Agency Care Worker

Crossroads Care NI is a voluntary organisation whose sole purpose is to provide as much respite care as possible to carers of whatever age and disability.

Crossroads have been providing a service to Carers in Northern Ireland since 1979. We provide services through our domiciliary, Young Carers and In Your Prime projects.

Our mission is to provide quality, highly trained dependable staff to our customers, whenever they need us.

**OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB**

To work on temporary assignments where a hiring company requires relief, assistance and cover at short notice.

Agency Workers will be under the direction of the hiring company at all times during an assignment.

The post holder will be involved in the provision of personal, social and domestic care similar to that given by the primary carer or as stipulated within a personal care plan in conjunction with advice from the hiring company respecting confidentiality at all times.

**About The Role**

**PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

Attend the assignment as agreed to perform duties as specified by the hiring company and stipulated within any personal care plan.

Comply with Registration Requirements of N.I.S.C.C.

Comply with requirements of Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority

Advise your shift manager of any changes to your personal circumstances which impinge upon your duties as an Agency Healthcare Worker.

All tasks and duties that you are expected to do will be provided to you before each assignment. We will not offer you an assignment which include tasks you are not trained to carry out.

As an agency worker, you will represent Crossroads at all times. Therefore, you must maintain a professional manner and complete all assignment to the highest standards.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of tasks you may be asked to carry out within an assignment:
**PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CARE TASKS**
- Bathing in bed/bathroom/chair to include essential aspects of personal hygiene.
- Assist in the management of continence of bladder and bowel.
- Assist with dressing and undressing.
- Assist with mobility and transfers, using correctly, any specialised equipment provided. Clients must not be moved / lifted without use of specialised equipment.
- Assist with feeding as stipulated in care plan.
- Administer only the medication as prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner under the direction of the hiring company. Where applicable, ensure recording of medication is made in the appropriate care plan document, and always comply with the hiring company’s medical policy
- Assist with therapeutic programmes designed, under medical direction, to help an individual’s progress, as advised by the relevant professional and under the direction of the hiring company
- Assist with the provision of a safe environment for those who need constant supervision and help. This must be in accordance with current health and safety legislation.
- Assist with the provision of emotional support to the family as part of a caring team.
- Supervise the person with a disability outside the home as advised by the hiring company, with written permission from the disabled person, responsible carer or as is stipulated in the care plan.
- To be able to effectively communicate with service users, work colleagues and managers.

**DOMESTIC TASKS**
- Some light domestic duties may be carried out as follows:

- Making and changing the service user’s bed.
- Essential laundering for the service user only.
- Essential shopping for the service user only (receipts should be obtained for all purchases).
- Preparing meals for the service user and washing up thereafter.

**ADMINISTRATION AND TRAINING**
- Notify your shift manager immediately of any change in availability to work.
- Observe and report back promptly to the hiring company any alteration in the family circumstances affecting service provision.
- Liaise regularly with the shift manager.
- Attend regular team meetings.
- Complete and submit weekly time sheets and expense claims to your manager. You must ensure that the hiring company signs your timesheet after each assignment.
- Participate in an induction programme and attend ongoing in-service training determined by individual need; or organisational requirements or statutory obligations.
- Maintain training annually.
- Maintain NISCC registration.
- Undertake an Enhanced Disclosure check annually.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Adhere to Crossroads policies and procedures.
- Adhere to each hiring companies’ policies and procedures.

It is vital that this information is kept confidential and unauthorised disclosure of personal client information is considered to be gross misconduct; which may result in disciplinary action.

Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned; this may involve working in a different setting.

**Required Criteria**
- 3 months previous experience working within a healthcare setting
- Reliable, trustworthy and dependab