Social Care Officer (HART D2A) - 6 Posts, Perth Royal Infirmary, Perth

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Social Care Officer (6 Posts) - PKC14122
£28,812 - £31,346
Perth Royal Infirmary, Perth

Are you ready for a career change that's fulfilling and rewarding?

This is your chance to join our Health and Social Care Partnership as a Social Care Officer within our Home Assessment Recovery Team (HART D2A), with opportunities to work across the South, Perth and North localities of Perth and Kinross.

You will work across the following areas:

• South – Carse of Gowrie, Kinross, Auchterarder, Crieff, Comrie and surrounding areas
• Perth – Perth City and surrounding areas, Bridgend and Scone
• North – Blairgowrie, Meigle, Coupar Angus, Luncarty, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and surrounding areas

The Role

You will have the opportunity to visit and support people in their own homes by following a pre-planned schedule and working on a shift pattern covering breakfast, lunch, tea and bedtime visits.

There may also be occasions where overnight working is required as part of the service rota (20:00 to 08:00).

By supporting the delivery of high-quality care, you will help facilitate discharge from hospital, support vulnerable individuals to remain independent at home, and help prevent admission to hospital or full-time care.

You will support people with varying abilities, with responsibilities tailored to individual needs. This will include promoting reablement and independence while assisting with daily living tasks, such as helping individuals get up in the morning and prepare for the day ahead. This may include personal care tasks, always maintaining the individual's dignity.

You may also assist with:

• Meal preparation
• Household tasks
• Practical day-to-day activities that promote wellbeing and independence
• Administering and monitoring medication
• Supporting individuals with their bedtime routines

Being a care professional is a truly rewarding career and can make a significant difference to the lives of people in our communities who need that extra support to live safely within their own homes.

 Your responsibilities will include:

• Following a schedule/rota of planned visits
• Supporting individuals with personal care tasks to help them achieve their optimum level of independence
• Protecting individuals from risk or abuse and reporting any concerns to your line manager
• Ensuring health and safety for yourself and individuals in line with PKC policies and procedures
• Participating in risk assessments
• Maintaining accurate records and reporting on individuals' progress
• Complying with the National Care Standards and SSSC Codes of Practice

 Please note, we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Skills & Experience Required

Does caring come naturally to you?

Our team provides supportive care to vulnerable individuals across Perth and Kinross, helping them remain living independently in their own homes for longer.

So, if you are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of the most vulnerable people in your community and are enthusiastic, friendly and personable, this could be the job for you.

 Do you see yourself as a genuine person with good communication skills?

You will have the skills to communicate effectively with individual clients, internal and external agencies, and the wider staff team.

It is essential that you have:

• Excellent listening, oral and written communication skills
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team
• The ability to maintain confidentiality
• The ability to work co-operatively with other professionals, families and carers

Do you have an understanding of the Council's Values and Behaviours as drivers for us as an organisation and as individuals, relating to Ambition, Compassion and Integrity?

You will influence the way we work with each other, as well as the people and communities we serve, by:

• Thinking "yes", being creative, looking to improve, and focusing on positive outcomes
• Treating everyone with kindness, dignity and respect
• Being open and honest, fair and consistent, and supporting us to do what we say we will

You should also have an understanding of the Council's Employee Code of Conduct and the SSSC Codes of Practice.

 Your responsibilities will include:

• Following a schedule/rota of individuals' planned visits
• Supporting individuals with personal care tasks to enable them to reach their optimum level of independence
• Protecting individuals from risk or abuse and reporting any concerns to your line manager
• Ensuring health and safety for yourself and individuals in line with PKC policies and procedures
• Participating in risk assessments
• Maintaining accurate records and reporting on individuals' progress
• Complying with the National Care Standards and SSSC Codes of Practice

 Five promises we make to you:

1. You will work with skilled, passionate and resilient people who inspire you
2. You will be encouraged to develop your strengths, learn and flourish
3. You will be supported to belong and feel connected with your team, communities and the organisation
4. You will be supported to focus on people and make a positive difference
5. Every day and night will be different, and you will have the support needed to do the best you can

 Other information

• A driving licence is essential due to the geographical area of Perth and Kinross and the demands of service delivery
• There are no formal entry requirements, although relevant experience is desirable
• You will be required and supported to work towards an SVQ in Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6 (previously SVQ 2)
• For further information, please contact Jenny Hughes, Quality Monitoring Officer, on 01738 475626.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• Pay / Salary Scales (TAS4): £28,812 – £31,346 (based on 36 hours/week)
• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

You are required to be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), if you are not yet registered, you can still apply, as long as you are willing to apply for registration within 3 months of starting with us and be registered within 6 months.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Jenny Hughes, Quality Monitoring Officer, on 01738 475626 to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check and maintain your membership.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check is required. You are required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.

All new employees have a four-month probationary period. Further details are available in the FAQs at “How to apply for a job or apprenticeship with us”.