Post
of
Care Assistant
St. Raphael’s Centre, Youghal
“Centre for people with Learning Difficulties”
Intern Scheme
MISSION STATEMENT
We, at St. Raphael’s, through partnership embrace
the core values of choice, independence, care and dignity
and value the right of each individual to develop their full potential
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Job Specification – Intern Care Assistant
Job Title and Grade
Competition
Reference
Intern Care Assistant, Intellectual Disabilities, St. Raphael’s Centre, Cork
Closing Date
12 noon on Friday 22nd November 2013
Location of Post
St. Raphael’s Centre, Youghal, Co. Cork
Organisational Area
HSE-South, Intellectual Disability for Adults
Details of Service
HSE SW ICA 3
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Long term day, residential and community/Respite service for Adults with
intellectual disability
The possible future developments for the service are the provision of a new 30
bedded unit and the introduction of Person Centred Planning.
Reporting
Relationship
Reports to CNM2, CNM1
Accountable to the Assistant Director of Nursing and Director of Nursing
Purpose of the Post
To accept delegated responsibility for the physical and emotional well-being as well as
the personal hygiene of the adults with an intellectual disability attending St. Raphael’s
Centre
Principal Duties and
Responsibilities
1. In the context of the overall Unit programme, to assist with aspects of the
programme including:
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Cognitive development
Communication
Gross and Fine Motor skills
Play, P.E., Swimming, Bowling, Sporting activities
Physiotherapy, under the direction of a physiotherapist
General medical and dental care including hospital appointments
Positive Behaviour strategies and interventions.
Social integration, including use of local community facilities
Kitchen skills, cookery etc.
Implementation of Dietary programmes
Literacy and Numeric programmes as appropriate
Work skills as appropriate
Massage and relaxation therapy
Job coaching as appropriate
Personnel Hygiene
2. To be responsible for the hygiene of the equipment, educational and play.
Many of the Intellectually disabled clients are susceptible to infection and
require very high levels of hygiene
3. To participate in the monitoring and recording of the progress of each resident
in line with agreed procedures
4. To be a link, under the direction of the head of Unit, between the Unit and the
Family
5. To maintain confidentiality in all dealings
6. To participate fully in regular staff meetings where all aspects of the Units
functioning are discussed with a view to maintaining high standards, open
communication among staff and good levels of staff morale.
7. To participate as required by the Head of Unit in the Planning Developing and
implementing agreed individual and group programmes and become involved
as in I.P.P., Person Centred Planning, reports and action plans.
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8. As the duties and responsibilities of a Unit are likely to change in lieu with the
needs of people with an Intellectually disability attending, the staff member
must be flexible and willing to change and adapt to new programmes and
models of service
9. To attend meetings (Case conferences, parent meetings, etc.) as required by
the Head of Unit
10. To participate and assist with the organisation of Holiday Camp and Unit
Holiday breaks
11. To be involved as directed, with supervision, training and monitoring of
students, and volunteers attending the Unit
12. To act as a ‘Key Worker’
13. To contribute to programmes, meetings. Etc. which aim to educated and
promote public awareness and commitment towards the changing needs of
people with an Intellectual Disability
14. to attend and reach an acceptable standard of performance in courses internal
and external and as designated as appropriate by the employing authority
15. Agree to cooperate with the implementation and operation of the Drug
administration policies and procedures of the service
16. To ensure all fire regulations and fire equipment are effective and advise
relevant staff of any defect. To make all residents aware, insofar possible, of
Fire Drill Procedures
17. As the duties and responsibilities of any post in the service are likely to change
with the ongoing needs of the clients, e.g. age, level of disability etc. Staff are
expected to have a high level of flexibility, a willingness and an ability to
develop new approaches to their work as the clients needs demand
This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is
intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive.
The principal duties and responsibilities as outlined above indicate the main
functions and responsibilities of the post and are subject to review and
amendment in light of changing circumstances and may include other duties
and responsibilities as may be determined by the Director of Centre, Assistant
Director of Centre or designated line manager.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or
experience
Each candidate must, at the latest date for receipt of completed application form for the
post:
Possess a FETAC Level 5 in Healthcare Support
Skills, competencies
and/or knowledge
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Other requirements
specific to the post
Demonstrate communication skills with regard to building relationships,
empathising and focusing on the needs of the resident.
Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the need to provide a quality
service to resident and relatives
Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with multi
disciplinary team members
Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat clients, relatives
and colleagues with dignity and respect
Demonstrate an awareness of Health and Safety issues as they apply in the
work area
Candidate must have access to means of transport.
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Competition Specific
Selection process
Shortlisting may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application
form. The criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as
outlined in the “eligibility criteria” and “skills, competencies and/ or knowledge” section
of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your
experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you
not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
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Care Assistant - Flexibility Agreement
Flexibility Agreement
1. To avoid confusion with other grades, all grades of staff paid at this
revised pay rate will be known as Care Assistants
2. The co-operation of care assistants will be required in the introduction
of consumer feedback mechanisms and of service users’ participation
in the planning and delivery of services
3. Care Assistants will agree to participate in initiatives, which will
improve quality of all aspects of their service
4. Care Assistants will agree to the introduction of audits which will
evaluate the effectiveness of the services being provided in
accordance with the contents of the Health Strategy – Shaping a
Healthier future. Care Assistants will agree to co-operate with the
setting of agreed objectives and high standards and to be accountable
for their achievement.
5. Care Assistants will agree to the development of Value for Money
structures and programmes designed to achieve improvements in the
efficiency and effectiveness of the service.
6. Care Assistants will agree to operate with future changes, which may
arise in organisation structure and reporting relationships within the
service
7. Care Assistants will agree to co-operate with the introduction of
flexibility and mobility measures, which are designed to enhance the
effective and efficient delivery of services, subject to discussion and
consultation. Such flexibility measures will include:
a. Co-Operation with future changes which will result in more effective
and client-centred methods of service delivery
b. Co-Operation with the mobility of employees within the whole service
c. Co-Operation with the current practice of taking clients away on
holidays
8. Care Assistants will agree to the implementation and operation of the
Service Policy and Procedures on Abuse and other relevant Policies
and Procedures
9. Care Assistants will agree to co-operate with all aspects of the design,
installation and operation of new technology, management agree to
full consultation with staff on technological change. Care Assistants
agree that no technology-related claims will be made in the future.
10. The service is committed to the development of the necessary skills
and knowledge for their efficient use of new technology where
appropriate. Every effort will be made to encourage employees to
familiarise themselves with new technology by way of training
organised by the service to meet identified and agreed needs
11. It will be necessary for Care Assistants to co-operate with changes in
respect of methods of future service delivery. Care Assistants agree
to co-operate with improvements in respect of transportation services
for clients to and from activation services and outings. They also
agree to cooperate with service policy in relation to inclusion,
integration and community care and support
12. Care assistants agree to co-operate with ongoing education and
training organised by the service
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13. Care Assistants agree to co-operate with the implementation and
operation of the drug administration policies and procedures of the
service.
14. As is the nature of caring for people with an intellectual disabilities staff
will be required to promote social inclusive strategies for the services
users and may be required to voluntarily drive centre vehicles or their
own cars (in line with HSE protocols and procedures) to achieve such
outcomes.
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