Support Worker (Practitioner)

Support Worker (Practitioner)

Location: Dunfermline

Contract: Full time, part time positions available

Pay: £15.47 per hour

About Real Life Options

At Real Life Options we provide person centred support to enable the people we support to live the life that they choose. Support is uniquely tailored to each individual, ensuring they have choice and control over the planning and delivery of their support.

About the role

The service supports Adults with a Learning Disability presenting with a variety of complex physical and additional support needs, with behaviours that may challenge. The role will initially be to provide support within hospital setting prior to support 3 adults to transition from long term hospital stays into community setting.

Once discharge is complete you will be instrumental in contributing to changing people’s lives through community engagement and effective communication, promoting choice, inclusion, equality and control for the person supported. You will work with people, who are sometimes vulnerable for example, people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex or age related needs.

You will be able to guide and encourage people you support to live the individual life they want, ensuring they have choice and control over the planning and delivery of their support. You will enable them to reach their potential by providing both physical and emotional support along with encouraging them to develop positive relationships and to be an equal and valued member of their local community.

What You'll Do

• Enable the development of skills with the People We Support through encouragement to participate in their own lives
• Enable people we support to participate in all decisions affecting their lives
• Promote positive risk taking for the people we support and whilst adhering to Health & Safety Legislation
• Encourage the people we support to maintain their own health and wellbeing including support with their medication needs, access to medical professionals & personal care when needed
• Adhere to all organisational recording and documenting systems
• Communicate with all external agencies and stakeholders in a professional manner
• Adhere to organisations policies and procedures and best practice guidance
• Attend mandatory training, any service specific identified training, regular 1-1 meetings, team meetings.
• Work in a flexible manner to meet the needs of the people we support which may include days/evenings/ weekends/bank holiday/overnight.

What We’re Looking For

• Individuals who are calm, patient, and excellent communicators.
• You will be skilled in both verbal and non-verbal communication, building trust and rapport while navigating different situations with empathy and understanding.
• Committed to working in a person centred manner
• Enjoy the challenge of working with a diverse range of people we support
• Take ownership of your own personal professional development with a willingness to learn and grow
• Demonstrate a high standard of person centred support and enablement
• Be professional at all times and represent the organisation in a positive and proactive manner
• Be passionate about improving the lives of others and your own
• Be thoughtful and empathetic, considering the needs of others
• Be able to work in an encouraging, supportive and enabling way, for people to be able to achieve their full potential
• Be motivated to provide excellent support
• Have a positive and can do attitude

Experience

• Experience of supporting adults with a learning disability and behaviours that may challenge in a health or social care setting (Essentia)
• Demonstrable experience in crisis intervention and positive behaviour management. (Essential)
• Experience of getting to know people individually and ensuring their needs are met in a way that is caring, kind and respectful (Essential)
• Experience working with MDT teams and participating in complex case reviews for people supported (Essential)
• Experience of working independently (Essential)
• Experience of working in complex care within a social or health care setting (Essential)
• Experience working with people who present behaviours that require intensive support planning and management to always ensure their safety and quality of life (Essential)
• Proven understanding of person centred support (Essential)

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support principles, Trauma‑informed care, Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (Essential)
• Evidence of continuing professional development (Essential)
• Understanding of learning disability and person‑centred care (Essential)
• Awareness of behaviours that may challenge and supportive approaches (Essential)
• Understanding of own role and responsibility within the SSSC Code of Conduct (Essential)
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of reflective practice, debriefing and clinical supervision (Desirable)

Qualifications and Training

• Evidence of good basic education (Essential)
• Ability to demonstrate effective literacy, numeracy and communication skills (Essential)
• Willingness to undertake mandatory and role‑specific training (Essential)
• SVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care (Scotland) or Level 4 Diploma in Care (England) (Essential)
• Medication Level 3 training and ability to undertake competency assessments (Desirable)

Enhanced PVG required (we will support the application process)

What We Offer

• 28 days paid holiday (pro-rata)
• Accredited training and development
• Contributory pension scheme
• Mileage paid at 35p per mile (up to 10,000 miles per year)
• Health Cash Plan (for contracted staff)
• £10,000 Life Cover
• Free Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to retail and service discounts via Reward Gateway
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Financial wellbeing support
• Refer a Friend bonus
• Recognition and reward initiatives

Ready to Apply?

Real Life Options is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support candidates with disabilities or additional needs during the recruitment process