Support Worker - West Lothian -Ratho

West Lothian offers Housing Support and Care at Home services to Adults and Children, we also deliver in conjunction with West Lothian Council.

Post: Support Worker Service: Housing & Community Support Services (HACSS)

Base: Regional base as set by line manager

Line Managed by: Team Manager

Salary :

Unqualified- £24,402,92 - £24,890,98 per annum pro rata

Qualified- £24,890,98 - £25,338,37 per annum pro rata

Casual rate: £12 per hour

Sleepover rate (if applicable) £96 per night.

Hours: Part-time; 5 to 16 hours

Main purpose:

The main purpose of this post is to provide a caring, efficient and effective 24/7 support service to people who use The Action Group’s Services. This will include assisting people to develop their skills by supervising and participating in various support activities in a way that enriches their opportunities and promotes choice. The main duties for this post are detailed below under two headings: 1. Specific Duties (that apply to this job in particular) 2. General Duties (that apply to all staff in The Action Group)

Specific Duties

• Practice the TAG Key Worker system. For example, organising support plans / case
• reviews as required for individual people we support with all relevant stakeholders, ensuring
• effective handovers between staff, and maintaining records, case files etc.
• Promote the physical and emotional wellbeing of the people we support at all times
• (eg. supporting people to maintain acceptable and adequate levels of self-care, carrying out
• risk assessments, etc)
• Actively develop meaningful and trusting relationships with the people we support (eg.
• helping people to gain insight into their own behaviour, attitudes and reactions)
• Encourage independence in all daily living activities wherever possible, and support
• them with this only when necessary (e.g. housework, food preparation, household admin etc)
• Promote people’s hobbies, interests and activities, and encourage participation in all
• aspects of community life. For support workers in the Children and Adults in Transition
• Services this may include organising day trips and activities with young people as required, as
• well as accompanying them to sporting activities such as swimming, and participating in these
• activities as appropriate.
• Directly assist with the personal care as required
• Work with the people we support to maximize their ability to communicate effectively
• and promote self-advocacy wherever possible
• Advocate on behalf of the people we support when needed (e.g. liaising with external
• organisations regarding benefits, education, tenancy and employment etc)
• Work with relatives and carers of people we support (e.g. arranging support plans,
• dealing with complaints and frustrations, etc) and help to ensure that relatives have a
• significant role in the person’s life wherever possible and appropriate.
• Find out about the wide range of local services, amenities and organisations available
• to people we support.
• Work with both individuals and groups of in all of the above, according to need
• Participate flexibly in the various shift work patterns required by the needs of the
• people we support (including regular working outwith weekday office hours; for example, in
• the evening and at weekends, where applicable)
• Regularly undertake ‘sleepover’ or ‘waking night’ duties where required
• From time-to-time, the postholder may be asked to cover short-term absences of
• Support Workers in other teams

General Duties (these are applicable to all The Action Group staff)

• Read, and work in accordance with, TAG’s Mission, Aims & Objectives, and current
• Business Plan
• Manage own work time effectively
• Keep on top of own paperwork and maintain effective and organised filing systems, as
• appropriate to the specific job role
• Treat everyone with consideration and respect
• Ensure prompt, polite and clear communication (whether responding to a query from a
• member of staff or a complaint from person we support)
• Keep up to date and comply with all applicable TAG policies and procedures (covering
• everything from personal Health & Safety to Care Commission Standards)
• Promote and respect individual rights and responsibilities at all time
• Retain the highest standards of confidentiality, as appropriate to the specific role
• Assist your manager and other work colleagues as appropriate and whenever possible
• Take charge of own CPD (Continuous Professional Development) and contribute to TAG
• maintaining the Investors In People standard
• Be responsible for own work life balance (e.g. taking annual leave at regular intervals,
• etc)