Specialist Support Worker

**Introduction**

Motivated and enthusiastic people are required, with a commitment to promoting and maintaining an independent lifestyle for a 33-year-old man with complex physical care needs. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills while delivering support and care to an individual in his own home.

Undertaking a range of duties to support the Client, you will work closely with other members of the team in providing the highest standards of holistic care.

You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, backed by previous health care experience (preferred). However, full training will be given to those with the right approach and attitude.

The post requires that you work independently to a very great extent. The post therefore requires you to work and conduct yourself in a manner that is acceptable to the employer. Reliability, integrity and complete trustworthiness are essential attributes in this post.

**Info about our client**

Our client is 33 years old, has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. He lives in his own adapted property with his fiancée, both of whom are keen to ensure they are living their lives to the full. He has a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle to enable his support workers to take him out in the community, so a car driver is essential. He works on a freelance basis, and this may be from home or in a community setting, so support staff may be required to support him in his work place/with work.

He requires extensive physical assistance with all aspects of personal care, domestic tasks, meal preparation, shopping, mobility and accessing social, leisure and work opportunities outside of the home. He is outgoing, with a busy social life. He is a big sports fan and attends a wide range of sporting events. He enjoys discussion and debate on a range of current affairs and is very capable of communicating with his support staff to ensure his needs are met.

He has a gorgeous assistance dog, so staff need to be confident to manage the dog’s needs too.

He enjoys hydrotherapy at home so staff need to be confident in water, although training with his hydrotherapy programme will be provided.

He is supported by a team of staff to cover 24 hours each day. We are currently seeking an additional team member with the flexibility to assist when 2 staff members are needed, and to cover annual leave and sickness for other team members if required.

Car driver is essential.

**Key Tasks and Responsibilities**:

- To establish and maintain a trusting, therapeutic, working relationship with our client, family & case manager.
- To promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace.
- To contribute to the protection of the client from abuse.
- To liaise with other agencies when required.
- To follow the Support Programme agreed with the client and Case Management team.
- To complete daily records as advised, including: daily records, care plan summary, critical incidents etc.
- To attend supervision, team meetings and other meetings with the employer and other people as nominated by the employer.
- To attend training sessions as arranged.
- To advise the family, or where appropriate the Case Manager of any concerns regarding the client’s physical and psychological health.
- To use initiative when unforeseen events occur and the family or long-standing members of the care team are not directly available to provide guidance.
- To respect the privacy of the client. All matters relating to the client’s situation and family are to be treated as confidential, and are not to be disclosed to a third party.

**Personal Care**
- To provide assistance with the client’s entire care requirements including showering/bathing, toileting and elimination, dressing, and night care needs.
- To administer medication as prescribed and to maintain associated medication records.
- To use specialist equipment, such as hoists & wheelchairs.
- To ensure the client’s skin integrity is maintained as he is vulnerable to skin breakdown.

**Household**
- To prepare and assist with all meals, snacks and drinks.
- To be responsible for domestic chores linked with the client’s overall care. These will include laundry, ironing and cleaning, and any additional tasks in the interests of providing a safe, clean and efficient environment.
- To care for the client’s dog, including feeding, walking and toileting and meeting any animal health requirements, e.g. trips to the vet and administering medication as advised.

**Work and Leisure**
- To travel with the client and support him so that he can participate in work activities.
- To travel with and support the client to participate in his chosen recreation and leisure activities, such as pubs, sports venues, concerts and church activities.
- To enable the client to access the local community and engage in appropriate activities, in line with the overall support programme and risk assessment.
- To travel with and support the cli