SUPPORT WORKER / SOCIAL CARE WORKER/ RESIDENTIAL CARE WORKER

OVERVIEW OF ROLE

The role of the Support Worker (SW), Social Care Worker (SCW) and the Residential Care Worker (RCW) is to work directly with young people while contributing to the day-to-day operations of the residential centre. This involves integral practice role to ensure that the highest quality of care is provided to all young people. The role will require administrative duties as well as responsibilities pertaining to the progression and implementation of Placement Plan objectives. In order to provide both care and support to young people and dependent on the centre or service this will likely entail a significant amount of driving.

The SW/ SCW/ RCW will ultimately be accountable to the Person In Charge (PIC). They will also be accountable to the Deputy Person in Charge (DPIC) and Social Care Leader (SCL) where applicable. The accountability levels will depend on the staffing structure within each centre, which is stipulated on the centre’s Statement of Purpose and Function. Roles and responsibilities are outlined below and have been identified based on theNational Standards for Children’s Residential Centres (2018), through which all residential centres areregulated.

Note: The SW, SCW and RCW roles ultimately encompass similar roles and responsibilities. SCW is a protected title which is only permitted to be used by those successfully registered with CORU. In relation to the RCW and SW posts, Solis EMC operates based on a Qualification specific salary scale. Therefore, RCW’s will hold a relevant professional qualification of Level 7 and above.

CHILD CENTRED CARE AND SUPPORT

• Build positive and effective working relationships based on the organisational model; Laursen’s 7 Habits for Reclaiming Relationships.
• Participate in the transition and admission process for young people and ensure that this is recorded appropriately.
• Support young people with the development of positive daily routines.
• Facilitate access to appointments, education, training and employment as per their assessed needs.
• Promote education in line with their assessed needs and facilitate educational activities and opportunities for young people.
• Carry out individual work and/ or responsive conversations to educate and support young people’s assessed needs as directed in their Individual Work Schedule.
• Provide support with the development of young people’s independent living skills.
• Support young people with their preparation for leaving care and involvement with After Care.
• Record and communicate all significant conversations via individual work records.
• Act as a keyworker/ co-worker for young people. They must ensure that this is proactive, meaningful and in line with young people’s assessed needs.
• Be responsible for ensuring that young people’s right to access their information is promoted and facilitated, within the permitted boundaries.
• Be responsible for advocating for young people. This may entail attending professionals’ meetings with or on their behalf, contacting external agencies or communicating complaints to relevant persons.
• Be accountable for ensuring that the complaint process is promoted with young people.
• Ensure that all complaints made during their shift are identified and recorded accordingly in the relevant centre records and registers, and that these are efficiently managed and escalated as per policy.
• Maintain suitable contact with families and ensure that this is adequately recorded.
• Facilitate family access when required by transporting young people. This may involve both short and long journeys.
• Adequately record access visits.
• Be responsible for/contribute to Young People’s House Meeting’s, ensuring that the agenda for such meetings is relevant, creative and responsive to young people and centre current needs.
• Facilitate visits to young people by social workers and other relevant professionals, ensuring all visits are adequately recorded.
• Maintain a record of all visitors to the centre in line with policies and procedures.
• Partake in duties relating to the running of the centre, complete the centre shopping, meal planning and cooking; ensuring there is a suitable balance of health and nutrition.
• Ensure that young people are encouraged and facilitated to attend relevant medical appointments and that such visits are clearly evidenced within the care records.
• Be responsible for ensuring that there is sufficient supply of medication for young people and that this is securely stored within the centre.
• Ensuring that medication is dispensed appropriately and that this is clearly recorded within the care records in line with mandatory medication training.
• Always adhere to the medical guidance and policies and procedures.
• Be involved in supporting young people to access external emotional and specialist services.
• Be actively involved with young people’s discharge planning.
• Participate in reflective practice following the discharge of all young people from the centre.
• Attend Child in Care Reviews with the PIC or DPIC, where applicable.
• Complete recordings in relation to professional meetings.
• Contribute to the objectives outlined in young people’s plans and assist in the review of these.
• Promote young people’s cultural, ethnic and racial needs.
• Attend and engage with therapeutic consultations provided by Solis EMC’s Forensic Psychologist. Implementing support strategies and best practice where directed.

CHILD PROTECTION

• Attend all mandatory Child Protection Training inclusive of Children’s First and CSE training.
• Adhere to the EMC Child Protection Policy and for the prompt notification of Child Protection and Welfare Concerns, in conjunction with the DLP/DDLP.
• Carry out legal duties pertaining to the role of a Mandated Person, as stated within 2017 Children First legislation.
• Adhere to the Whistle Blowing Policy.
• Understand and adhere to the centre specific Child Safeguarding Statement.
• Maintain professional boundaries with young people
• Adhere to best practice guidelines in safeguarding young people.
• Maintain appropriate supervision levels of young people as per their Risk Management Tools.
• Follow the organisational guidance surrounding lone working with young people.
• Inform management immediately in the event that there are any concerns which may impact your Gardai Vetting/ suitability or work.

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

• Attend mandatory Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training and other training pertaining to the management of behaviour.
• Implement TCI training into daily practice and engage in reflection and the Debrief process where relevant to ensure there is learning from incidents.
• Adhere to and contribute where necessary to the young people’s Risk Management Tools inclusive of Absence Management Plans, Behaviour Management, routine support and Individual Crisis Management.
• Contribute to the Risk Assessment process and ensure that the relevant Risk Assessments are adhered to.
• Ensuring the adequate supervision of all young people during shifts.
• Adherence to Child Protection Policy and for the prompt notification of Child Protection and Welfare Concerns, in conjunction with the DLP/DDLP.
• Contribute to the review of   RMTs via team meetings.
• Contribute to the agreement on the use of consequences; this can be guided by PIC and DPIC when required.
• Ensure that Physical Intervention Reports are efficiently recorded, accurate in detail and presented to a high standard. They may be responsible for forwarding all Physical Intervention Reports to the PIC or DPIC.
• Be responsible for the filing of Physical Intervention Reports, the associated correspondence and the upkeep of the Physical Intervention Register.
• Ensure that Significant Event Notifications (SEN) are efficiently recorded, accurate in detail and presented to a high standard. They will be responsible for forwarding these to the PIC or DPIC who will be accountable for the final approval, management comment and notification.

ADMINISTATIVE DUTIES

• Complete all daily recordings and contribute to the care records and care folders as required.
• Ensure records are completed, printed and signed.
• Be accountable for contributing to appropriate reporting systems within the centre.
• Ensure that the centre’s Daily Update is forwarded   to all relevant persons each morning and that this is accurate in detail and presented to a professional standard.
• Ensure that all records kept on the young people are up–to–date, relevant, factual, accurate and of a high quality at all times.
• Ensure to complete all actions pertaining to the quality assurance of records via PIC Audits, Quality Assurance Audits, Area Manager and Director Reports.

TEAM WORK, TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Attend all required Mandatory Training.
• Attend non-mandatory training as per the allocated training hours and maintain a record of such.
• Attend and participate effectively in regular team meetings, the frequency of which is specific to each centre.
• Communicate and work effectively with colleagues.
• Support new staff members via their induction, where the PIC has deemed them competent to do so.
• Participate in reflective monthly supervision with the DPIC or PIC which will be practice and learning based.
• Participate in daily Shift Handover meetings, ensuring that all information is appropriately communicated and that the relevant handover proforma is fully complete.
• Temporarily complete shifts in other Solis EMC centres outside of your allocated centre in order to provide support and maintain safe staffing levels across the region.
• Transfer on a short- or longer-term basis to another EMC centre outside of your allocated centre in order to meet the needs of the wider organisation.
• Adhere to the employee’s Code of Conduct.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the EMC Employee Handbook.
• Undertake responsibilities of a nominated shift leader in the absence of the SCL
• In the absence DPIC/PIC or SCL, be temporarily responsible for the day-to-day running of the centre. This may entail being accountable for additional duties and reporting directly to the Area Manager/Director.
• Contribute to the team morale and culture by maintaining positive and professional relationships with colleagues.

PREMISES, HEALTH & SAFETY & PETTY CASH

• Contribute to a nurturing, safe and caring environment.
• Ensure the high presentation of the centre through the implementation of the centre cleaning schedule and ensure that the grounds are well maintained.
• Ensure the full implementation of the Organisational hospitality policy within the centre.
• Adhere to the Organisational Health and Safety Policies and Procedures.
• Adhere to the Centre Specific health and safety risk assessments and undertake risk assessments regarding any potential hazards.
• Treat Solis EMC property with care and vigilance with regards to company property; furniture, vehicles, mobile and IT Equipment etc.
• Identify any maintenance work required and any follow up where needed.
• Be accountable for ensuring the appropriate upkeep of all centre   vehicles. Escalate the need for any repairs promptly.
• Ensure to follow all procedures in relation to Health and Safety including driving for work.
• Record and promptly report and notify all accidents either to individuals or vehicles.
• All maintenance requirements will be recorded accurately in the maintenance register and work completed will also be recorded appropriately.
• Effectively utilise the Petty Cash system and adhere to direction given in terms of budgeting and authorisation.
• Be accountable for any deficits in Petty Cash which occurred throughout their shift.
• Ensure that each young person’s information is protected by locking all cabinets and ensuring office security.

FIRE SAFETY

• Follow the organisational Fire Safety Policies and Procedures and ensure the daily, weekly and monthly records in the Fire Registers are maintained.
• Participate in Fire Drills in accordance with organisational policy.
• Follow all fire safety procedures and identify any areas that require follow up and pass on where necessary.
• Attend mandatory health and safety and fire safety training.

LEGISLATION & POLICY ADHERENCE

• Ensure understanding of the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres (2018), Solis EMC organisational Policies and Procedures and all associated national policy and legislation.
• Attend all training provided in relation to the above and ensure competence and confidence in adherence with daily practice.
• Review supporting literature via the Supervision and Team Meeting process.
• Ensure adherence to the centres Statement of Purpose and have a working knowledge of the expectations of this statement.
• Ensure all policies and Standard Operating Procedures are followed in relation to GDPR.
• Ensure the confidentiality of information as per the Organisation’s Confidentiality and Privacy Policies and Procedures.

Note: The above Job Description is non-exhaustive and subject to review with any changes communicated to employees. Additionally, there may be other relevant duties and tasks assigned by the PIC/DPIC, Area Manager/s which are specific to the centre’s purpose and function.

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