Gowrie Care Ltd - Alyth Services

We provide various services and support to different client groups in the Alyth, Blairgowrie and some surrounding rural areas.

The following information will give you an idea of the work we do:

Two 24/7 small group homes in Alyth – Airlie View and Burnside Court, Registered with Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) as a ‘Care at Home’ and ‘Housing Support’ service, we follow both of these National Care Standards.

These services currently provide 24 hour care and support to 4 service users each, who have profound learning/physical disabilities.

This means they have limited understanding and verbal communication so they need total support in all aspects of their lives, to keep them safe and to help them in living life to the full. This involves providing maximum assistance in all aspects of their daily living skills e.g. personal care etc., though our aim is to promote their independence to the best of each individual’s ability. We aim to provide a high standard of care at all times by way of a Person Centred Approach. This means recognising each Service-user as an individual and preparing care and support plans according to their own wants and needs. We strive to offer the Service-users every opportunity to experience ordinary living and to be a part of all that it entails both within and out with their home environment.

Airlie View The accommodation comprises of a large 4 Bedroom bungalow, each tenant has their own bedroom with en-suite facilities and communal areas include a sitting room, dining room, kitchen, sluice and utility room. We have a large garden with a summer house for the service user’s to use for sensory sessions, a double swing and a vegetable patch to grow our own vegetables in.

Burnside Court

The accommodation comprises of 2 large bungalows interconnected by an adjoining internal door so it is run as one service. Each tenant has their own bedroom with en-suite shower room and communal areas include 2 sitting rooms, 2 kitchens, 2 dining rooms and 2 utility rooms so there is plenty of space for them to move about. We also have a sensory room and Jacuzzi bathroom, whilst our outdoor facilities include a hot tub and sunken trampoline. Support Practitioner Duties with Service-Users include;

 Maintaining current skills, whilst aiming to develop new ones.  Maximum assistance with personal care i.e. toileting, bathing/showering, dressing, hair care etc.  Developing social skills.  Housework duties e.g. cooking, cleaning, laundry etc.  Shopping.  Assisting with leisure & social activities.  Involving the Service-Users in the local community where appropriate.  Key working duties/responsibilities e.g. Developing all Care & Support Plans (assessing, reviewing & updating as required) in conjunction with all relevant others, managing Service-users files etc.  Helping the Service-users to make informed choices as much as they are able.  Keeping the Service-Users safe and secure.  Managing finances.  Maintaining records as appropriate.  Making necessary appointments.  Dealing with any issues that may arise throughout the shift.  Administering medication.  Maintaining the health & well-being of the Service-users.

Support Worker Duties with Service-Users include;

 Maintaining current skills, whilst aiming to develop new ones.  Maximum assistance with personal care i.e. toileting, bathing/showering, dressing, hair care etc.  Developing social skills.  Housework duties e.g. cooking, cleaning, laundry etc.  Shopping.  Assisting with social & leisure activities.  Involving the Service-users in the local community where appropriate.  Some key working duties/responsibilities alongside the SW.  Helping the Service-users to make informed choices as much as they are able.  Keeping the Service-Users safe and secure.  Maintaining records as necessary.  Maintaining the health & well-being of the Service-users. Staffing Levels at both 24/7 services

There are always 2 staff members on shift with one experienced worker taking responsibility for the day to day running of the project. This includes day and nightshifts. Early shift commences at 7.30am (7am if following a sleep-over). Shift finishing times vary depending on staff contracted hours or the needs of the service but usually hours worked are no less than 6hours and no more than 8hours. Late shift starting times vary as above but usually commence at 2pm or later and finish at 10pm. Waking night shifts commence at 9.45pm and finish at 7.30am. There is an enhanced payment of time and a third for this. Sleep-over is from 10pm until 7am and a separate payment is made for this. (See terms & conditions)

Rota’s are made up well in advance on a monthly basis so that at the start of any month the rota for that month and the following one will be available. Reasonable requests are accepted and holidays are planned in.

Waking night shifts are part of the job in both 24/7 projects and on average will come around once a month. The maximum number of nights worked in any one week are 4 which would be for full-time staff - 39hrs pw, 29.25hrs = 3 nights and 19.5hrs = 2 nights. On average full time staff would have 1 sleep-over a week but this is flexible and not guaranteed.

There are 2 levels of staff – Support Practitioners & Support Workers, the SP taking main responsibility for file work/ reviews etc. There is a Manager who covers all of the Alyth Services, and two Assistant Managers who provide line management to all Alyth staff as well.

New staff members are required to undertake all necessary mandatory training and work a 6 month probationary period which incorporates 2, 4 and 6 monthly reviews. There is also Central Introduction training through Head Office and individual service induction.

Staff members receive regular supervision and annual EPDR’s (appraisals) Team Meetings are held on a monthly basis.

Outreach

Our various Housing Support/Care at Home Services assist adults with learning disabilities to live in their own home through supporting them in the following areas:  Moving into your house.  Assistance with safety and security of your dwelling.  Arranging meetings with professionals.  Advice with domestic and household tasks.  Advice on budgeting, shopping, preparation of meals.  Advice on completing benefit forms.  Neighbourhood disputes.  Arranging/ accompanying to social events and activities. Staff Shift times vary depending on the individual’s support needs, including morning and evening shifts and weekend working, but do not include waking nights or sleep over’s. These services involve Lone Working. We also accept some SDS packages (self-directed support) that may involve short term periods of support or supporting a service user with social activities once or twice a week.

Some benefits you can expect as an employee of the Organisation are:

 An exciting and rewarding career in care

 Training & support to meet your needs

 32 - 37 days annual leave per year ( pro rata )

 Westfield Heath care package

 Pension scheme available

 Discovery Credit Union Scheme

Muriel L McCormack Manager, Alyth Services Cheryl Bruce Assistant Manager (Airlie View & Outreach) Gill Stevens Assistant Manager (Burnside Court & Outreach) Gowrie Care Limited (Part of the Hillcrest Group)

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Hours: 19.5 hours per week are available, to be worked on a shift basis in accordance with the project rota which will be designed to ensure that staff are on duty at times appropriate to the clients and service delivery.

Contract: This is a Permanent post. All posts are subject to a 6 month probationary period. A formal review will take place at 2, 4 and 6 months.

Salary: Salaries are paid monthly, directly into a bank account of your choice. The salary for the Support Worker post for 19.5 hours per week is £8,365.50 per annum.

Sleeping In: Staff may be required to undertake sleep-in duty in accordance with the project rota. Hours on sleep-in duty are not counted towards normal weekly hours. Payment will be made at £33.31 per night. The sleep-in allowance covers overtime of up to ½ hour on night time call out.

Waking Nights: Staff may be required to undertake night duties, payment will be at time and a third for hours worked between 10.00pm - 7.00am.

On Call: The post holder may be required to carry out On Call duties from home. A payment of £16 per shift will be paid for this.

Overtime: Except for night-time call outs overtime is payable only where it is agreed in advance by the organisation.

Pension: Gowrie Care offers a pension under the Governments statutory auto- enrolment scheme, which is a Defined Contribution scheme with a company called NOW Pensions. At present staff and employer contribute 1% each to the scheme and over the next 4 years, this will gradually rise to staff contributing 5% and the employer 3%. Further details of the scheme are available from the payroll team.

Health Plan: Employee’s are automatically given free admission to the Health Plan Scheme. The cost for this is met by the Employer. Details will be sent out with the Contract of Employment.

Child Care The Hillcrest Group offer Employee’s the opportunity to participate in Vouchers: The Child Care Voucher Scheme. Details will be sent out with the Contract of Employment.

Annual Leave: The holiday year runs from 1st January - 31st December. The full holiday entitlement is 32 days inclusive of public holidays. You will receive an additional 5 days over a period of 5 years up to a maximum of 37 days leave. Unit Managers will commence on 37 days. Annual leave is calculated on a pro rata basis for part time staff.

Qualifications: Any offer will be subject to proof of qualifications essential, and where appropriate desirable, to the post. Rehabilitation of If you have any unspent convictions you must declare this on your Offenders Act 1974: application form.

In relation to ‘spent’ convictions, there is a list of convictions which must always be declared and a list of convictions that are declared, subject to rules. Failure to disclose relevant information will be regarded as a breach of trust and could lead to dismissal, disciplinary action or withdrawal of offers of employment.

If you are unsure whether or not you need to disclose a conviction/caution, please contact our Human Resources Department for further advice, or you can check by accessing Disclosure Scotland’s website at w w w . d is c los u resc o tl a n d .c o . u k and check the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Please note that all successful applicants will be subject to a Disclosure check through Disclosure Scotland.

HAVING A CRIMINAL RECORD WILL NOT NECESSARILY DEBAR YOU FROM WORKING WITH THE HILLCREST GROUP OF COMPANIES. THIS WILL DEPEND ON THE NATURE OF THE POSITION, TOGETHER WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND BACKGROUND OF YOUR OFFENCES.

Trades Union: Employee’s have the right to join a Trades Union of their choice, if they wish, although Gowrie Care Limited do not recognise any Trade Union. A Staff Representative group is in place.

No Smoking Policy: Smoking is prohibited in all projects and at Head Office. Designed smoking areas are outside the buildings and should be out of view of service users. This includes the use of E-cigarettes. Employees who are required to carry out their duties in buildings which are out with the control of the organisation are jointly responsible for minimising their own exposure to risk factors such as passive smoking.

Equal Opportunities: Gowrie Care is striving to be an equal opportunities employer and has adopted a Policy which aims to ensure that no job applicant receives less favorable treatment on grounds of race, colour, ethnic and national origins, marital status, gender, age, religion, disability, political or sexual orientations, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Applications: Please forward applications before the closing date

C.V.’s will not be considered. Gowrie Care Limited - Job Description

Job Title: Support Worker Responsible to: Manager and Assistant Manager

Objectives of Post

1. To work as part of a team delivering wide ranging care and support to vulnerable adults within our core client groups, (Homelessness, Mental Health, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disability). 2. Provide person centred support to vulnerable adults which improve the quality of the individuals’ lives, promotes independent living and is relevant to the individuals changing needs. 3. Provide a high standard of care and support to individuals. 4. Facilitate and enable individuals to be involved in their own care and support, and to participate in the development of services and the wider organisation. 5. Perform to the standards laid down by the Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practise, Gowrie Care Ltd Codes of Practise, and Gowrie Care Ltd Policies and Procedures

Key Purposes of Post

1. To participate in shift patterns as required by the service, which may include evening/weekend/waking nigh/sleepover/lone working/on-call duties. 2. To provide direct support to service users. 3. To support service users in progressing their support/care plans and to undertake a co-key worker role. 4. To communicate and engage effectively with the service team, with service users and with others who contribute to the welfare of the people we support. 5. To assist in the day to day operation of the service, 6. To assist and contribute to service improvements 7. To assist with practical property management tasks as appropriate to the service and service user’s needs. 8. To develop knowledge base and skills relating to the service user group the service provides for and the specific needs of individual service users.

Any Other Duties

The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description for the post. The particular responsibilities and duties attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are common occurrences and would not justify the re-evaluation of the post. In cases where a permanent and substantial change in duties and responsibilities of the post occurs, consistent with a higher level of responsibility, then the post may be eligible for re-evaluation.

Attribute Essential Desirable

Experience  Relevant experience in a caring environment  Previous experience with service user group  Basic understanding and skill in the spectrum of tasks associated to role – relevant to the project assistance with personal care, laundry, cleaning, cooking, shopping etc  A general understanding of the needs of the service user group relevant to the project  Good communication skills, both oral and written Skills / Abilities  Ability to work within a team environment   Ability to use own initiative Able to liaise with external agencies   Understanding of the principles and values underpinning good care I.T. skills practice  Experience of delivering personal care  Willing to participate in social events /outings with service users group whilst respecting the service user’s right to  Ability to support service users with tasks such as cooking, cleaning, choice, privacy and dignity budgeting, welfare benefits  Able to demonstrate an understanding of making information accessible

Education  Good educational background and/or willingness to learn  Willing to undertake training as required  SVQ 2 in Health and Social Care or ability to work towards this qualification

Interpersonal & Social Qualities  Flexible approach to service requirements, including flexible shift work  Is adaptable and open to change and open to patterns continuous learning and development  Friendly, warm and kind, with a sense of humour.

 Willing to support/participate in service user activities e.g. hydrotherapy, Project Specific riding for the disabled, swimming etc.  Clean driving licence  Encourage healthy life choices  Basic Cooking skills  Ability to work in an environment where SU’s have a cat  Willing to support service users with public transport in outreach services Gowrie Care Ltd – PERSON SPECIFICATION – SUPPORT WORKER