People in Action Application Pack Hello Thank you for your interest in the Support Worker Vacancy at People in Action. We are a successful and growing charity that provides individual support to adults with learning disabilities. We set ourselves apart from other care providers by providing individualised support to each of our customers and spending the time to understand their needs and wants. This in turn enables our support team to assist our customers in living the life they want to live. Below are a number of testimonials from our Support Workers which I hope will demonstrate why People in Action are not only a successful business, but why the staff we have remain with us. The following pages provide you with an introduction to the People in Action teams and details of the Support Worker vacancy. Please take the time to read through the information before you complete the application form. I look forward to receiving your application. Yours Sincerely, Serena Sanghera HR & Training Manager
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers: Q: Which locations do People in Action work in? A: We currently offer residential and domiciliary services in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Solihull and Coventry. Below is a short introduction to our areas and teams Hi, I’m James and I manage the Solihull team of 25 staff members. I have a mixture of both permanent staff and relief staff. Some of the staff have not worked in care before however have the transferrable skills that the position requires. Hi, I’m Trudi and I manage the Nuneaton service which has a team 50 support staff. I meet with staff every 6 to 8 weeks to discuss strengths and weaknesses that can be improved on and to offer my support. Hi, I’m June and I manage Milverton Terrace which is a residential home in Leamington Spa with 24 hour care for up to 8 customers. We currently have 10 support staff. Most of the customers come to Milverton due to changes in their individual needs which can no longer be met where they are living. Our role is to make an assessment of their needs and help the social worker make plans for the future. Hi I’m Chris and I manage the Rugby service. I have 25 support staff in my team. Everyone in the team receives inductions into the service and in house
training alongside mandatory training which supports
them in their role. This includes health and safety, food
hygiene and epilepsy. hours each day for the
week. Hi I’m Cheryl and I manage Four Gables which is a small residential home with 5 customers who all need support to communicate, keep safe and stay healthy. The Staff team are enthusiastic, dynamic, adaptable and responsive. I’m Sarah and I Hi, manage the Worcester team.We have a few 24 hour services with sleep ins, the rest is what I call outreach services and this can range from 1 day a week to a few
Hi, I’m Suki and I have 30 staff members in my team who all work across all services in our area. The support that we provide customers can vary depending on their identified needs. Some customers may have only a couple of hours a week for support with shopping and finances, where as others may need full support from ourselves 24/7. Q: What do People in Action want to achieve? A: We are committed to delivering our brand promise of supporting our customers to live their life in the way they choose and feel that this can only be achieved with a highly skilled team. Q: How do we do that? A: We listen to our customers and what they want. We invest time in developing and maintaining their relationships, we nurture their interests and assist them to achieve their aspirations and life goals. The end result that we seek is for the customer to become as independent as possible, to express their individuality positively and integrate into their local community. Our staff are then trained to ensure that they can assist the customer in all aspects of their lives. Q: What does it feel like to work here, as part of the People in Action family? A: We pride ourselves on the support we give to our staff and also encourage a learning environment which is showcased in the number of different training courses we have on offer. A successful applicant will gain a wealth of knowledge in their time at People in Action and become a well rounded and professional Support Worker. Q: So what do our customers want? Our customers want..... I want to have a say in my life! I want you to respect me, listen to me, understand me and treat me like an adult. I want you to respect my space, my house and my belongings. Can you help me find activities I like to do. Can you help me see my friends and family? Can you help me with my medication? Can you support me to do my shopping, banking, cooking and cleaning? Can I trust you? Can I tell you if I’m worried? Q: So what does a support worker actually do? A: People in Action Support Workers perform a number of activities depending on the service they work in and the requirements of a particular customer. The chart below however shows the activities and time proportions of a typical day in the life of a Support Worker. The emphasis is placed upon supporting the customer and not doing things for the customer. At People in Action, one of our objectives is to promote customer independence through encouraging, showing and motivating customers to take control of their lives. What does a Support Worker do? Personal Care Reporting & 10% Recording 5% Training 10% Household Duties 10% Appointments & Medication 25% Social Interaction 40% Q: What will I get by working with People in Action? A: Not only do we invest in our customers, but we also invest in our staff. People in Action offer a number of different benefits which include: •
A competitive rate of pay: We will pay you £6.70 per hour. An additional £1.00 per hour premium is payable for working in South Warwickshire, Rugby, Solihull or Worcester. •
Level 2 Health & Social Care: We will fund the cost of a level 2 Health and Social Care Diploma and on successful completion of your qualification, your wage will also increase. •
We also pay an allowance of £25 for each sleep-­‐in. •
Holidays: You will be entitled to 20 days holiday plus double time pay for any bank holiday that you work. •
You will receive a full induction programme which will equip you with the knowledge that you require. This will include First Aid, Food Hygiene, Medication, Health and Safety and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults The induction training programme spans over 5 days and you will be paid for these 5 days. •
Career progression: there will be numerous opportunities during your time with PIA to progress your career. All of our service managers have been promoted from support workers to managers which demonstrate our commitment to developing our staff. •
You will receive on the job support from your manager and work colleagues and an on the job induction programme will be created with you. This will include you shadowing a fellow colleague until you feel comfortable to work independently. The above are just a few of the benefits of working with People in Action. If you are successfully shortlisted for an interview, the interviewer will outline all the other great benefits to you. Q: So what happens now? A: Now you know about the job, we would like to know about you. On the next page you will find a job description which will outline the responsibilities and duties of the role. Once you have read through this, please complete the application form that follows and send it to: Serena Sanghera, HR Manager, White Lion Chambers, 44 High Street, Bedworth, CV12 8NF or email it to ssanghera@people-­‐in-­‐action.co.uk
Support Worker: Job Description
Role Objectives
•
To aid the customer to live with and become affiliated to the communities in which he/she
reside.
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To encourage the customer to live as independently as possible.
•
To provide an individual service to all customers rather than a one size fits all approach.
Responsibilities to the Customer
Integration into the community
Identify, create and/or participate in opportunities which involve the customer interacting
and becoming a part of his/her local community. This may include building positive
relationships with neighbours, participating in local clubs like rambling or art clubs to
hosting a gathering with friends.
Encouraging independence
Develop creative ways of motivating the customer to partake in the day to days routines of
their life. This will include participation in household chores, meal preparation and
personal care as far as the customers abilities allow.
Promote individuality
Provide opportunities which allow the customer to make choices on how their support is
delivered. This can range from giving a variety of meal options, assisting in the
development of their day to day schedule and allowing the customer to choose what
he/she wears.
Safeguarding the customer
You must report any activity or attitude which could result in the customer being taken
advantage of to your line manager. It is imperative that the customer’s wellbeing and
safety is your number one priority at all times.
Delivering personal care
Assist customers with their personal care needs which will include toileting, bathing,
cleaning, help with the laundry, changing bed linen, preparing meals and administering
medication. Personal care must be delivered sensitively, with dignity and to a high
standard taking into account the customers preferences.
The role of a customer representative
Act as a representative on behalf of the customer (if required) with family members,
doctors, nurses, dentists and other external agencies. As the representative you will be
required to communicate effectively ensuring that the customer’s symptoms, concerns,
needs and wants are communicated correctly.
Positive interaction
Interact with the customer and facilitate conversations as well as create a homely and
social atmosphere through friendly banter. You must engage the customer’s attention and
identify those interactions which prompt positive behaviours and expression.
You must ensure that you are on time for all of your shifts as the customer is relying on
you to provide the support that he/she needs. It is imperative that you communicate with
your manager should you not be able commit to your shift pattern.
Responsibilities to the Team
Administration and reporting
Assist in devising, implementing and reviewing customer care plans ensuring that they are
individualised to each customer. You are also required to complete all documentation,
including medication sheets and incidents reports in a timely and accurate manner.
Conduct regular safety checks and report any concerns or maintenance tasks to your
Service Manager.
Training and development
Participate in training courses to ensure that you have the most up to date knowledge and
participate in regular supervisions and appraisals so that training needs, work
performance and career opportunities can be evaluated.
Working as a team
Participate in rotas including bank holidays, weekends, evenings and sleep in duties and
assist in providing cover for your team during absences and holidays.
Supporting team members with a customer (if required) and sharing your experiences with
one another in the aim of creating a learning environment.
Responsibilities to People in Action
Working within People in Action policy and procedures
Adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the Manual of Procedures at all times.
Company representative
You must ensure that you act professionally at all times and remember that you are
representing People in Action, whether that is in the customers home or out in the
community.
From time to time you may be required by the Organisation to perform any additional or
other functions that the Organisation considers necessary to meet the needs of the
Organisation.
People In Action: Person Specification
Education & Experience
•
Good level of numeracy & literacy
•
Experience of working as a support worker or a similar
role
Holds a full UK driving license.
Life experience: understands the challenges of creating
positive relationships and the fulfilment such
relationships can bring.
•
•
Essential
X
X
X
X
Skills & Abilities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ability to communicate, listen and understand the
customer using verbal and non verbal techniques
Assist the customer to develop and maintain
relationships
Ability to know when to provide support to a customer
and when to step back.
Ability to identify opportunities which the customer will
enjoy and benefit from.
Must be flexible in how you apply your skills to each
customer, ensuring that you do not use a one size fits
all approach.
Observe the customers body language and behavioural
patterns and recognise when you need to intervene.
Maintain the customers confidentiality at all times
Able to deal with confrontation and negative behaviour.
Ability to review your own performance
To report any activity or attitude which might take
advantage of, or abuse, the vulnerable nature of our
customers.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Personal Attributes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Demonstrates a positive image of people with learning
difficulties.
The ability to remain patient and calm in challenging
situations
Understand the customer’s strengths and weaknesses
Treat the customer with dignity and respect their life
choices. It is imperative that you do not impose your life
choices onto the customer.
Committed to getting to know the customer
Polite and considerate towards the customer and the
customers home.
Show that you are trustworthy and reliable
Able to interact and socialise with the customer
positively.
Helpful, caring and approachable.
Outgoing and prepared to step out of your comfort zone Demonstrates an understanding and commitment to
equal opportunities. Desirable
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
White Lion Chambers, 44 High Street, APPLICATION FORM Bedworth, CV12 8NF Tel: 024 7664 3776 Post applied for ......................................................... Relief full/part time (tick relevant box) Surname …………………………………………………………....................... Preferred location (tick all that apply) Nuneaton Bedworth Solihull Coventry Rugby Leamington Spa Warwick Kenilworth Gaydon Snitterfield Stratford Alcester Worcester Redditch Evesham Kidderminster Malvern Droitwich Greenscope How many hours per week do you require? Do you have your own transport? YES / NO Do you have a full current driving licence? YES / NO Date of birth .............................................................. Forenames ………………………………………………………...................... Preferred name ........................................................................ Address ……………………………………………………………..................... …………………………………………………………………….…........................ ...........……………………………………postcode……………………............. Tel. no. …………………………………………………… Email Address: …………………………………………………….................. National Insurance No: ………………………………................. Present / most recent employment Employer ……………….……………………………………………....................................... Job title……………………………………………………........... Date of appointment …………………….…………….. Period of notice required ……………………………………………. Summary of present duties and responsibilities: FULL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY – WITH AN EXPLANATION OF ANY GAPS IN EMPLOYMENT DATES (Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary) (If you are applying for an internal vacancy, this section does not need to be completed). Employer's name and address p osition dates employed Reason for leaving Education and training: (Continue on separate sheet if necessary) Date Subject / Course Title College / Organisation Personal Statement: Please use the space below to give any information about yourself which will show how you meet the person specification, including why you have applied for the post. (Continue on separate sheet if necessary) Questions: Some of the customers we support may be labelled as ‘challenging.’ What does the word challenging mean to you and what sort of things could cause a person to behave in this way? You are taking a customer out shopping for the first time on your own. What sort of things would you need to know? John recently moved from a large residential home to his own flat. How might you assist John to learn about and become part of his new community? Service users we support are classed as vulnerable adults who can be open to abuse. Give an example of what abuse is, and how would you deal with it? REFERENCES: Please give below the names and addresses of two referees whom we can contact for references. At least one referee should be your present or most recent employer (school or college if a student). Relatives or partners cannot be accepted as referees. Please note that no offer of employment will be made prior to receipt of references. References are usually taken up following interview. (1) (2) Name……………………………………………….………… Name………….…….…………….…………………………. Address………………………………………………………. Address ……………………………………………………... ………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………. Telephone …………………………………………………… Telephone…………….. …………………………………… Capacity in which referee knows you: Capacity in which referee knows you: ………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………....... May we approach the above prior to interviewing YES/NO May we approach the above prior to interviewing YES/NO Please state if you are related to any Director or member of staff of the Company YES / NO If yes, name of that person ................................................................ FOR OUR MONITORING PURPOSES: Where did you hear about this position? Please state where you saw the position advertised in a newspaper, please state which newspaper / publication. DECLARATION I confirm that the information I have given on this form is correct and complete and that any misleading statements may be sufficient for cancelling any agreements made. In the event of being shortlisted for interview, I will be required to complete a declaration of criminal record. Due to the sensitive nature of the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake, I understand that this declaration will include details of any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, final warnings and any other information that may have a bearing on my suitability for the post. I understand that an Enhanced Disclosure will be sought from the Disclosure and Barring Service in the event of a successful application. If you have subscribed to the DBS Update Service, you will be required to give us permission to check the status of your DBS Certificate. In order for us to check this information, you should provide us with your full name and recent DBS Certificate Number. The DBS must be an Enhanced Certificate and the category should be for the “Child and Adult Workforce”. If this is not the case, you will be required to complete another DBS Application form with us. Signature ………………………………………………………………. Date ………………………………………………….. Due to the large number of applications we receive, if you do not hear from us within 21 days, your application has not been successful on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in our organisation. WORK PERMIT FORM Job Title: Support Worker / Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager / Service Manager/Operations Manager/Admin Staff Under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, are you eligible to work in the U.K? *YES/NO (please circle) Do you need a work permit? *YES/NO (please circle) If so what is the expiry date? ……………………………………………………………… If YES, please state Work Permit number …………………………………………………. Signed …………………………………….. Name ……………………………………… Date ……………………………………….. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING FORM (TO BE COMPLETED ON APPLICATION) People in Action is striving to ensure that all job applicants are given equal consideration irrespective of ethnic origin, nationality, gender, marital status, age or disability. To help monitor the success of our Equal Opportunities Policy, it would be helpful if you would complete and return this form. This information will remain confidential and anonymous. Please tick as appropriate: 1. Are you Male Female 30 – 39 over 65 2. What age band are you in? Up to 19 40 – 49 50 – 65 20 – 29 3. Which of the following do you consider to be your ethnic origin? (Tick one box only) White British White & Black Caribbean White Irish White & Black African Pakistani White Other White and Asian Bangladeshi Chinese Mixed other Asian Other Black Caribbean Black African Black Other Other Ethnic Group (please describe …………………………………………... Indian DECLARATION OF CRIMINAL RECORD Applicant’s name ………………………………………………………………Applicant Signature................................. Date: ..................................................................................... Applicant’s Address………………………………………………………………………....................................................... …………………………………………………………………………………………………........................................................... As stated on the application form, because of the sensitive nature of the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake, you are required to disclose details of any criminal record. 1) Have you ever been convicted by the courts or cautioned, reprimanded or given a final warning by the police? (Note that the post you have applied for is excepted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, which means that all convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings on your criminal record need to be disclosed). Yes/No (please circle) If Yes, please give details of offences, penalties and dates. (Continue on another sheet if necessary) 2) Are you aware of any police enquiries undertaken following allegations made against you which may have a bearing on your suitability for this post? Yes/No (please circle) If Yes, please give details. (Continue on another sheet if necessary) If you have declared a criminal record and we believe this to have a bearing on the requirements of the post, we will discuss the matter with you at interview. If we do not raise the record with you it is because we have taken the view that it should not be taken into account in deciding your suitability for the post. If you require further information or have any concerns about filling in this declaration please contact our HR Department on 02476 643776. All the information provided on this form will be kept confidential to the recruitment process. The Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice is available upon request. Please contact Personnel on 02476 643776. THIS DECLARATION MUST BE ENCLOSED WITH YOUR APPLICATION FORM, IN A SEPARATE ENVELOPE.