Care Assistant 35 hours per week

at  Larche

DAY SERVICE CARE ASSISTANT, 35 HOURS PER WEEK OVER 5 WEEKDAYS, PERMANENT CONTRACT

L’Arche Cork is recruiting for the position of Day Service Care Assistant, to enhance the work of the team in meeting the needs of adults with intellectual disability (ID). A vital component of the role is to offer individualised care and support, ensuring activities are available to people in accordance with their expressed preferences, individual capabilities, and also their specific needs, aligning with New Directions standards for person-centred practice. The position calls for administration of medication and personal care and is, thus, needs-led, requiring enthusiasm and initiative, together with the ability to foster positive relationships.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Mission Statement of L’Arche:
“To make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities revealed through mutually transforming relationships. To engage in our diverse cultures, working together to build a more humane society. To foster an environment in communities that is inspired by the core values of our founding story, and that responds to the changing needs of our members.”
Day Service Care Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION

Location: L’Arche Cork’s Day Service ‘Le Cheile’, Togher Road, Cork, T12 CH29.
Reporting to: Day Service Co-Ordinator
Responsible also to: Deputy Day Service Co-Ordinator
Main purpose: The role of any frontline worker in L’Arche is to support and enable adults with intellectual disability (ID) to achieve equality and independence and ensure that their day service experience is high quality, safe, meaningful, and inclusive. The specific role of the Day Service Care Assistant is to enhance the work of the day service team in meeting the needs of the people we support. This will be achieved through regular liaison with the day service team, and the wider L’Arche team, to help maintain effective working relationships and efficient information-sharing, adhering to best practice and national guidelines. A vital component of the role is to be responsive to arising needs in the day service, including personal care needs, and to work as part of a team, ensuring that activities are available to attendees in accordance with their expressed preferences, individual capabilities, and also their specific needs, aligning with New Directions guidelines for person-centred practice and a Human Rights Based Approach. The role requires enthusiasm and initiative, and the ability to foster positive working relationships. As such, the role is needs-led and can offer considerable skill variety.
Position Summary: The overall purpose of the role is to be responsive to both service needs and individual needs, and to work as directed within the day service team. To enhance the quality of day service provision by creating opportunity for adults with ID to have meaningful interactions, both within and outside of the L’Arche community. The Day Service Support Worker will play a crucial advocacy role in helping to meet the needs of persons less able to voice their preferences, creating a safe space that promotes inclusion and accessibility for all.

EXPECTATIONS OF THE ROLE OF THE DAY SERVICE CARE ASSISTANT:

• To be responsive to both service needs and individual needs, (including personal care needs), and to work as directed within the day service team
• To build trusting, Person-Centred, relationships with the people you support
• To encourage and support adults with ID to participate in activities of interest both within and outside of the L’Arche community, promoting independence and positive risk-taking
• To communicate regularly with the day service team to ensure effective sharing of information, safeguarding, planning and risk assessment

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROLE:

• A minimum QQI Level 5 qualification in social care or equivalent qualification
• Minimum 2-years’ relevant experience in a care or disability environment
• To work on own initiative and as part of a team, to be solution-focused and needs-led, with the ability to contingency-plan
• Ability to manage behaviours that may challenge
• Commitment to best practice, legislation, and to L’Arche policy, especially regarding safeguarding, upholding confidentiality, and accountability
• A working knowledge of New Directions Standards for Adults with Disabilities and the National Framework for Person Centred Planning in Services for Persons with a Disability
• Full clean driving licence
• The post is subject to Garda vetting
  Salary scale: HSE Health Care Assistant 25,529-38,844 Euros per annum, pro rata.
  Please refer to Job Description for further details. Queries should be directed to the Day Service Co-Ordinator, Meadhbh Furlong, on 021-431-8880. If you believe you have the necessary enthusiasm, competencies, and experience for this role, please submit your letter of application and C.V. via the following link: https://www.rezoomo.com/job/67200/
  The closing date for applications is Friday July 26th at 5pm with interviews being held on Thursday 1st August.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Building trusting relationships with our community of adults with ID through consistency of care and frequent communication, with a particular focus on unmet needs, all the time promoting positive risk taking and independence by offering “just enough” support.

Teamwork underpins the role of the Day Service Support Worker in relation to:

• Forging positive relationships with staff, volunteers, students on placement, and house assistants, consulting with them to best support people in the day service, and with regard to sharing of information, handover etc.
• Close liaison with Day Service Project Leaders, for example, in terms of timetabling and service needs, staffing needs on a day-to-day basis, planning activities/trips/events, safeguarding issues etc.
• To attend and participate in weekly team meetings, showing consideration and respect for other team members and colleagues, and promoting natural support networks
• To attend other meetings when necessary, such as project planning meetings, multi-disciplinary case conferences, or L’Arche Community reviews, as required
• To attend regular support and supervision sessions with your line manager to ensure adequate support is available to you and to the people you support, and to identify training needs
• Report to and appraise your line manager of all work-related issues and difficulties
• Maintain strict confidentiality relating to matters regarding personnel and service