Care Assistant

We are recruiting CARE ASSISTANTS in North Uist

Hourly Rate: £14.54 (£15.17 with SVQ2) Travel time between clients is paid at hourly rate.

Mileage £0.56/mile (up to 10,000 miles/year, after that 36p/mile)

Tagsa’s Carers provide a range of services, such as assisting with meals, providing company to service users so their families can rest, providing personal care and assisting with medication. Experience is an advantage but not essential as all training is provided and paid for at the standard hourly rate.

For further queries and to apply, please contact Care Manager Sarah MacLachlan for an application form on

sarah@tagsa.co.uk

Job Purpose:

Tagsa Uibhist’s Care Assistants provide care and support to clients in their own homes, as well as providing respite for their carers. Our Care Assistants work with the elderly and with people who have additional support needs, meeting their personal needs and assisting with daily living needs, supporting clients to live independently, and meeting additional support as required, in accordance with Scottish National Care Standards. As well as assisting clients with day-to-day activities, our Care Assistants also contribute to their overall wellbeing by providing regular contact, company and emotional support.

The specific tasks Care Assistants undertake are based on the client’s needs, choices, and preferences, as assessed, and agreed by the client and Tagsa’s senior care staff in partnership with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Each client has an up-to-date Care Plan, which is regularly reviewed. Each Care Plan sets out the tasks to be carried out by the Care Assistant for each client. Care Assistants have the responsibility to follow the Care Plan and any other supporting documents and must report any changes in the client’s needs that are identified by the client, a family member/carer, a medical professional or by the local authority.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Care Assistants undertake a wide range of tasks, all of which should be done in a manner which supports independent living, appropriate to their abilities.

§ Assisting clients to get up in the morning including washing/bathing and dressing and maintaining personal appearance.

§ Assisting with undressing and getting to bed in the evening.

§ Assisting with preparation of meals, drinks, and snacks when necessary.

§ Help with toileting and changing clothes and/or bedding where necessary.

§ Ensure commodes are emptied and sanitised.

§ Help with other tasks of personal daily living that service users cannot manage.

§ Assist and encourage the management of medication or administer where necessary and appropriate, and monitoring health related conditions such as dietary & fluid intake.

§ Help service users with mobility difficulties, or other physical disabilities, including incontinence.

§ Help in the use of aids and other personal equipment.

§ Ensure clients retain individuality and personal dignity by promoting high standards of care and encouraging independence where appropriate.

§ Ensure that different cultural needs are catered for sensitively.

§ To respect the confidential nature of the work.

§ To provide direct care to clients as circumstances require according to the care plan.

§ To attend staff meetings and training courses as required.

§ Contribute to an effective system of communication within the team, by discussion and regular team meetings.

§ To ensure that the Health and Safety policies are implemented at all times.

§ To undertake any other relevant duties specified by Management.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

§ Demonstrate an active understanding of the principles of the job as described above, and with appropriate guidance from Tagsa Uibhist’s Care Manager and Care Coordinator.

§ Ensure that information about Tagsa Uibhist clients and concerning any other individuals Tagsa Uibhist works with, is treated with respect and confidentiality.

§ Contribute to the overall quality of Tagsa Uibhist’s service delivery, by working closely with other members of the staff team, helping promote good practice, communicating and by taking part in staff meetings, and contributing to meeting the objective of the service.

§ Take part in regular supervision meetings.

§ Take part in training as agreed to learn and to develop skills associated with the job.

§ Work in accordance with all Tagsa Uibhist policies and procedures.

§ Report immediately any incident of a serious nature such as abuse.

§ Report all accidents immediately to Tagsa Uibhist’s Care Manager, followed by a written statement.

Working Hours and Location:

Working hours are variable will be as stated on a rota provided by Care Coordinator/Care Manager. Work is undertaken in the homes of service users as agreed.

Tagsa Uibhist provides care at home to clients in South Uist, Benbecula, and North Uist (as well as smaller neighbouring islands). Every effort is made to achieve proximity when assigning Care Assistants to clients.

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

§ Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen to patients and clearly verbalise information.

§ Excellent interpersonal skills, enabling good mutual understanding with vulnerable individuals.

§ Previous experience working in the care setting is advantageous. However, we also welcome applications from applicants with no previous Care experience and a willingness to learn. Tagsa Uibhist provides and pays for the theoretical and practical training required.

§ Relevant SVQ/NVQ or similar qualifications. Those that have an SVQ2 in Social Services and Healthcare (or equivalent) qualify for the rate of £15.17/hour. However, we also welcome those without this qualification to apply, and be paid the starting rate of £14.54/hour.

§ An understanding and/or willingness to learn about health issues.

§ All Care Assistants need to be registered with the SSSC and adhere to SSSC’s Codes of Practice.

The fee for this will be refunded by Tagsa Uibhist.

§ All Care Assistants must submit their details for a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check through Disclosure Scotland. The fee for this will be refunded by Tagsa Uibhist.

§ Clean driving license and access to a vehicle.

§ Ability to work well in a team, as the job often requires working closely together with other healthcare professionals.

§ Patience and the ability to remain calm and collected in a crisis.

§ Ability to relate to people from a variety of backgrounds.

§ Physical strength and endurance.