Would you like to make a difference to a person’s quality of life? Would you like to learn BSL while being paid? We are looking for caring and motivated Support Workers to support deaf BSL users to join our team. Could that be you?

Who are we?

Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity, supporting and celebrating deaf people. We were established in 1835 and work with deaf people across Scotland and the South of England. Our work is geared towards empowering all deaf people to achieve their potential and fully participate in society, with equality of rights, access, and opportunity.

As well as our outreach service in Edinburgh, we are expanding our service provision in Glasgow and are looking for people who can make a major contribution to our plans for innovation and growth and who have the commitment and enthusiasm to contribute to the work of our support services to Deaf people throughout Edinburgh and Glasgow.

You can find out more about us at deafaction.org.

About you

We are looking for people who are caring, fun, motivated, willing to learn and show initiative. However, you would need some experience of working in a support service and managing /overseeing a team.

We will provide on the job training with the opportunity to complete formal qualifications in social care. If you have knowledge of BSL, or are a BSL user that is a bonus, however we will provide training if not.

The ideal candidates will be fully committed to our values, which can be found on our website.

The role

You will be leading a team to support *deaf people living in the community. As well as leading a team you will be lone working in the community, delivering a person-centred service supporting deaf people within their own living environment, to enable them to fully participate in the decisions affecting their lives, ensuring that wherever possible, service users benefit from informed choice, control, and independence. This will include both activities at home and within the community which will promote independence and social inclusion.

You will be accountable to the Support Services Area Manager. By working together, you will ensure that a consistent, high quality support service is provided to deaf service users in their own homes, and that staff are supported to develop and maintain such a service.

Due to the nature of this role, its essential that you can drive and have access to a car.

*deaf: this to includes Deaf Sign Language users, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing people.

You will be asked:

• To actively monitor and develop individual and team performance by ensuring effective supervision and Performance Development Reviews/Reports (PDRs).

• Be responsible for any risk assessments at the service users home as part of your Health and Safety responsibilities.

• To provide clear direction, co-ordination, feedback, and day to day line management for the work of a delegated group of staff. Thus, ensuring their motivation to provide outcome focused, person centred services.

• To assess any new service users for the service and match them with staffs.

• To be involved in recruitment for new staff for the service.

• To take an active role in assessments / recordings and to work with service users to develop their skills and abilities to achieve identified outcomes.

• To assist service users with personal care tasks where appropriate.

• To be involved, as appropriate, with all household tasks, maximising service users’ participation.

• To record the day-to-day finances (where relevant) and household budgets of service users.

• To enable service users to access information to be fully informed of their rights and valid expectations from the service provided.

• To ensure the health, safety and security of individuals and their environment.

What is on offer? What do we offer?

• Occupational pension scheme with employer contributions of 6%.

• 32 days leave pro rata (including bank holidays) pro rata for part time.

• 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme provided by Health Assured.

• In-house Mental Health First Aiders.

• Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and IT Voucher Scheme.

• Ongoing support for learning and development through our PDR process

• Death in service benefit

TalkTime Scotland is a unique charity dedicated to supporting young people aged 12-25 who are either physically disabled or have a long-term physical health condition, through free weekly sessions of face-to-face or online counselling. For more information please see our website talktimescotland.co.uk

Description of Post

The appointed counsellor will be self-employed and insured and will provide person-centred supportive counselling for between 1-4 hours per week. Hours will vary depending on the number of clients and it is envisaged that this work will be in addition to the counsellor’s current workload. Hours are flexible and are by mutual agreement. The rate of pay is £35 per session. A retainer fee of £35 per week will be paid if no sessions are available.

Location

Clients are seen face-to-face at our base at Norton Park, 57 Albion Rd, Edinburgh EH7 5QY. Ideally, the counsellor would live or work within reasonable distance of this location. Clients may also request online or telephone counselling.

Responsible to

The counsellor will be responsible to the Trustees of the charity.

Confidentiality and Record Keeping

The counsellor will be responsible for documenting, maintaining and storing client records consistent with all legal, ethical and professional requirements.

Essential

• Minimum 2 years’ post-qualification experience of counselling including working with young people.
• BACP/COSCA accreditation.
• Personal organization of external supervision with a suitably qualified counselling supervisor.
• Maintenance of appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
• Ability to work independently and to manage own caseload.
• Flexible approach to working.
• Awareness of issues facing physically disabled people.

Any successful candidate will be offered support in how to work with young physically disabled people and also the opportunity to share experiences through peer support with other counsellors working for the Charity. The charity TalkTime Scotland reserves the right to vary the candidate information or make no appointment at all. Neither in part, nor in whole, does this information form part of any contract between the Charity and any individual.

Columcille provides a safe and supportive healthy social environment which offers creative daytime activities and a sense of community from its premises in the Morningside area of Edinburgh. We support people who have learning disabilities, and mental health needs through arts & crafts, cooking, woodwork, printing, gardening, pottery, drama, holistic therapies and dance. We have a minibus and driver who provide transport and community access. Seasonal celebrations form part of the rich social life of the centre. Some 1-1 support is provided in the local community.

We provide relationship centred support that upholds the dignity and value of each human being and supports their development and growth.

Relief workers cover staff absences due to illness, holiday or training. There are no guaranteed hours, but for flexible and available individuals there can be regular work.

Main Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide support to service users to learn new skills, develop socially, and gain self- confidence and greater independence. This may be small group or 1-1 support.
• Be attentive to group dynamics and proactive in creating a positive atmosphere.
• Respond positively and calmly to any behaviour that challenges.
• Provide personal care and support with using wheelchairs and mobility aids.
• Provide cover on the centre’s tea break and lunch rota as required.
• Tidy workshops each day and help maintain a clean and safe work environment.
• Be guided by Columcille policies and procedures and the SSSC Codes of Practice.
• Take part in induction, staff training and supervision meetings.

Essential Skills, Experience and Attributes

• Empathetic and Patient
• Compassionate and caring
• Ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative.
• Able to explain and demonstrate what a person-centred approach means.
• Experience of one to one support work with people with learning disabilities.
• Knowledge and skills relating to at least one of the work activities listed above.
• Interest is using social therapy and social pedagogy in work
• Become a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
• Available for minimum of two days in a week to make the work mutually worthwhile.

We are looking for someone to promote and deliver Lead’s Dundee Multiply Project. This is a learning service for disabled people and carers who experience barriers to learning, work, and further education.

About you:

Are you committed to engaging and supporting disabled people and carers to overcome barriers and embark on personalised learning journeys to develop numeracy skills? Are you committed to delivering accessible learning opportunities and supporting onward transitions?

Are you passionate about the transformative power of adult learning? Are you confident in communicating one to one and with groups and have a flexible and creative approach to problem-solving?

Would you enjoy developing new, exciting learning opportunities in Dundee for disabled people and carers?

Do you have great organisational skills, previous experience of supporting disabled people experiencing a range of barriers, of working one-to-one and in groups with learners, and of designing and delivering learning programmes?

Do you have access to transport as you will be working in homes and communities across the city?

Do you have an assessor’s award?

Interested in hearing about working with Lead? Watch our information video at lead.org.uk/current-job-vacancies .

This post is home-based in or around Dundee and involves regulated work for which a satisfactory PVG will be required. Lead Scotland has a Recruiting People with Convictions Policy.

Applications from disabled people:

Lead has Disability Confident status, and we encourage applications from disabled people. All disabled people meeting the minimum requirements will get a guaranteed interview. Information about our commitment to recruit disabled people is available on our website. If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this in the online form. This will in no way disadvantage you in the recruitment process. All job application information can be made in alternative formats on request including braille, large print and audio and people can make applications in alternative formats.

Recruitment paperwork is kept for 6 months before it is destroyed. Please complete our anonymous equal opportunities form to help us ensure we are attracting a broad range of candidates.