Female Support Worker, 39 Hours Per Week, Perm

Being a Support Worker at AFG is a hugely rewarding role and could be your first step on a long and happy career in Health & Social Care.

**So, what does a Support Worker do?**

We have a vision to create _a world where people control their lives. _Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment. These principles are really important to us.

Our Support Workers work in a variety of settings including community-based services (often supporting people in their own homes) to our Treatment & Recovery Centres.

One thing that is common across all of our services is a focus on personalised support and tailoring our services to the needs and aspirations of the people we support with a diverse range of care needs (including Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Mental Health Concerns, Complex Care, Substance Misuse issues to name a few).

**We value the people that work with us**

At AFG we recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development (including opportunities to undertake vocational qualifications) and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.

**About you**

There are a few things that we look for in all of our support workers; we would need you to
- be a good communicator (verbally and in writing)
- be patient, confident and enthusiastic about caring for others
- be able to use your own initiative
- be able to work as part of a team
- have flexibility to work a varied shift pattern to provide 24-hour support
- share our AFG values

We don’t ask for any other relevant training or a previous career in care as full training will be provided - you just need a willingness to learn and develop.

Your pay_ - _our Support Workers receive a rate of £11.00 per hour for all worked hours. Once you are successful for a role with us, full details of your pay will be included in your written offer.

As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family. If you are passionate about caring for others and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

**More about this vacancy...**
We asked the Team Leader to tell us more about this role and the amazing person that we need to work here.
- Where is this vacancy based?_
This vacancy is based in Kirkby, Merseyside.
- Who do you support?_
Supporting 1 lady who has been hospitalized most of her adult life, she has paranoid schizophrenia and DID she has 2-1 support at all times Female only
- Where do they live?_
2 Bed bungalow in a quiet cul de sac in Northwood Kirkby
- What would a typical shift be like?_
No two days are the same in this service - the lady supported will keep her own hours and often doesn't differentiate between day or night.

You need to be able to adapt and work as a team to ensure needs are met.

All medications are given covertly with food or drinks due to the years of institutionalization, any mention of medications, doctors or hospitals etc will cause her to have a reaction.

Personalities can change quite quickly and depending on what personality is dominant a day can be quite fun and full of laughter or quite serious and demanding.

It is important to be observant and have active listening skills.

Any staff coming to the service would be placed with an experienced member of the team. Ability to prepare meals and drinks
- What activities do the people that we support at this property like to do?_
This depends on personality.

Music and art are important and the ability to chat about these.

Having outside space that is accessible.

Outings do take place but more spare of the moment as if there is time to think this through this becomes a challenge for the lady supported.

Music and art, interest in gardening.

Ability to adapt quickly in response to quick changes. Observational skills
- What is the team here or is it lone-working?_
2-1 support at all times
- What are your shift patterns?_
07.00-22.00 Long day x 2 22.00-07.00 Sleep 22.00-07.00 Wake night
- Please note our Support Workers are contracted by area therefore flexibility is essential to work in other services where required_