Support Worker - Craigton Grove (Peterculter)

VSA is a well-respected local social care charity, helping support the people of Aberdeen for over 150 years.

Our mission is to provide the best of care to enable the best of lives; supporting individuals and communities to fulfill their potential.

Working in social care is a hugely rewarding career, and you can help change the lives of vulnerable children and adults. At VSA, we are looking for motivated and compassionate individuals to join our team.

We currently have an exciting opportunity available to join Craigton Grove as a Support Worker.

VSA understands the importance of meaningful placements for adults with learning disabilities. Our experience has highlighted a lack of appropriate local resources to support adults with learning disabilities in our local community.

To support this need VSA offers Housing Support for adults with learning disabilities at our Craigton Grove service in Peterculter, which provides agreed person-centred support to each tenant, and is staffed 24-hours a day which includes sleep-in cover as required. The main aim of the service is to support tenants to maintain their tenancies and be as independent as possible, which is enabled by agreed support planning. The accommodation consists of:

• The core house of the service accommodating five tenants

• Two bedsits each housing one single tenant

• A semi-detached bungalow accommodating three tenants and also has a fourth bedroom for staff sleep-in arrangements

• A three bedroom semi-detached house accommodating two tenants

Each tenant has their own room with shared bathrooms, lounges and kitchens. Each property has its own private, mature and well-kept garden.

This is a Part-time position and in return, you will receive a competitive salary and benefits:

Hours: 28 hours per week

Rota: You will be required to work roughly 4 shifts over 7 days, with a variety of shifts including earlies and lates and every second weekend working. There will also be a requirement for 1-2 sleepovers per week.

Rate: £13.45 per hour

We offer our Support Workers fantastic benefits including:

• Company pension
• Generous annual leave
• Refer a friend - Receive £225 when you introduce a family member or friend to VSA
• Investment in your personal development and career through our learning and development programmes
• Gain recognised SCQF Qualifications
• Access to blue light discount card

Purpose of Job

Tenants are supported to plan, shop, prepare and cook meals as required. In the main house, the evening and weekend meals are usually a group effort because tenants like to eat main meals together. Alternatives are available on request and dietary needs are also catered for. Tenants in the other houses are supported individually.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

Guiding and actively supporting Tenants in Housing Support tasks while they re-learn or maintain skills necessary for remaining in their Tenancy.

Supporting service users as Tenants in their daily living through identified ‘Care at Home’ tasks. In particular support with cooking.

Taking the lead in planning, monitoring and reviewing service delivery plans to meet individual needs and preferences, within budgetary and funding constraints.

Overseeing and participating in the maintenance of accurate recording systems and reports (both manual and computerised) to meet agreed standards in line with administrative, regulatory and management purposes.

Complying with and having a sound working knowledge of necessary legislative requirements as laid down through the care standards and recognising the impact of following these standards on the overall provision of service.

Developing one’s knowledge and practice continuously through participation in training and development activities.

Communicating effectively with individuals according to agreed standards and procedures, accessing and updating records in keeping with guidelines.

Helping to provide a safe and protective environment by complying with health, safety, and security procedures, including medication, and reporting accidents/incidents when appropriate.

Carrying out any other tasks from time to time, provided they are reasonable and within the post holders' capabilities.

Have awareness and work within internal control systems in your area to facilitate improvement in the quality of service provided.

Qualifications/Training/Education:

Essential:

Willing to work towards gaining SVQ

Desirable:

SVQ level 2, Learning disability background

Experience:

Essential:

Ability and confidence to dispense medication (training will be given), ability to communicate well verbally with individuals, ability to maintain accurate records, good knowledge of homemade food and ability to cook/support tenants to prepare and cook meals, basic I.T. skills (e.g. emails), able to problem solve, able to use own initiative, good organisational skills, good interpersonal skills and flexibility to adapt quickly to situations

Learning disability background would be advantageous, but training will be given.

Desirable:

Experience of supporting people with autism and Down syndrome would be advantageous but not essential.

Personal Qualities

Must be empathetic, good listener and be able to set boundaries between tenant and staff. A learning disability background would be advantageous but not essential as training will be given.

Flexibility to adapt quickly to situations is a requirement for this role.

If our Support Worker role sounds of interest to you, then click “Apply” and start your career journey with VSA today!