Support Worker

**JOB PURPOSE**:
As a member of the care team, responsibility for ensuring that the personal care of the service user is maintained, according to the needs and capabilities of the individual.

To help promote as much personal and physical independence and choice as possible in the activities of daily living undertaken by the service user within their home environment.

**RELATIONSHIPS**:
**Reports to**:Registered Manager / Senior Care Worker

**Responsible for**:Self

**Close Liaison with**: Service Users / Clients

Branch / Recruitment Team

**STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE**:

- Positive feedback from service users
- Requested re-bookings
- Your responsibilities under **_Health & Safety Legislation and duty to your service users:_**

1 maintain a safe environment through awareness of Health and Safety regulations

2 attend appropriate training programmes to further existing knowledge and comply with new legislation

3 remember you are a guest in the service users home and conduct yourself professionally at all times

4 maintain written records and observe service user confidentially at all times, both verbal and written

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**:
**1.**Personal Care of Service Users**

Participate in basic
- _personal_**_care_* of service users and assist the person with:
Washing his/her body and hair (cutting of toe nails is **not** permitted)

Dressing

Use of toilet

Eating and drinking

Personal grooming

Taking medication

Preparation of meals, taking into account any dietary needs

Emptying the commode

All such assistance will be given while observing the service user’s dignity and privacy.

**2.**Health Care Needs**

Under supervision of the appropriate health professional, assist the service user with **_health care _**needs:
Catheter care/continence

Stoma care

Simple, unsterile dressings

Ointments and Creams

Eye drops

Medication (the giving of injections and the administering of controlled drugs is **not** allowed)

Pressure area care

Bowel care (the insertion of suppositories or enemas and manual evacuation is **not** permitted)

Other appropriate health care

**3.**Therapeutic Care**

Under the supervision of the designated therapists, assist the service user with **_therapeutic care:_**

Maintaining mobility

Maintaining daily living / functional skills
**4.**Domestic Help**

Assist the service user with **_domestic help:_**

Washing

Ironing

Cleaning areas used by the service user i.e. bathroom, kitchen, bedroom etc.

Lighting or turning on fires

**5.**Social Care**

Assist the service user with **_social care:_**

Collecting pensions/prescriptions

Providing information

Talking and listening

Reminiscing

Helping to maintain links with family and friends

Assisting with social and recreational activities as part of the care plan

Reading/writing

Caring for pets

Assisting those who need help to cast their vote at local and general elections without being judgmental

Being open minded and non-judgmental about personal sexual preferences

The above is not exhaustive and there may be occasions where something is required of you not on the list, if you are in doubt about whether or not it is part of your job, phone your manager and get advice, but please use common sense. You are there to support the individual in living their life, you may not agree with some of the individual’s choices and preferences but must be able to put your feelings to one side as long as you are not being asked to break the law, or put yourself or others at any kind of risk.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Work Location: In person