Position Description: Co-Resident/Support Worker

Position Description: Support Worker

Full time contract (with casual probationary period)

Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Award – Level depending on qualifications and experience

Halls Gap, Victoria

Live out

Background

This position invites potential applicants to support a young woman to live in her own home (PossAbility Place) and participate in the community. As a support worker, the successful applicant would be invited to share the life of the young woman and her family at home and on holidays

The young woman lives in a wheelchair accessible home in Halls Gap which is in the Grampians National Park where wildlife and bushwalking are abound.

The young woman requires physical assistance with all personal care and communication support.

The position is a Full time contract subject to a casual probationary period. The successful applicant will be working closely with the young woman’s family and other team members and encouraged to develop and nurture connection within the local community.

Key areas of Responsibility

Personal Assistance This includes close monitoring, seizure management, support to eat and drink, communication support, personal care (including shower/bathing and dressing). Thinking about clothing and packing for trips away

Companionship/Friendship

The Support Worker will be invited to share and participate in the young woman’s activities and interests. They include walking, reading, going for drives, bird watching, camping, cooking, bike riding, watching TV, craft, massage, music.

Most importantly, the Support Worker and the young woman will share in a range of memorable activities, enjoy their time together and develop a strong, trusting relationship

Home support The Support Worker will be required to provide domestic support including laundry, meal preparation/cooking, cleaning and shopping

Sleepover The Support Worker will be required to provide sleepover assistance/support up to 4 nights/fortnight.

Administration Computer skills will be needed

of 3 Key selection criteria

 A demonstrated understanding and respect for all people, particularly those with high support needs

 Able to live and work independently, as well as part of a team/family

 Peer age appropriate

 Prepared to provide personal care assistance

 Positive, patient and encouraging

 Organised with good time management skills

 Cooking and computer skills

 Physically fit – required to push or tow a person in a reclined position in customised bike/walking trailer and provide assistance with transfers, at times

 Enjoys camping, walking, outdoors, nature, dogs and animals

 Prepared to go on trips away

Pre-requisites

 A current Victorian drivers licence is preferable

 First Aid Level 2

 The young woman has chemical sensitivities – will be required to wear fragrance free products

 Non-smoker

 Police check

 Physically fit and able to physically support

 A caring heart

Accommodation

 Some meals will be shared when support worker cooks and the meal is a part of the roster.

 Support rosters are shared with the young woman’s parents and casual staff

 The position has 4 Sleepovers in the roster/ fortnight the other nights are covered by the young woman’s parents

 Some help to find accommodation is available

of 3  When rostered on, the Support Worker will prepare and eat their meals with the young woman and evening meals may be shared with the family in the young woman’s home,

Time off

 The Contract roster is for 10 days on and 4 days off (including every 2nd weekend) The roster may change according to need.

Family holidays

 Ideally the Support Worker will join the family on holidays and trips away, the roster will be amended during this time to reflect the nature of travel and holiday routines

Expectations in the home

 The Support Worker will be expected to comply with the house courtesies and respect the privacy of and confidentiality of the young woman and her family

 A seizure alert dog is currently being trained and the Support Worker will be expected to assist with the dog’s care

Length of contract

 Full time position, ongoing

 The preferred applicant will commence as casual, to determine compatability.

 After the completion of a satisfactory casual probationary period a contract may be offered.

Accountability

 Accountable to Andrew & Norelle Pearce (Ph 0439 887 633 for more information)

 The successful applicant must develop a rapport with the young woman

 Employed by Carers Solutions Australia