Lighthouse Support Worker job description 2015 Organisational Context Epilepsy Scotland will strive to ensure effective working practices By being open and transparent in everything we do as an organisation By enshrining equal opportunities in everything we do By utilising externally accredited assessment of our standards and work practices By ensuring continual professional development Section 1 Post Title: Pay: Location: Reports to: Service: Hours: Leave: Lighthouse Support Worker 14,287-14,924 (pro rata 17.5 hours) Lighthouse Support Service - Edinburgh Coordinator/ Assistant Coordinator Lighthouse Support Service - Edinburgh 17.5 hours 20/25 days + 12 days statutory holidays (pro rata) Section 2 Organisational relationships: Board of Directors Chief Executive Deputy Chief Executive Services Manager Lighthouse Coordinator Senior Support Worker Lighthouse Support Worker job description 2015 Page 1of 5
Section 3 Principle purpose and objectives To provide flexible, high quality person centred support to adults, young people and children with epilepsy or other community care need such as a learning disability or acquired brain injury, both within their homes and in the community. Objectives: Section 4 Main duties To support individuals who have epilepsy or other community care need such as a learning disability or acquired brain injury, within a person centred values base. To contribute to a support system to enable individuals using the service to be included and participate in their community Independent living and the transition towards it To form effective professional relationships with family and other carers, health and social care professionals and other organisations To raise awareness of epilepsy Provide 1:1 support to service users using a person centred approach Facilitate user lead group activities. Researching information for service users about what opportunities are available in the community Providing support for informed decision-making; supporting service users to identify options and opportunities; support to talk over and think through difficult decisions Supporting service users in planning and making changes in their life (e.g. the transition to independent living) Supporting service users to access: educational opportunities; voluntary work and employment opportunities Supporting service users to access leisure and recreational activities Working with service users and with others in service users lives to strengthen their social networks Working with service users in ways that support their independent living skills and enhance their capacity for self-determination, supporting self-advocacy Attend support and supervision, team meetings and participate in training relevant to the post Maintain relevant notes and records of support as required Administration of medication Supporting the care and management of epilepsy Administration of rectal or diazepam or buccal midazolam to individual service users if necessary Representing a positive image of the Epilepsy Scotland s services Other duties as delegated by line manager/ Chief Executive. Lighthouse Support Worker job description 2015 Page 2of 5
Section 5 Support Responsibilities The post holder holds no line management responsibilities but will be responsible for ensuring accurate and up-to-date information on the support they are offering is made available for a back-up Lighthouse Support Worker in the event of their absence. Needs Day to day management will be provided by the Lighthouse Coordinator or Senior Support Worker. Support and supervision sessions with the post holder s line manager occur on a monthly basis (pro rata). Lighthouse Support Service team meetings are held monthly. The post holder will be required to meet the registration requirements for the Scottish Social Services Council. There is a requirement to attend any training appropriate to the post. Epilepsy Scotland is committed to offering a comprehensive package of support including peer support, mentoring and team meetings. Training and development needs will be assessed as part of the ongoing supervision process. Section 6 Communications Internal The Lighthouse Support Worker is expected to form effective day to day working relationships with all colleagues in the Lighthouse Support Service as well as with other staff in Epilepsy Scotland with whom they come into contact. External Externally, the Lighthouse Support Worker is expected to form effective working relationships with service users, and also with their family and carers, care managers and other key individuals in the life of the service user. Section 7 Demands This post involves working in a person-centred way with service users, offering support that may be practical in nature or offering emotional support, or both. The post holder is required to work in accordance with Epilepsy Scotland s Policies & Procedures and the Codes of Conduct and Practice issued by the Scottish Social Services Council. Lighthouse Support Worker job description 2015 Page 3of 5
Section 8 Working environment Epilepsy Scotland provides a unique working environment which is relaxed and informal whilst still clearly focussed on outputs and outcomes. The organisation is an Ambassador of Excellence (Quality Scotland) and this is reflected in its commitment to equal opportunities and challenging discrimination. The Lighthouse Support Worker will be required to adopt a flexible approach to working hours in order to meet the demands of the post. Evening, weekend and overnight work will be required. This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and exists to give an indication of the duties and responsibilities that the post may currently involve. The exact nature of these duties and responsibilities may be subject to change over time and the post holder will be expected to carry out any work that is commensurate with their grade or that may reasonably be required of them. You have a duty to take responsibility for your own health and safety as prescribed under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and to ensure that no other employee or member of the public is affected by your acts, errors or omissions. You will be required to co-operate with Epilepsy Scotland on all matters relating to health and safety to allow Epilepsy Scotland to meet its legal obligations. Lighthouse Support Worker job description 2015 Page 4of 5
Person Specification: Lighthouse Support Worker Knowledge, skills and experience Essential Desirable Relevant experience of one to one support work Experience of working with people with a learning disability, physical disability or other community care need Awareness, understanding and skills in individual support work: commitment to client self-determination; ability to work in an open, respectful and transparent way; capacity to negotiate the basis on which support is being offered, and to work in a clear and focused way; empathic and understanding; reflective; good listening skills Commitment to service quality and own work being of a high quality Good communication skills, verbal and written Ability to represent the service in a professional way Commitment to own personal and professional development Ability to make good use of further training Ability to work well with others in a small team Personal qualities: enthusiastic, resourceful, resilient Ability to work evenings, sleepovers and weekends as required Ability to travel within local and surrounding areas Relevant qualification (e.g. SVQ3) Relevant training (e.g. person centred planning) Relevant experience of facilitating group work Lighthouse Support Worker job description 2015 Page 5of 5