Dear Candidate
Thank you for requesting information and an application form for one of the
following post.
Relief Worker
As well as reading this pack, please visit the Sense website at www.sense.org.uk
for information on Sense and our activities.
If you are emailing your completed application from to us, please send it to
[email protected], in order that the equal opportunities pages may be removed
before it is sent for shortlisting.
If you prefer to post it, please send it to: Human Resources Department, Sense
Northern Ireland, The Manor House, 51 Mallusk Road, Mallusk, Co Antrim
BT36 4RU, to arrive before the closing date.
I would advise that you carefully read the candidate guidelines before beginning to
complete your application form.
Good luck with your application and we look forward to hearing from you.
Nicola Clugston
HR Business Partner
CANDIDATE GUIDELINES
Please read these notes carefully before completing your application form.
General Information
Application packs are available and may be submitted in Braille, large
print, disk or on audiotape. If you submit your application in Braille, or on
tape, it is likely that it will be transcribed.
This means that the contents of your form may be seen by a Sense worker
other than the Managers responsible for short listing applications. Your
application will still be treated in strictest confidence.
This form may be photocopied so it is helpful if you complete it clearly in black
ink. If you need help completing the form, please call the contact number on the
covering letter.
Applications for employment are not accepted on Curriculum Vitae,
Please make sure we receive the form by first mail on the closing date.
Managers often shortlist on the closing date, so late applications may not be
considered.
Section 1 Personal Details
This section tells us how we can contact you.
The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 requires employers to ask
employees if they are eligible to work in the United Kingdom. All successful
applicants will be asked to produce documentary evidence to support this before
commencing employment.
Section 2 Education and Training
This information will help us to find out about any training and qualifications which
you have which may be relevant to the requirements of the person specification.
Do not be put off if you have nothing to write in this section, as not all jobs require
formal qualifications.
Section 3 Employment History
Sense works with people who are dual sensory impaired with other disabilities,
some of whom could be vulnerable to abuse. For this reason we make detailed
checks on the background of all new staff and ask you to give full details of your
employment history. If there are any gaps please explain what you were doing ie
at home, unemployed, gap year etc.
Section 4 Meeting the Person Specification
Please find enclosed with this application form a Job Description and a Person
Specification. The Job Description details the responsibilities and duties of the job
for which you are applying. You should check that you feel able to undertake the
duties of the job before completing this form.
The Person Specification details the type of person we are looking for to do this
job. Please use the Person Specification when you are completing the form to
explain why you think you could do this job and how you think your skills and
experience match those given. Please include any other information that you think
is important, for example any voluntary work or relevant social activities with which
you have been involved.
Section 5 Other Information
Sense has a policy of interviewing any applicant who is Deaf or disabled and who
also meets the essential shortlisting criteria. However, to make sure this happens,
please would you answer the questions on the application form. It would also be
helpful if you could indicate in this section if you need any support at your
interview. This means that we can make arrangements prior to making
appointments for you or other candidates.
Section 6 References
You are asked to provide details of previous employers who can tell us about you
and whether or not they would consider you to be suitable for the job for which you
have applied. If you are not able to provide an employment reference, then you
should give details of someone who knows you well, but is not a member of your
family. If you have no previous employer, please contact the Regional HR Office
who will advise you accordingly.
Section 7 Declaration
Please sign and date your completed form, if you are submitting by email you will
be asked to sign at interview stage if successful.
Section 8 Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978
If the vacancy for which you are applying is exempt from the Rehabilitation of
Offenders legislation, you are required to complete this section of the form and you
should declare ANY cautions or convictions or if there are proceedings against you
Section 9 Equal Opportunity Monitoring
Sense is committed to Equal Opportunities. All our Managers have a responsibility
to ensure that all recruitment decisions are based on criteria relevant to the job.
Sense will not discriminate unfairly on the grounds of an applicant's sex, race, skin
colour, disability, ethnic or national origin, religious belief or lack of it, marital
status, sexual orientation, responsibility for dependants, age, appearance, social
background or membership of a Trade Union.
Sense monitors all applications for employment. It would be helpful if you will
complete the monitoring form and return it with your application. It will be detached
and kept separate from your application form and will not be seen by the employing
manager.
Full details of Sense’s Equal Opportunity Policy are available on request.
Application Form for Employment
Job Title and Location of Job :
Reference Number :
Closing Date :
Where did you see the advert :
Please ensure you read the candidate guidelines before completing the
application form.
Section 1 Personal Details
PLEASE TYPE/WRITE YOUR
ANSWERS BELOW
First name(s)
Family name
Address
Post Code
Home/textphone numbers
Mobile number
Email address
Preferred method of contact
Do you hold a valid driving licence?
Do you have the use of a car?
Are you eligible to work in the UK?
How flexible are you?
Section 2 Education and Training
Qualification
Subject
Grade
Please give details of any training courses attended, which are relevant to your
application. (see person specification)
Course Title
Date Attended
Please give details of any technical or professional organisations to which you
belong.
ISA Registered : Yes/No
Registration Number _______________
NISCC Registered : Yes/No
Registration Number _______________
Expiry Date
_______________
Section 3 Employment History
Please give details of all the jobs you have held, beginning with your most
recent/current employer. Please account for any periods when you were
unavailable for work, or were undertaking voluntary work.
Dates
employment
started and
finished
Name, Address and
telephone number of
Employer
What was your job title?
Describe the work you
did.
Reason for
leaving
Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary
What is your present or most recent salary?
Have you previously worked for Sense? If yes, please give details
Are you related to, or in a relationship with, anyone who currently works for
Sense. If yes, please give details
Section 4 Meeting the Person Specification
Use this space to tell us why you want to work with Sense in this role.
If necessary please continue on no more than one additional sheet.
(Please do not attach a c.v.).
Section 5 Other Information
How many times have you been absent from work
due to illness during the past two years?
If more than 10 days absence, please give details
Do you consider yourself to be disabled ?
Yes/No
If yes, please indicate whether you would need any particular arrangement to be
made, or support provided, if you were to be invited to interview or offered the post
Section 6 References
All offers of employment are subject to receipt of satisfactory written references.
Please provide details of two employer referees from whom confidential enquiries
may be made. Referee one must be your present or most recent line manager.
References are normally taken up following interview. We reserve the right to
contact any of your previous employers. Educational referees may only be given
were this will be your first employment following education.
Referee 1
(Current or most recent employer)
Name
Job Title
Company name
Address
Telephone number
Email address
Delete as appropriate
Line Manager/Tutor
Referee 2
Section 7 Declaration
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the information on this form is true and
accurate. I understand that if information I have supplied is false or misleading in
any way, it will automatically disqualify me from appointment or may render me
liable to instant dismissal without notice. I authorise Sense to process this
application in line with the Data Protection Act 1998.
Signed
Date
Section 8 Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978
If you are applying to work with Deafblind people, the provisions of Section 4.2 (of the
Rehabiltation of Offenders (exceptions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979) do not apply.
This means you are not entitled to withhold information about convictions or cautions
which, for other purposes, are ”spent” under the provision of the Act.
If you answer YES to either of the following questions, please give details on a
separate sheet of paper and return with the application in a sealed envelope for
the attention of the Director.
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence,
received a caution, warning or reprimand?
Yes
No
Are there any Prosecutions against you pending?
Yes
No
Information given will be treated as confidential and will be considered only in relation
to applications for positions to which the order applies.
Declaration
I understand that if I am offered employment, it is on condition that any future
convictions or cautions for a criminal offence be notified to my manager immediately.
Each case would be taken on its merits and suspension or dismissal would not
automatically follow. Failure to disclose, however, may result in dismissal.
Signed
Date
Section 9 Equal Opportunity Monitoring
Sense has instituted a policy of monitoring our Equal Opportunity policy by
collecting information about job applicants. This will enable us to decide if our
advertising is reaching all sections of the community, and to check that the final
selection decision was made on the grounds of suitability for the job only. In order
to assist us with this, it would be helpful if you could answer the questions below.
All information received will be held in the strictest confidence. This part will be
separated from your application and will not be seen by our shortlisting panel.
Job applied
for
Name:
Age
Are you
Do you consider yourself:
disabled
visually impaired
Male
Female
Deaf
hard of hearing
blind
Deafblind
Please note you can tick more than one box
Ethnic Origin
This section uses the same categories as in the latest government census. Sense
is, therefore, able to monitor whether applications for employment reflect the local
population.
What do you regard as your ethnic origin?
Please select one of the following:
(a) White: British, Irish or Other white background (please specify)
(b) Mixed: White and black Caribbean, White and black African, White and Asian
or other mixed background (please specify)
(c) Asian or Asian British: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or other Asian
background (please specify)
(d) Black or Black British: Caribbean, African or other Black background (please
specify)
(e) Chinese (f) Other (please specify) (g) do not wish to give this information
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Community Background (Applicants for jobs in Sense Northern Ireland only)
Roman Catholic
Protestant
other
do not wish to give this information
Where did you see this job advertised?: ________________________________
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE
Casual Support Worker
LOCATION
Edenvale Residential Homes, Eden, Carrickfergus
The Education/Day Centre, Carrickfergus
The Manor House, Mallusk
Respite and Community locations, Carrickfergus/Larne
RESPONSIBLE TO
Line Manger Adult Services or Children’s Services
SALARY
up to £6.78 per hour
HOURS
no guaranteed hours/as and when required
JOB PURPOSE
To provide cover in one or more of the above locations
Adult Services
Edenvale and Respite
You will be required to work a shift system to provide 24 hour support to people in their
home and in other services that meet their developmental, social and personal needs and
aspirations.
Education Centre
You will be working with a group of adults who have dual sensory impairments or single
sensory impairments with additional learning, physical or medical disabilities jand you will
support Tutors and Education Support Workers in the Centre and during leisure/
Community based activities. We offer a range of educational, vocational and leisure
activities.
Community Locations
You will be required to support an adult at their home in the Larne/Newtownabbey Area,
on a one to one basis. You will be working shifts between the hours of 11 am and 9 pm,
Sunday to Saturday.
Children’s Services
The Manor House
You will provide a safe, stimulating environment in which babies/children with disabilities
can be encouraged to develop.
DUTIES
At all centres


To support deadblind adults with all tasks of daily living, including the full range of
household tasks, personal care tasks, social and leisure activities.
If working with children you will be part of a team providing support and
developmental opportunities through play.

To ensure that deafblind people are the focus of your attention at all times,
communicating effectively with them in a meaningful and appropriate manner.. full
training in communication on tactics will be provided.

To listen to deafblind people, and encourage them to identify areas of interest and
to support them to develop those interests and access new experiences.

To carry out all duties in a positive and empowering manner, following a person
centred approach.

To complete all records appropriately

To work as an enthusiastic member of the team, playing a full and active role in the
development of the service.

To ensure that Health and Safety standards are maintained at all time.

To participate in all staff development and training initiatives

Any other duties required by the deafblind person.
Whilst every effort has been made to fully detail duties at all sites we wish to advise
that a full and more detailed job description will be made available upon successful
application of work.
Nb
Our Education Centre hours are Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 3.30 pm
And have some set closures over bank/public holidays periods.
Our Nursery hours, at The Manor House, Mallusk are Tuesday to Friday
mornings only and does not operate over the summer months.
Our Out of Schools Club hours, at The Manor House, Mallusk are Monday to
Friday afternoons only and is replaced over the summer months by a Summer
Scheme.
A full and enhanced police check is undertaken for all workers and employees
Person Specification – Casual Support Worker
Requirements
Essential
Personal
Ability to work flexible
Qualities/Attributes hours, including
evenings, weekends,
public/bank holidays
and nights
A positive and
empowering attitude
Ability to listen to
others and respond
appropriately to their
needs
Be respectful to others
Be open and honest
Ability to participate in
a range of leisure
/social activities
Able to participate and
make a positive
contribution
Qualifications
Skills and
experience
Additional skills
Committed to
completing all
necessary training
Can work in a team or
on own initiative
Ability to complete all
records accurately
Understand the need to
maintain confidentiality
at all times
Desirable
Evidence
Application
form/interview
Interview
NVQ 2/3 in Care
Provide
certificate at
interview
Interview
Application
form/interview
Signed
communication skills
Desirable
Hold a full driving licence
Ability to drive a minibus