care providers, community events, visiting family and friends, holidays and everyday household tasks like cooking, cleaning and paying bills.

The service is funded through Perth & Kinross Council and also to individuals who are in receipt of their own personalised budget or self directed supports.

Contact us:

2 Grosvenor House

Shore Road

Perth

PH2 8BD

Tel 01738 639950

Essential Criteria

Qualifications:

• A willingness to complete a qualification in Social Service and Health Care at level 6 or 7 (SCQF) or other speciality recognised by the SSSC for registration purposes and if not already registered, to register with the SSSC within the timescale required, where relevant.

Experience:

• Has experience, personal, voluntary or professional of providing social care type supports to an individual in their own home or in a social care, school or community setting. This may be informal.
• Has experience of undertaking tasks in a lone working environment and/or with independence and initiative.

Values:

• Must be able to demonstrate an understanding and commitment to the values that underpin social care focussing on inclusion, person centred approaches and citizenship.
• Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the need to maintain professional boundaries between social care workers and people who use services and the role of a professional social care worker.

Other skills and knowledge:

• Must be willing to develop skills used when supporting people through reflective practice, active learning, personal and professional development, supervision and feedback.

Experience:

• Has experience of providing direct supports to people who use social care services.

Turning Point Scotland operates a List of Approved Relief Workers who may be contacted by services when there is a need to engage additional workers in order to provide the required support to someone who uses our services. Relief Workers are primarily deployed to cover periods of leave, or sickness absence and to provide additional support during periods of peak activity etc

When there is suitable work available within a service, a manager will contact Relief Workers offer them a shift/series of shifts. As a Relief Worker you will be well-placed to fit your work around your existing work or other commitments and you will be under no pressure or obligation to accept work from us if it does not suit you to do so. Once work is offered and accepted by you however, there is an expectation that you will make every effort to attend to undertake that shift. Your reliability in this regard is very important to our services and to the people we support who will be expecting you.

Relief Workers submit a Time Sheet to claim payment for the hours they have worked and are paid on a monthly basis. You will accrue some entitlement to paid holidays and you will be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred in the course of your work for us.

You will be required to undertake a programme of basic training which is primarily designed to enable you to operate safely, but also to meet the organisation’s obligations to you in terms of health & safety legislation.

Relief Working at Turning Point Scotland will not normally be suitable for people who have full-time posts with other agencies.