Job title: Senior Support Worker
Salary: C1 £26421 - £28770
Hours: 37 hours and 28.5 hours per week
Contract: Temporary
Location: Bewerley Croft, Northcote Drive, Leeds. LS11 6DN
As a Senior Support Workeryou’ll thrive on making a difference in people’s lives while working in the health and social care sector.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Senior Support Worker, you will bring to the role:
- A trauma informed approach.
- Compassion
- Flexibility
- You will be driven and keen to make a difference to people’s lives.
- You will need the ability to work on your own initiative.
About the role
You will be working in a team where you will feel valued and supported in a rewarding role. This role will be supporting people in our Mental Health Accommodation Based Services.
You will be supporting people to transition into the THU for a temporary stay, working in partnership with several other partners, to promote recovery and rehabilitation to move into community-based mainstream accommodation. A holistic package of care is provided and this role is dynamic, challenging and extremely rewarding. Shift work is required as these are 24/7 services – a mixture of earlies, late and mid-shifts with sleep in duties amounting to 5 over 4 weeks. Some lone working is essential and good support is in place for this.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
How to apply
Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Linda Strickland, Registered Manager via 07891275933 or email Linda.strickland@leeds.gov.uk
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job purpose
To assist the Registered Manager in discharging their duties under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009. Use sound management techniques to establish and maintain good standards of care practice, using the resources placed at the post holder’s disposal by the Registered Manager. To be a member of the Service’s Management Team, and to accept responsibility for the management of the home in the absence of more senior staff.
Responsibilities
- To accept delegated responsibility from the Registered Manager for the management of an area of the Care Centre’s budget, prudently and within the established cash limits, in accordance with the established financial procedures of the City Council.
- To assist the Registered Manager in being responsible for the planned maintenance and development of the living environment to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009.
- To share in the management and supervision of a team of residential, day and community support staff to ensure the delivery of an effective service and that professional standards and codes of conduct are met.
- As Duty Manager to share in the management of the day to day operations of the service. Ensure that professional practice is monitored and delivered within Leeds City Council policy guidelines (examples of this include Health & Safety, effective operation of the medication policy, Environmental health).
- To provide individual service plans (Care Plans) which are person centred and conform to the requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009 for individual customers.
- As a member of the management team and when required as Duty Manager to lead the team of care staff to ensure that the emotional, physical and social needs of people who use our services are met.
- To participate in the recruitment of staff, in line with the policies and procedures of Leeds City Council, and the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009.
- To co-operate fully with the officers of the Care Quality Commission their inspection processes in the absence of the Registered Manager.
- To assist the Registered Manager in ensuring that all aspects of the City Council’s Continuous Improvement Programme is fully adhered to. Including;
- Ensuring that all grades of staff receive an annual appraisal and that from this appraisal their training and developmental needs are identified, and an action plan put in place to address these needs, enabling staff to reach their full potential.
- Monitoring the implementation of each member of staff’s personal action plan and to record achievement against agreed targets.
- Ensuring that all grades of staff receive regular supervision from their line manager in line with the supervision policy of Leeds City Council.
- To participate in and ensure that all staff are deployed on the 24 hour rota and that staff rotas provide sufficient care and support to meet the residents’ assessed needs.
- To have a clear understanding of the responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and of the other guidance listed in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009.
- In the absence of the Registered Manager or Assistant Manager, to represent the interests of the service at various meetings and forums at a variety of locations throughout the City.
- To establish sound and professional relationships with other disciplines within Health and Social Care.
- To assist the Registered Manager in maintaining all such records in respect of the conduct of the care home – using a manual or IT based system - as required by the policies and procedures of Leeds City Council and the Schedules of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009. To Assist the Registered Manager in ensuring that access to services for older people from Black and minority ethnic communities is facilitated and that services are provided with respect and dignity in culturally appropriate and acceptable ways.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications:
Essential
- NVQL3 in Health and Social Care or an equivalent qualification.
- NVQL3 in supervisory management or equivalent.
Desirable
- Both a care and management qualification at NVQL3 or above.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Competence in staff deployment to reflect the needs of the service.
- Ability and willingness to achieve NVQL4 in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
- Addressing the varied and complex individual needs of service users and responding to any complex or emergency situations as they arise.
- Staff management skills to supervise and lead a team of carers, encouraging a customer conscious approach to addressing the needs of service users and delivering the outcomes from care plans.
- Staff recruitment and selection skills that enable you to participate in the recruitment process.
- Ability to write clear and concise reports.
- Promote customer involvement in decision making about the service they receive.
- A good knowledge and understanding of the needs, management and care planning for older people, including rehabilitative / intermediate care or the care of older people with a dementia
- Knowledge of the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, its regulations and other relevant legislation and guidance.
- Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act.
- Substantive experience of working with older people in a rehabilitative or mental health setting
- Experience of participating in staff appraisal and supervision
- Experience of budget management.
- Experience of working as a part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
- Sensitive to the needs of elderly people and their relatives
- Good Leadership skills
Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
- Able to represent your service area at meetings.
- Ability to deliver “in-house” training.
- A basic understanding of a business philosophy / culture and the need to develop customer responsive services.
- Background in residential and day care services for older people
- Experience of working in a setting that promotes and fosters independence in older people.
- Has professional credibility.
