Part-time Support Worker

Introduction

Befrienders For Disability is committed to working in partnership with service users, their families,commissioners and others to provide a bespoke disability specific, person centred and outcome focussed befriending service for people with all forms of physical and intellectual disability.  The Support Worker’s role is to assist the Development Officers in the ‘Real Life Project’ visitation program. To work along side the volunteer team. To Befriend service users. The role will include visiting service users in their homes and in different institutions, taking service users and carers onoutings and day trips as required. To help volunteers develop their skills and abilities. To help maintain the day to day running of the project under the Development Officers leadership. Toreceive training as deemed necessary.

Location/Department
Support Workers are usually recruited for specific locations but may also be required to work at other locations, either temporarily or permanently, or may be recruited for across services.

Line Manager
Support Workers are managed and supervised by our Development Officers through the line management structure.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Support workers are required to work within the mission and values of Befrienders for Disability’s and the aims and objectives of the ‘Real Life Project’.
• Befrienders For Disability is a Christian Charity and therefore as part of its remit and service to its service users is to work within the principles of the Christian Faith. The Support Worker must be willing and able to work within this ethos and to demonstrate an understanding of what this entails and an ability to implement this within the role they are fulfilling.
• Support Workers should promote service user integration into their local community by providing the service user with support, whilst helping to reduce their anxiety and isolation but increase their sense of wellbeing, self-worth and value.
• The privacy, confidentiality, rights and responsibilities of the service users will be upheld at all times.
• Support workers are required to work within BFD policies, practices and procedures, codes of practice and all legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Support workers, as directed by their development officer, should facilitate the service user according to their needs that the development officer has identified and considering at all times their disabilities and abilities.
• At all times the Support Worker is under the direction and leadership of the Development officers and should adhere to their directives regarding each service users needs, as they differ from person to person.
• Undertake driving duties if required by the development officer, to support service users access to their local community or as part of the visitation program.
• Maintain records of untoward incidents, accidents and near misses for service users and employees in accordance with company policies and procedures and report any maintenance requirements.
• Develop person centred working relationships with service users, carrying out support worker responsibilities in a professional manner.
• Undertake any training that the development team deem necessary for your own personal development within the job role or for the benefit of the charity as a whole.
• Maintain service user/ charity confidentiality at all times.
• Ensure at all times that communication with service users is appropriate and relevant to the individual.
• To work alongside the volunteer team, being prepared and willing to work with whomever the development team partner you with on any given visitation and conducting yourself collective as a professional team, not allowing personal difference to interfere with the service that is provided to the service user.
• Any other duties as reasonably requested.

It is the nature of the work of the post that tasks and responsibilities are, in many circumstances, unpredictable and varied. The post holder will therefore be expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises that tasks which are not specifically covered in their job description, have to be undertaken.
These additional duties will normally be to cover unforeseen circumstances or changes in work and they will normally be compatible with the regular type of work.  The job description many also be reviewed in light of changing service, or service users needs, developments in the Charity, or due to legislative or regulatory requirements or in consultation with the post holder.

This job description is not definitive and may vary.

JOB CRITERIA
Essential:
• Working, Voluntary, or Personal knowledge of providing care and or support
• Full UK driving licence held for at least 1 year and access to a car.
• GCSE English and Maths at grade C or above, or equivalent, or higher qualifications.
• To be a good communicator and able to work as part of a team.
• Able to take directives from leadership and work in a professional manner.
• Ability to work on your own initiative and be pro-active in your approach
• Ability to understand that everybody is different and acknowledging the expertise of the service user and promoting service user well being.

Desirable:
• a working knowledge in a similar role.