Job Description
One Giant Leap – Transitions Practitioner
4 Year Contract
Salary Scale:
19-21 (£16,254-£17,458)
(Pro rata for part time)
£8.45-£9.07 per hour
Accountable to:
Place of Work:
Project Manager
Touchbase
Job Summary
Working with children and adults who are members of the One Giant Leap
Programme, to take the lead part in a range of leisure and play activities that will
contribute to the development of communication strategies using current and new
technology, to promote friendships whilst developing, recording and researching
positives transitions from school and childhood to adulthood.
The requirements of the role will depend very much on the ability of the individual
members. You will become involved in the care needs of the members whilst
attending the project.
You will also liaise directly with team members involved in other transitions and
communication projects within Sense Scotland.
Job Purpose:
The Transitions Practitioner will be a key part of the programme and will be the
principal team member working directly with the members and their families,
embedded directly in practice. S/he will provide practice based support and
mentoring to colleagues, supporting them to develop and adapt their skills and
knowledge, to meet the often complex and changing communication support needs
of the members they are supporting.
The Transitions Practitioner will also be expected to work alongside programme
team members as well as direct service staff, to audit the communication needs of,
and current methods used by, members. They will also undertake and update
communication assessments as they progress. They will offer practice advice,
particularly around communication tools and approaches to be used with individuals.
Increasingly, as the programme and individual develops, they will deliver
communication training sessions and present internally and externally with
colleagues about the work of this project
The Transitions Practitioner will help to identify how current practices (e.g.
information sharing, accountability, engagement, attendance at meetings, personal
assistance planning) can present obstacles to members of the programme as they
move through the transitions process, and how these practices can be made
inclusive and accessible.
One Giant Leap Transitions Practitioner Job Description
15th September 2015
Line Management Responsibility:
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Day to day line mentoring and guidance responsibilities for individual
volunteers as delegated by the Project Manager.
Financial Management:
The Transitions Practitioner will when leading a session take responsibility for:

Ensuring the day to day management of programme and Social Fund takings
and any other expenditure is in accordance with Sense Scotland’s policies
and procedures and any discrepancies are reported immediately to the
Project Manager.
Key Responsibilities
1. Day to day management responsibilities
The Transitions Practitioner will take day to day responsibility whilst on shift to
ensure that:
 Set and demonstrate good standards of work practice by demonstrating the
value of good communication, and offering support, mentoring and on shift
training.
 Staffing rotas are maintained, taking into account information relating to
changes in the members, trained staff and volunteers.
 Undertake administration duties that encompass the overall programme
needs.
 The members personal profile is updated to reflect any support changes.
 Be aware/support the methods of communication used by the members and
colleagues.
 Ensure members are safe and be aware of the individuals well being.
 Assist the individual members in daily routines including personal hygiene.
 Assist individual members to enjoy and take part fully in leisure activities.
 Communication assessments are undertaken alongside schools and
colleagues to provide detailed support needs in practice.
 Participate in the design of the group, in particular to assist people to discuss,
identify, and work towards their desired outcomes in relation to the
development of communication, any associated guidance and record keeping.
 Following Sense Scotland’s guidelines to have a clear understanding of and
adhere to Sense Scotland’s policies and procedures.
 Understand and abide by Sense Scotland’s Alcohol Consumption policy.
 That you are aware of the SSSC Code of Practice, National Care Standards
and Sense Scotland’s values and apply those principles in your practice.
 Taking appropriate action to ensure the health, safety and security of
individual members whilst in your care by completing risk assessments and
intervention strategies.
 Performing in a non-discriminatory fashion, and taking appropriate action
when discrimination practice occurs.
 Ensuring individual members needs with regards to sensory impairment,
learning and physical disabilities are considered at all times.
One Giant Leap Transitions Practitioner Job Description
15th September 2015
2. Additional Responsibilities when leading a session:
The Transitions Practitioner will when leading sessions, ensure that:
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Proper record keeping, including recording incidents and complaints are
maintained and passed to the Project Manager, as soon as possible.
Staff and volunteers have a good working knowledge of Sense Scotland’s
guidance and operational handbooks and are provided with the required
support to apply these into practice.
Staff and volunteers are properly supervised and supported in each session
and have access to advice and support.
Staff and volunteers use their knowledge and skills to meet the needs of those
accessing the programme as outlined in their personal profiles.
3. Health and safety and property management
The Transitions Practitioner will:
 Support programme members to apply into practice all the principles of safety
within Touchbase and the community as agreed with the Project Co-ordinator.
 Where a member shows behaviours that present a challenge to staff and
volunteers, ensure that all agreed intervention strategies are implemented into
practice.
 Where risk assessments are in place to minimise risk to members, staff or
volunteers that the appropriate steps are taken to apply the guidance into
practice.
4. Communication
The Transitions Practitioner will:

Ensure that they establish and maintain good and effective communication
partnerships and networks with all relevant parties which include:
Programme members and their families, Sense Scotland staff and volunteers.
Members of the public and representatives from other charities and agencies,
purchasers and funders.
5. Personal and professional development
The Transitions Practitioner will:
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Complete the required mandatory training specific to the programme, within
the timescales agreed.
Attend all practice based support sessions and any supervision meetings as
agreed with your line manager.
Support a culture of continuing professional development.
Be accountable for your own actions.
Safeguard and promote the rights, safety and welfare of people using
services.
One Giant Leap Transitions Practitioner Job Description
15th September 2015

Be aware of and act in accordance with the SSSC Codes of Practice, your
contract of employment and Sense Scotland Conditions of Service.
6. Other requirements
The Transitions Practitioner will:
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Help organise recreational activities within specified locations.
If appropriate, help to prepare individual members meals.
Record and/or pass on all relevant individual member information to the
appropriate member of staff and other volunteers.
Support and help with other volunteers with individual members everyday
care needs e.g. dressing, bathing and feeding.
If appropriate, drive a minibus.
Assist with writing a scrapbook diary of daily activities, identify signifiers and
concrete objects of reference
To ensure members safety and well being at all times.
Safeguard the welfare of the members in your care.
Undertake any other duties as reasonably requested by your line manager.
One Giant Leap Transitions Practitioner Job Description
15th September 2015
Person profile
Essential
Education/Qualifications
Experience/Understanding
Skills and Abilities
A qualification as determined by the SSSC for
registration; such as a relevant professional
qualification and /or an SVQ 3 or 4 in Social Care
A minimum of 2 years practical
experience working directly
with people with complex
support needs
At least 1 year experience in leading a shift.
Demonstrate a working knowledge
of current statutory requirements, Care Commission
standards, registration requirements and the SSSC
Codes of Practice
Be able to demonstrate an ability to work with
stakeholders including families and external
colleagues.
Demonstrate an ability to give clear and concise
verbal and written reports.
Be able to demonstrate an ability to work to
deadlines and targets.
Be able to demonstrate an ability to operate a
staffing rota that reflects the needs of the service
users and staff.
Demonstrate your ability to lead a shift
Demonstrate an ability to manage and maintain
accurate records for petty cash and day to day
household expenditure.
Demonstrate an ability to assess and manage risk.
Be able to demonstrate how you remain accountable
for the quality of your work and take responsibility for
maintaining and improving your knowledge and
skills.
Be able to demonstrate an ability to transfer skills
and knowledge to colleagues that result in positive
outcomes for service users.
Additional Requirements/qualifications
Be able to demonstrate an ability to mentor and
support colleagues.
An ability to work flexible hours and provide on call
support when required, including evenings,
weekends, public holidays and overnight.
A commitment to complete all agreed mandatory and
service specific training and development within 1
year
Hold a full driving licence
SVQ Assessors Qualification
Continued over…
One Giant Leap Transitions Practitioner Job Description
15th September 2015
Desirable
IT skills i.e. Microsoft Office and HR database
systems
Signed communication skills
Food Hygiene Certificate
Holidays:
24 days annual leave, plus 12 public holidays (pro-rata
for part time)
Probationary period:
12 months
One Giant Leap Transitions Practitioner Job Description
15th September 2015