Are you looking to take the next step in your social care career?

Do you want an opportunity to make a genuine and positive difference to people’s lives?

Then Autism Initiatives wants to hear from you!

We have an exciting opportunity for Senior Support Worker’s to join our West Lothian Occupational Team!

The Senior Support Worker (SSW) will support the management team in developing and maintaining the organisation’s standards relating to autism specific and person centred practices. Liaising with the organisation’s practice support team, the SSW will assist in the preparation of support and communication plans, ensuring consistent practices throughout support networks.

The SSW will assist in the supervision and direction of the staff team while maintaining the high standards of support in line with the organisation’s quality standards and mission statement. Knowledge of current legislation and regulations relating to the social care sector and the requirements of the Care Inspectorate is essential for this role. The post holder will also be expected to commit to on-call duties.

The successful candidate will be required to register with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

This is a truly rewarding role, with the opportunity for you to develop your skills and knowledge and fulfil your career aspirations.

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

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.

*New Development - West Harbour*

We are near completion of an exciting, brand-new housing support service in the Granton area of Edinburgh. We are therefore looking for wonderful people to make these houses into homes!

In preparation for the tenants moving into their flats from May 2024, we are now building our team of support staff. This is an exciting opportunity to work with the supported individuals to make sure their move to their new home is as positive as possible, and help them to settle into their new homes, and live happily there. Not only will you be directly supporting autistic people to ensure they have a great quality of life, but you will be part of the team who develop this brand new service.

Experience is not essential, but a genuine passion to making a difference to the lives of autistic people, as well as a positive attitude, is key to being successful in this role.

Benefits of working with us include:

• Competitive Salary - £11.97 to £12.40 per hour (under review)

• Sleepover rate paid at £10.90 per hour

• 31 days Annual Leave Entitlement, including bank holidays

• Your birthday off every year, to treat yourself!

• Ongoing Learning & Development throughout your Support Work role

• Opportunity to undertake SVQ Level 3 qualification

• Career Progression Opportunities

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Auto-enrolment pension scheme

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Medicash Healthcare Plan

• Eligibility to become a Blue Light Card Member for online & high street discounts

As a Support Worker you will promote the positive health and well-being of the people that you support, enabling them to have a meaningful life and encouraging them to live as independently as possible.

Given the nature of this role, successful applicants must register with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or equivalent regulatory body.

This is a truly rewarding role, with the opportunity for you to develop your skills and knowledge and fulfil your career aspirations.