Overview
Wiltshire Support at Home – Your home, Our Support, Your Independence. If you are passionate about helping others and eager to advance in the care industry, consider joining our team as a Senior Support Worker. We believe in growing talent from within and offer our staff opportunities such as NVQ apprenticeships, providing a solid foundation for career progression. Our service aids those recently discharged from hospital or under the Rapid Response Service, providing short‑ to mid‑term homecare support to promote independence. As a Senior Support Worker you will monitor, support and supervise our dedicated Support Workers, ensuring the delivery of the highest standard of services for our valued customers.
Responsibilities
* Work closely with the Team Leader and other relevant colleagues to create person‑centred, CQC‑compliant support plans.
* Attend the customer’s first visit to introduce the service and support the customer in understanding the support approach.
* Undertake risk assessment and encourage positive risk‑taking; complete risk assessments for environmental, medication and mobility aspects, working with customers and support workers to manage risk and record actions and strategies agreed.
* Instigate the management and oversight of the correct procedures for carrying out medication assessments and complete paperwork to be stored in the customer’s home.
* Liaise with health colleagues to raise medication concerns and seek appropriate instructions and guidance.
* Work collaboratively with partners (Health Teams, Care Homes, Care Agencies and Hospitals); understand the discharge process and requirements, gather relevant information and maintain systems to keep the customer and staff safe.
* Assist in providing appropriate safe care in accordance with regulations and quality standards; when leading out‑of‑hours cover, take initiative to ensure the team follows correct procedures.
* Have a thorough knowledge of CQC regulations and understand how to enforce them through inspection.
* Complete, distribute and monitor paperwork required by CQC registration (e.g., medication administration records) and keep it compliant, thorough and well‑maintained.
* Drive effective and consistent communication between professionals and the customer and their family.
* Respond in a timely and professional manner to referrals and feedback regarding the progress of referrals.
* Provide customers (and where appropriate their representatives) with information about the Wiltshire Support at Home service, expectations, contact details, and how to raise concerns.
* Record all contacts accurately and securely; capture and record relevant actions, events and decisions in accordance with case management principles.
* Monitor customer progress and achievement of goals.
* Work under the direction of the line manager to ensure the service runs smoothly and efficiently.
* Exhibit good organisational skills and adapt flexibly to support the team through disruptions or changes.
* Report changes in support plan visits to the case manager and allocator promptly.
* Liaise with the Senior Planner to match support workers with customers.
* Provide information, support and guidance to support workers to enable them to safely and effectively deliver support as per the plan.
* Ensure support workers are working to the support plans and services are delivered according to customer needs.
* Deal effectively with on‑call/emergency issues, covering visits directly or indirectly when support workers are sick or absent.
* Provide timely feedback to the team on issues arising out‑of‑hours and make decisions with authority as a Senior Support Worker.
* Participate in transfers of customers requiring further support to another internal team or alternative provider.
* Engage positively in regular supervision sessions, preparing appropriately and ensuring agreed actions are undertaken in an agreed timeframe.
* Monitor and provide support to a small group of support workers to ensure their performance meets required standards.
* Promote continued professional development, reflective practice and evidence‑based learning; alert the Team Leader to any concerns and participate in staff appraisal.
* Support and work within the direction of the Team Leader on improving work performance or HR procedures.
* Provide additional support where development needs are identified, undertake in‑service 1:1 training and participate in delivering in‑service training to small groups.
* Under the direction of the Team Leader, participate in the induction of new staff, including arranging mentoring and shadowing.
* Monitor the delivery of support in line with service policies, reviewing daily communications, observing support visits, one‑to‑one supervision, spot‑checks of practice and audit files.
* Have expert awareness of safeguarding in line with Wiltshire policy; make referrals and participate in safeguarding investigations.
* Use experience, knowledge and skills to identify signs of abuse and neglect and follow local protocols to protect customers from harm.
* Represent the Council positively and professionally at meetings with customers, external partners and agencies.
* Respond to civil emergencies under instruction.
* Take a lead in challenging practice to improve the service.
Requirements
* Work shifts to meet service needs, including early mornings, evenings, weekends and bank holidays, and participate in an on‑call rota as part of the normal working week; unsocial hours payment in accordance with Wiltshire Council’s HR Policy will be paid where appropriate.
* Undertake travel across the Wiltshire area to carry out customer visits.
* Be flexible and support other teams in the service as required (e.g., cover annual leave, sickness).
* When the business continuity plan is actioned, be flexible and respond to the service requirements as directed by the Registered Manager.
Person Specification – Essential
* NVQ Level 4 or equivalent significant experience in a relevant field (or a commitment to undertake qualification) – e.g., Health, social care, adult education.
* Experience supporting adults within a care environment.
* HSE recognised First Aid at Work qualification or willingness to achieve a first aid qualification.
* Previous experience contributing to the supervision of others or ability to demonstrate the required skills.
* Up‑to‑date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and safeguarding, adults.
* Experience and up‑to‑date knowledge of moving and handling procedures.
* Well‑developed interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with people at all levels.
* Good organisational skills.
* Ability to prioritise tasks and work on own initiative against deadlines.
* Ability to utilise a range of software including electronic social care records.
* Physically fit and able to perform all job requirements.
* Ability to work in a person‑centred way to meet individual outcomes.
* Fully fluent in spoken and written English.
Person Specification – Desirable
* Experience of working within a care support service.
* Experience of working within a CQC‑registered service.
* Understanding of the Care Act 2014; Health and Social Care Act 2008.
* Ability to demonstrate an ability to work as part of a team and provide/implement instructions.
* Qualification as a trainer.
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