Support Worker, 30 Hours Per Week, Perm X 2

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.

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, Liverpool.
- Who do you support?_
We support 4 men and 2 ladies. One lady has full 1-1 support and she lives in the flat whilst the other lady has deteriorating mobility and uses a wheelchair.

One gentleman has autism and is blind but mobile with support, the other 2 gents have brain injuries, both use walking frames in the home and wheelchairs in the community.

One of them is non verbal but communicates his needs well, he has full 1-1 support.

The other gent with a brain injury has vascular dementia. we have another non-verbal gent that has learning difficulties and requires full personal care using an overhead hoist and a wheelchair.
- Where do they live?_
This is a large bungalow with a self contained flat above. It's a detached property with a good size car park to the front of the property.
- What would a typical shift be like?_
At the start of the shift all people supported have some level of support with their personal care. and then have full support when it comes to preparing meals, and to help keep their home clean and tidy.

We have two people that have their own vehicles but all people supported love to access the community.
- What activities do the people that we support at this property like to do?_
In the house activities include playing music, watching films, one of the gents likes to do jigsaws on his tablet, one gent likes to draw pictures and one lady likes to help in the kitchen.

They all participate in various activities, and love to go out to the cinema, theatre, football matches, out for meals and shopping trips and trips to wales, and the lake district.

Some of the people we support also like to go on holidays.

We would like someone who can drive the mobility cars but this is not essential.

We do need someone who can do basic cooking and cleaning and be able to push a wheelchair.
Ability to undertake regulated activity (i.e. personal care)
Ability to communicate clearly with individuals we support who may struggle with verbal communication
Willingness to work undesirable hours (i.e. waking nights, weekends)
Ability to use Office 365 Suite
Ability to follow care and support plans, ensuring we take a person centred approach
Ability to participate in community