Female Support Worker

About The Role

**Location**:Eastleigh
**Days & Hours**:Part-time 21 hours available and bank hours to cover any absences for the current team. Typical shifts are 7.30am-2.30pm and 2.00pm-9.00pm Monday-Sunday
**Pay**:Weekdays: £15.74 per hour Weekends: £18.08 per hour***
**Driver required? **Essential
**Driving Clients Car? **Yes, a VW Transporter Wheelchair Adapted Van (manual), support will be provided
**Using Own Vehicle for work purposes? **Yes, On duty and to attend meetings/training
**Essential Experience**:Experience in working with adults with brain injury who can present with physically challenging behaviour
**Desirable**:NVQ L2 or equivalent in care, basic IT skills and an interest in therapy
**Corina is an educated and intelligent lady in her early sixties, has a sense of humour and enjoys listening to music, playing board games, completing crosswords, arts and going for walks in the local community as well as the local café, these activities should be taken as a day-by-day approach as sometimes she may not be willing to engage. She lives in her own bungalow which has been adapted and her mother lives close by and is also involved in supporting her daughter.

Corina sustained a brain injury many years ago, and as a result, her processing is slower and she has some dysphasia. She requires quiet, empathetic support to assist her to maintain her interests in daily life and to access the community. She uses a powered wheelchair and lives alone with a care team to support her with her daily living. Corina can become agitated and displays challenging behaviour on occasions when she is trying to communicate her needs or when feeling anxious. She can use facial expressions, vocalisation and alternative communication strategies as well as some physical and verbal aggression when extremely upset.

Your role would be to work as part of the team to provide support and care to Corina, ensuring safety and physical wellbeing. To facilitate Corina's independence by adopting the appropriate approach that has been trailed & made bespoke to meet Corina's individual personality and mental health issues running alongside her medication. You will also be required to assist with weekly hydrotherapy.

The team work with a Psychologist who has carefully established the approach needed to meet Corina's needs, enable consistency and to minimise agitation/trigger, as well as respond effectively to prevent anxiety and extreme behaviour escalating. The approach is monitored, supervised and fed back through her psychologist which is ongoing at the Team Meeting or via the Team Leader - this remains the key to keeping Corina stable within her own home.

This is an excellent opportunity for a dedicated person to join a wonderfully committed existing home care team, who are led by a supportive and competent Team Leader to develop existing skills and support this very special lady. A rewarding role for someone who is able to communicate effectively and work within a large team. Also, an ability to work with patience, tact, understanding, warmth and compassion.

**Benefits**:
- On-going training & support provided
- 5.6 weeks annual leave pro rata
- Free DBS check

**In order to promote continuity of our high care standards, you will be offered**:

- Induction,
- Relevant training opportunities (including The Care Certificate),
- Regular clinical supervision/review meetings,
- On-going support from a dedicated Case Manager and HR department

**Safeguarding**

ILS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our Clients within the activities we undertake, and ILS expects all our Clients’ employees and workers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees or workers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This position will require:

- Proof of eligibility to work in the UK;
- Satisfactory references, including your last employer;
- An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate. A conviction will not necessarily prevent you from being employed.
- About You
- Female due to providing personal care
- Must be able to work with specialist equipment (training will be provided). A Handling Management Plan is available and is designed to reduce the risk of handling injuries, but you may be required to bend, kneel, squat, push or pull.
- Proven experience with working in the field brain injury, and with challenging behaviour
- Confident about working in Corina’s own home and other locations and sensitive to her needs and wishes.
- The ability to work as part of a highly communicative multi-disciplinary team
- The ability to learn new skills and happy to learn new things in accordance with the Corina's programme.
- Water confident to assist with hydrotherapy
- Flexible - to alter the planned activities if necessary - able to use own initiative.
- Patient and tolerant with a responsible and positive attitude.
- Proactive, encouraging, and consistent