Senior Support Worker - REQ000409

Job title: Senior support worker

Salary: £26,421 - £28,770 pro rata

Hours: 28.5 (covering early and late shifts and sleep-ins, with a requirement to work weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Bewerley Croft

As a Senior Support worker, you must demonstrate a commitment to working within the Mental Health Accommodation Service and achieving the best possible outcomes for people. You will thrive on making a difference in people’s lives while working in the health and social care sector.

About you

As a Senior Support Worker, you will bring to the role:

A trauma informed approach.
Compassion
Flexibility
You will be driven and keen to make a difference to people’s lives.
You will need the ability to work on your own initiative.

About the role

Mental Health Accommodation Services supports people transitioning from the acute mental health hospital wards, prison, homelessness etc, to

Improve mental health and daily living skills.
Maintain tenancies.
Integrate into communities when moving on is planned.
Deliver care in a therapeutic environment, working within a Trauma Informed way that focuses on recovery and intervention.

The role is integral to our Mental Health Accommodation Services which promote independent living with onsite support delivered by the team. A strengths-based approach to supporting people and risk management planning is essential along with building strong connections to the local community.

You will be working in a team where you will feel valued and supported in a rewarding role. You will be supporting people to transition into the service for a temporary stay, working in partnership with several other organisations, to promote recovery and rehabilitation to move into community-based mainstream accommodation. A holistic package of care is provided.

The role is dynamic, challenging and extremely rewarding. Shift work is required as these are 24/7 services – a mixture of earlies, lates and mid-shifts with sleep in duties amounting to 5 over 4 weeks. Some lone working is essential and good support is in place for this.

The successful candidate must demonstrate skills, knowledge, and experience in the following key areas of responsibility:

Ability to work flexibly and respond to emerging crisis situations.
Have good communication skills and the ability to manage risk.
Work as part of a multi- disciplinary team.
Ensure people receive a person-centred service and have a goal focused care/support and risk management plan.
Development of the service to work consistently, effectively, and efficiently with our other Care Delivery Services.
Promote partnership working.
Implementation of council policies and procedures.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Linda Strickland, registered manager. Call 0113 3367732 or email >

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job purpose

To assist the Registered Manager in discharging their duties under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009. Use sound management techniques to establish and maintain good standards of care practice, using the resources placed at the post holder’s disposal by the Registered Manager. To be a member of the Service’s Management Team, and to accept responsibility for the management of the home in the absence of more senior staff.

Responsibilities

To accept delegated responsibility from the Registered Manager for the management of an area of the Care Centre’s budget, prudently and within the established cash limits, in accordance with the established financial procedures of the City Council.
To assist the Registered Manager in being responsible for the planned maintenance and development of the living environment to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009.
To share in the management and supervision of a team of residential, day and community support staff to ensure the delivery of an effective service and that professional standards and codes of conduct are met.
As Duty Manager to share in the management of the day to day operations of the service. Ensure that professional practice is monitored and delivered within Leeds City Council policy guidelines (examples of this include Health & Safety, effective operation of the medication policy, Environmental health).
To provide individual service plans (Care Plans) which are person centred and conform to the requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009 for individual customers.
As a member of the management team and when required as Duty Manager to lead the team of care staff to ensure that the emotional, physical and social needs of people who use our services are met.
To participate in the recruitment of staff, in line with the policies and procedures of Leeds City Council, and the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009.
To co-operate fully with the officers of the Care Quality Commission their inspection processes in the absence of the Registered Manager.
To assist the Registered Manager in ensuring that all aspects of the City Council’s Continuous Improvement Programme is fully adhered to. Including;
Ensuring that all grades of staff receive an annual appraisal and that from this appraisal their training and developmental needs are identified, and an action plan put in place to address these needs, enabling staff to reach their full potential.
Monitoring the implementation of each member of staff’s personal action plan and to record achievement against agreed targets.
Ensuring that all grades of staff receive regular supervision from their line manager in line with the supervision policy of Leeds City Council.
To participate in and ensure that all staff are deployed on the 24-hour rota and that staff rotas provide sufficient care and support to meet the residents’ assessed needs.
To have a clear understanding of the responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and of the other guidance listed in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009.
In the absence of the Registered Manager or Assistant Manager, to represent the interests of the service at various meetings and forums at a variety of locations throughout the City.
To establish sound and professional relationships with other disciplines within Health and Social Care.
To assist the Registered Manager in maintaining all such records in respect of the conduct of the care home – using a manual or IT based system - as required by the policies and procedures of Leeds City Council and the Schedules of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009.
To Assist the Registered Manager in ensuring that access to services for older people from Black and minority ethnic communities is facilitated and that services are provided with respect and dignity in culturally appropriate and acceptable ways.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Essential

NVQL3 in Health and Social Care or an equivalent qualification.

NVQL3 in supervisory management or equivalent.

Desirable

Both a care and management qualification at NVQL3 or above.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Competence in staff deployment to reflect the needs of the service.
Ability and willingness to achieve NVQL4 in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
Addressing the varied and complex individual needs of service users and responding to any complex or emergency situations as they arise.
Staff management skills to supervise and lead a team of carers, encouraging a customer conscious approach to addressing the needs of service users and delivering the outcomes from care plans.
Staff recruitment and selection skills that enable you to participate in the recruitment process.
Ability to write clear and concise reports.
Promote customer involvement in decision making about the service they receive.
A good knowledge and understanding of the needs, management and care planning for older people, including rehabilitative / intermediate care or the care of older people with a dementia.
Your responsibilities under Health and Safety Legislation.
The requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, its regulations and other relevant legislation and guidance.
Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act.
Substantive experience of working with older people in a rehabilitative or mental health setting
Experience of participating in staff appraisal and supervision
Experience of budget management.
Experience of working as a part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Sensitive to the needs of elderly people and their relatives
Good Leadership skills

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Able to represent your service area at meetings.
Ability to deliver “in-house” training.
A basic understanding of a business philosophy / culture and the need to develop customer responsive services.
Background in residential and day care services for older people
Experience of working in a setting that promotes and fosters independence in older people.
Has professional credibility.

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