Care Worker

Job Title: Care Worker

Report to: Registered Manager

Purpose of Role: *PLEASE NOTE WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE SPONSORSHIP* To support clients with all aspects of their day-to-day living, so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life. You will mostly work alone with the client in their home. Providing care and support offers many rewards, but can also be challenging. Compassion, good communication skills and a calm and caring manner are essential for this important role in our company.

Key Responsibilities: To provide safe, reliable, compassionate care and support to meet the individual needs and wishes of each client. Each person is unique therefore you must respect each client’s choice about how their care and support is always given and promote their dignity.

You may be the only person the client sees over a period of time. It is therefore essential to report any changes or causes for concern to your line manager promptly. You need to be clear about when to seek help and advice in order to keep client safe and promote their well- being.

Job Duties:

Care and support

Give anti-discriminatory care and support that values the whole person rather than merely seeing a list of care needs. Carefully listen and observe how each client prefers their care and support to be delivered on a day-to-day basis. Help them make their own decisions so they can be as independent as possible.

Follow the instructions in the care and support plan agreed with each customer. This may include:

• All aspects of personal care such as showering and bathing, dressing and grooming, dental hygiene, toileting and continence care;
• Assisting with medicines, ordering and collecting prescriptions or returning unwanted medicines to the pharmacy for safe disposal;
• Supporting the client to eat and drink well. For example, helping the client to plan what to eat and drink, giving gentle encouragement, shopping, preparing and serving food and drinks, clearing the table, washing up and keeping the kitchen area clean and tidy, agreeing with the customer how to store food safely and when to dispose of out-of-date products;
• Safely using aids and personal equipment in a manner that respects the dignity of customers. For example, walking frames, wheelchairs, manual and electric hoists, sliding sheets and moving boards, hearing aids and other physical aids;
• Housework such as dusting, tidying, washing floors, vacuuming and sweeping, doing the laundry and ironing, making beds and changing the linen;
• Social and physical activities or mental stimulation such as keeping in touch with friends and relatives, taking a client out shopping or to social activities, hobbies such as reading, photo albums, games, etc.;
• Supporting a client through temporary and terminal illness, including end of life care, hospital appointments, liaising with community health support and families;
• Liaise with the client’s family if and when necessary to ensure transparency and open communication at all times. Use the “open door policy” when engaging with clients and their families so that they know that they can talk to staff about any concerns or issues they may have, and feel comfortable doing so;
• Oversee the project / home you are allocated to and liaise with staff, clients and management on a regular basis.

Record and report

• The care and support that you provide and assistance with medicines (e.g., MAR Charts, body maps, incident, or accident reports, etc.);
• Changes to a client’s condition or other concerns (e.g., faulty equipment or hazards in the home), and update the care plans accordingly.
• Response to emergencies, accidents, incidents, and safeguarding matters;
• Contact with families, representatives or carers and/or other professionals;
• Keep all information about the client and their families secure and confidential except where policy requires you to share so to protect the interests of our clients;
• Write and submit reports on clients’ progress and any changes in their care on a weekly basis;
• Complete audits of documentation and medication in clients’ homes on a weekly basis.

Work well as part of Alves iCare team

• Follow Alves iCare policies, procedures and guidance at all times;
• Take part in staff and clients’ meetings when required;
• Attend training activities, supervisions, and appraisal meetings;
• Liaise with the staffing team in a positive and constructive manner to ensure the care provided to clients is safe, caring, responsive, effective, and well-led, and act as a leader and representative of the company as a whole;
• This list is not exhaustive, and you may be asked to carry out additional duties. We will provide you with full training in line with regulatory requirements.

Essential Criteria:

Personal Attributes:

• Caring and compassionate towards people in need of care and support;
• Dedicated to anti-discriminatory care practice. This means respecting people suffering from a range of medical conditions with different backgrounds and beliefs to your own;
• Self-motivated and keen to learn. Willing to seek guidance when needed and to follow instructions;
• Excellent time keeper and reliable;
• Good hygiene practice, including infection control, personal hygiene, and a smart appearance;
• Good stamina and level of fitness to meet the physical demands of the job;

Knowledge and Understanding:

• Clear understanding of the needs of people who require care and support;
• Respect for the rights of our clients. Understanding the importance of giving the best possible care and support centered on the individual needs and wishes of each client;
• Understanding of what confidentiality means in relation to homecare services and why this is important;

Experience and Skills:

• Ability to listen, communicate clearly and build positive working relationships with the client, their families or representatives, Alves iCare staff and other social and health care professionals;
• Ability to give care and support to clients with all aspects of their daily living;
• To always respect their dignity, privacy and choices, be non-judgmental and promote their independence;
• Good organisational skills, so customers receive the services they expect;
• Ability to use own initiative and work alone or as part of a team especially in an emergency;
• Numerical skills to support customers in managing their money, doing their shopping, or paying bills when requested to do so;
• Ability to keep written records in clear English about the care and support given to each client, including help with medicines;
• Ability and willingness to follow Alves iCare’s policies, procedures and instructions and to participate in training;

Additional Requirements:

• All staff are expected to meet regulatory training standards. All carers must attend initial Alves iCare training before providing care and support to our clients. During the first 13 weeks you will continue to receive on the job and classroom-based training to help you fully understand your role. You must be willing to participate in ongoing training so you can continue to give good and safe care and support
• You will need to obtain a satisfactory criminal record check and evidence that your name is not listed as barred from working with vulnerable people;
• Full driving licence with no more than 3 points, Class 1 business insurance and a current MOT (if using own car for business purposes);

Desirable Criteria:

• A relevant care and/or health qualification;
• Previous experience as a carer/personal assistant, as a care assistant or as an unpaid carer;
• Knowledge of how to recognise abuse and safeguarding procedures;
• Working knowledge of health and safety matters relating to homecare;
• Flexible approach to working.

Job Types: Permanent, Full-time

Pay: £13.45 per hour

Expected hours: 30.0 – 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Company pension

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Experience:

• providing care: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (preferred)
• NVQ Level 2 Health & Social Care (preferred)

Work Location: In person