Care and Home Support Assistant

Care and Home Support Assistant

Job Title: Care and Home Support Assistant
Department: Care / Housekeeping / Kitchen
Reports to: Home Manager / Senior Staff
Location: South Cary House

Job Purpose

The Care and Home Support Assistant is a flexible role designed to support the smooth day-to-day running of the care home across a range of areas.

The post holder will provide care and support to residents while also assisting with housekeeping, laundry, kitchen and dining duties as required. The role requires a flexible approach, with the employee supporting different areas of the home according to resident needs, staffing levels and operational requirements.

The main purpose of the role is to contribute to a safe, clean, comfortable and welcoming environment while ensuring residents receive compassionate, respectful and person-centred support.

Main Responsibilities

Care and Resident Support

• Support residents with their individual care needs in accordance with their care plans, risk assessments and preferences.
• Assist residents with personal care where required, including washing, dressing, continence care, oral care and general hygiene.
• Support residents with mobility, transfers and repositioning in accordance with their care plans and moving and handling assessments.
• Encourage residents to maintain their independence and make choices about their daily lives.
• Support residents with eating and drinking, including providing assistance where required and reporting any concerns regarding appetite, hydration or swallowing.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to residents requesting assistance.
• Observe residents' wellbeing and report any changes, concerns, injuries, skin concerns or deterioration to the nurse, senior carer or manager.
• Maintain residents' dignity, privacy, confidentiality and choices at all times.
• Communicate with residents in a kind, patient and respectful manner.
• Support residents to participate in activities, social interaction and everyday life within the home.

Housekeeping and Cleaning

• Support the housekeeping team to maintain high standards of cleanliness throughout the home.
• Clean residents' bedrooms, bathrooms, communal areas, corridors and other areas as allocated.
• Ensure rooms are clean, tidy, comfortable and appropriately prepared for residents.
• Follow infection prevention and control procedures, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment and cleaning products.
• Clean and disinfect equipment and frequently touched areas in accordance with the home's cleaning schedules.
• Report any damaged furniture, equipment, flooring, mattresses or other environmental concerns promptly.
• Ensure cleaning equipment and chemicals are used and stored safely in accordance with COSHH requirements and the home's procedures.
• Assist with deep cleaning and additional cleaning following accidents, spillages or episodes of illness where required.

Laundry Duties

• Assist with the collection, washing, drying, ironing, folding and distribution of residents' laundry.
• Ensure residents' clothing and personal items are handled carefully and returned to the correct resident.
• Follow infection control procedures when handling soiled or contaminated laundry.
• Report damaged or missing clothing and personal belongings appropriately.

Kitchen and Dining Support

• Assist kitchen staff with the preparation and service of meals, snacks and drinks within the limits of the role and relevant training.
• Prepare dining areas before meals and clear and clean dining areas afterwards.
• Support residents during mealtimes and encourage a pleasant and relaxed dining experience.
• Serve meals and refreshments in accordance with residents' dietary requirements and preferences.
• Ensure residents receive the correct meals, textures, fluids and dietary requirements as instructed.
• Assist with washing dishes, loading and unloading dishwashers and maintaining cleanliness within kitchen and dining areas.
• Follow food hygiene, allergen and infection control procedures at all times.
• Report concerns regarding food, hydration, dietary intake or resident preferences to the appropriate member of staff.

General Home Support

• Work flexibly across the home according to the needs of residents and the service.
• Assist colleagues in other departments where reasonably required and where appropriately trained and competent to do so.
• Help maintain a welcoming, homely and safe environment for residents, visitors and staff.
• Answer doors, support visitors and provide general assistance where appropriate.
• Assist with setting up activities, events, dining rooms and communal areas.
• Support the safe movement and storage of equipment and supplies.
• Report maintenance issues, hazards, accidents or environmental concerns promptly.

Documentation and Communication

• Complete care records, cleaning records, food or fluid documentation and other records relevant to duties undertaken accurately and contemporaneously.
• Ensure information recorded is factual, clear and completed at the appropriate time.
• Participate in staff handovers where relevant.
• Report concerns immediately to the appropriate senior member of staff rather than relying solely on written documentation.
• Maintain confidentiality in relation to residents, families and staff.

Safeguarding

• Promote the safety and wellbeing of residents at all times.
• Recognise potential signs of abuse, neglect, poor practice or exploitation and report concerns immediately in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
• Understand the duty to raise concerns where a resident may be at risk.
• Follow whistleblowing procedures where appropriate.

Health and Safety

• Follow all health and safety policies, infection prevention and control procedures, fire procedures and emergency arrangements.
• Use equipment safely and only where appropriate training has been completed.
• Follow moving and handling procedures and use the equipment identified within residents' care plans.
• Report accidents, incidents, near misses and hazards promptly.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment when required.

Training and Development

• Complete all mandatory and role-specific training required by the organisation.
• Attend staff meetings, supervision sessions and appraisals as required.
• Participate in competency assessments where relevant to the duties being undertaken.
• Take responsibility for maintaining knowledge and skills appropriate to the role.

Professional Standards

The post holder is expected to:

• Treat residents, families, visitors and colleagues with dignity and respect.
• Maintain professional boundaries.
• Work collaboratively as part of the wider care home team.
• Be flexible and willing to support different departments within the home.
• Follow management instructions and the home's policies and procedures.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Maintain residents' confidentiality and comply with data protection requirements.
• Demonstrate kindness, patience, reliability and professionalism.

Person Specification

Essential

• A caring and compassionate approach.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Willingness to work flexibly across care, housekeeping and kitchen duties.
• Ability to follow instructions, care plans, risk assessments and procedures.
• Good understanding of the importance of dignity, privacy and confidentiality.
• Reliable and able to prioritise duties according to resident needs.
• Willingness to undertake required training.

Desirable

• Previous experience working within a care home, healthcare or support environment.
• Previous experience in housekeeping, cleaning, catering or hospitality.
• Care Certificate or relevant health and social care qualification.
• Food hygiene training.
• Moving and handling training.

Additional Requirements

The nature of this role means duties may vary according to the needs of the home. The employee may be required to work within care, housekeeping, laundry, kitchen, dining or general support functions during a shift, provided they have received appropriate instruction, training and competency assessment where required.

The role does not replace registered nursing responsibilities, and the post holder must not undertake clinical or medication-related duties unless specifically authorised, appropriately trained and assessed as competent.

All duties must be carried out in accordance with the home's policies, residents' individual care plans, safeguarding requirements, infection prevention and control standards, health and safety requirements and applicable regulatory standards.

This job description is intended to provide an overview of the role and is not exhaustive. Duties may reasonably be amended according to the needs of the residents and the service.

Expected hours: 36.0 per week

Benefits:

• On-site parking
• Paid training

Work Location: In person