DG/17/02 - Support Practitioners

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 in accordance with the organisation's aim of making services fit people.
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).

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 weekens working and occassionally participate in people who we support holiday's as required.
• to underake training that may be technical or specialised that will benefit the service.
• to perform lone working.

Turning Point Scotland Dumfries & Galloway Service

Our Learning Disability, Autism, Mental Health, Physical Disability and Children’s services support people who have a range of complex needs, using a person-centred approach.  We provide independence and choice to enable people to access everyday life experiences including education, employment and social activities, developing relationships and maintaining a home.

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.

There are a significant number of benefits to working for Turning Point Scotland including excellent terms and conditions of service, including access to range of high quality vocational and skills training, a range of family-friendly policies to help balance work-life, participation in a number of environmentally friendly initiatives , active promotion of healthy living in the workplace and not least the provision of a working environment where opinions and ideas are valued and arrangements are in place to ensure that there is a high level of staff representation and that people are encouraged to makes their views heard and to participate in team meetings etc.

The main terms and conditions of the service include the following:

The salary scale for the post will be (reduced pro rata for part time posts, the full time equivalent is a 37 working hour week)

• £16,258
• £16,545
• £16,851
• £17,296
• £17,727

The annual leave entitlement will be (reduced pro rata for part time posts and will include a proportional entitlement to public holidays)

25 days per year, plus 8 public holidays and 2 local holidays.