Relief Support Worker – Adults with Learning Disabilities in Aberdeen, United Kingdom

VSA is a well-respected local social care charity, helping support the people of Aberdeen for over 150 years.

Our mission is to provide the best of care to enable the best of lives; supporting individuals and communities to fulfill their potential.

VSA provides vital support and services to people of all ages. At VSA we support a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social well-being through a range of residential and outreach support Services.

Working in social care is a hugely rewarding career, and you can help change the lives of vulnerable children and adults. At VSA, we are looking for motivated and compassionate individuals to join our team.

VSA have an exciting opportunity available to join our service, Craigton Grove as a Relief Support Worker based in Peterculter, Aberdeen. This will be a relief/ ad hoc position.

Hours: Relief/Ad-hoc Work

Rota: A variety of shifts including earlies, evening and weekend shifts. Sleepovers are a possibility.

Hourly Rate: £12.20 per hour

Location: Craigton Grove, Peterculter

VSA understands the importance of meaningful placements for adults with learning disabilities. Our experience has highlighted a lack of appropriate local resources to support adults with learning disabilities in our local community.

To support this need VSA offers Housing Support for adults with learning disabilities at our Craigton Grove service in Peterculter, which provides agreed person-centred support to each tenant, and is staffed 24-hours a day which includes sleep-in cover as required. The main aim of the service is to support tenants to maintain their tenancies and be as independent as possible, which is enabled by agreed support planning. The accommodation consists of:

• The core house of the service accommodating five tenants

• Two bedsits each housing one single tenant

Each tenant has their own room with shared bathrooms, lounges and kitchens. Each property has its own private, mature and well-kept garden.

Tenants are supported to plan, shop, prepare and cook meals as required. In the main house, the evening and weekend meals are usually a group effort because tenants like to eat main meals together. Alternatives are available on request and dietary needs are also catered for. Tenants in the other houses are supported individually.

Any prior experience of people with learning disabilities would be welcome but is not essential as full on the job training will be provided. Cooking skills are also advantageous.

Purpose of Job:

To contribute to the provision of quality services to meet the needs of service users living in their own tenancies, promoting self reliance and encouraging them to maintain and develop necessary skills to maximise their independence for living in the community within the context of identified Housing Support or Care at Home tasks. .

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

Guiding and actively supporting Tenants in Housing Support tasks while they re-learn or maintain skills necessary for remaining in their Tenancy.

Supporting service users as Tenants in their daily living through identified ‘Care at Home’ tasks.

Taking the lead in planning, monitoring and reviewing service delivery plans to meet individual needs and preferences, within budgetary and funding constraints.

Overseeing and participating in the maintenance of accurate recording systems and reports (both manual and computerised) to meet agreed standards in line with administrative, regulatory and management purposes

Complying with and having a sound working knowledge of necessary legislative requirements as laid down through the care standards and recognising the impact of following these standards on the overall provision of service.

Developing one’s knowledge and practice continuously through participation in training and development activities.

Communicating effectively with individuals according to agreed standards and procedures, accessing and updating records in keeping with guidelines.

Helping to provide a safe and protective environment by complying with health, safety, and security procedures, including medication, and reporting accidents/incidents when appropriate.

Carrying out any other tasks from time to time, provided they are reasonable and within the postholder’s capabilities.

Have awareness and work within internal control systems in your area to facilitate improvement in the quality of service provided.

Key Skills/Attributes:

Ability to communicate well verbally with individuals.

Ability to maintain accurate records

Basic I.T. skills (e.g.-mails)

Record keeping

Problem solving

Using initiative

Organisational Skills

Good interpersonal skills