Job opportunities
Job Description
Age UK Herne Bay is committed to providing high quality services to older people. Our staff and volunteers play an important contribution to that standard. This job description does not cover all the tasks involved in the job. Therefore, it is essential that any person employed by Age UK Herne Bay & Whitstable is willing to undertake any reasonable task delegated to them.
Job title: Support Assistant (Independent Living Service)
Responsible to: Chief Officer Age UK Herne Bay & Whitstable
Line Manager: Community Services Manager
Rate of Pay: £10.42 per hour
Hours per week: 15 hours over 3 days a week. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with the availability and willingness to work extra hours according to the needs of the service)
Job Summary.
To provide companionship and personalised support by visiting an older person at home or taking the person on an outing or appointment.
Person specification.
- To be able to use a caring approach to older people their carers and families.
- An understanding of older people and the problems they may face.
- Trustworthy, Honest, Reliable. Excellent time keeping.
- To be discreet.
- Respect to the persons individual likes and dislikes and be guided by them.
- To be able and happy to work alone as well as in a team.
- To be able to adhere to Age UK Herne Bay & Whitstable’s policies and procedures in so much as they relate to the delivery of this service.
- To be a driver with a clean licence and access to a vehicle (with insurance covering business use) suitable for transporting clients into the community. A travel allowance is payable at 45p per mile for business mileage.
Duties & Responsibilities.
- To report any Safeguarding concerns to your manager immediately
- Work closely with the Community Services Coordinator and
- Manager to ensure the clients best interests are always met
- To complete all related statistical information.
- Always remember you are a guest in the persons home, and you must always behave so.
- To provide a person with the assistance a caring relative may undertake.
- To assist with the preparation of light meals.
- To shop for client, using the receipt book provided.
- To collect pensions, pay bills etc. using the agreed process.
- To offer personalised, emotional support and where possible spend time chatting to the older person, this may be over a cup of tea.
- To be alert to any health/home safety and report back to the
- Community Services Coordinator and Manager.
- To complete all necessary records, in a clear concise and legible form and always sign the entry made.
- To always maintain confidentiality.
- To report any accident or untoward incident whilst on duty, immediately if you are unable to gain entry to the Community Services Coordinator/ Manager or in his/her absence on the telephone numbers provided where further instruction will be given.
- To carry out any other duties as may reasonably be asked.
- Always knock/ ring doorbell before entering a client’s home. Please note key holding is not a responsibility undertaken by this service. Strict confidentiality on entry codes should be maintained. Always leave the service users home secure.
- Always wear your ID badge in a visible position.
Training.
- Training is an essential element in providing a quality service.
- You will be expected to undertake training as part of your role.
- All training must be successfully completed and updated at regular intervals, the cost of training will be paid for by Age UK Herne Bay & Whitstable however, if you undertake the online training over and above your normal working hours, that time will be unpaid.
Please note this service is not registered with the CQC and therefore is not able to provide personal care or administer medication in any circumstance.
The use of a car is essential to this post.
Closing date: Wednesday 17 Jan 2024