Outreach Day Service Support/Care Assistant

Outreach Day Service Support/Care Assistant

• Cork, Ireland
• Part-time

Who We Are

L'Arche Ireland is part of the International Federation of L'Arche Communities, a movement dedicated to create a more humane society.

Skills and attributes

• Teamwork
• Must be resident in Cork, Ireland
• Be Person Centred in approach and attitude.
• Adhere to New Directions
• IMMEDIATE START

Description

Vacancy: Outreach Day Service Support/Care Assistant, Part time, 15 hours per week, initial 12 month contract.

WE REQUIRE APPLICANTS WHO ARE ALREADY RESIDENT IN CORK IRELAND AS START DATE IS ASAP.

L'Arche Cork is recruiting for the position of Care Assistant to provide an outreach day service for a 65 year old woman in Cobh, due to her recently reduced capacity to attend L'Arche's day service, and to help facilitate her intended return to a much reduced day service.

Expectations of the role of Outreach Day Service Support

• To build a trusting, Person Centred relationship with the person you support advocating for her needs, with due regard to her will and preference.
• To forge a close rapport with the person's guardian, also residing in the house, via regular communication, to promote a needs led and responsive service.
• To promote quality of life for the person you support, enabling access to pastimes, hobbies and supports, via assistive technology (e.g. zoom) and driving.
• To attend medical appointments with the person you support as required.
• To communicate frequently with L'Arche, regarding progress, challenges, identified supports etc., to improve support both to the person and to you in your role.

Requirements for the role

• Minimum 2 years' experience in intellectual disabilities (related field experience considered).
• Managing your time effectively, working autonomously and demonstrating initiative.
• Ability to manage behaviours that may challenge.
• A satisfactory level of IT proficiency for use of online/assistive technology.
• Commitment to best practice guidelines, to regulations, and to L'Arche policy, especially regarding safeguarding, upholding confidentiality, and accountability.
• Full clean driving licence.
• Post is subject to Garda vetting.

Special Circumstances

Some degree of flexible working, in order to meet the needs of the person you support.

Salary scale

HSE Health Care Assistant 27,571 - 41,952 Euros per annum, pro rata.

L'Arche Cork is an equal opportunities employer.

Job Description - Outreach Day Service Support (part time - 15 hours) Overview

L'Arche Cork is recruiting for the position of Care Assistant to provide an outreach day service for a 65 year old woman in her home while she recuperates from a fall. The distribution of the 15 hours throughout the week is subject to discussion. The role will require supporting the person to sometimes physically attend L'Arche day service.

Location

At a private family residence in the general area of Cobh, County Cork and at L'Arche Togher, as required.

Reporting to

Day Service Co ordinator, L'Arche Cork/Day Service Team Lead.

Main purpose

The role of any frontline worker in L'Arche is to support and enable adults with intellectual disability (ID) to improve their quality of life and achieve equality and independence through meeting their social support needs. This specific role involves providing an outreach day service for a 65 year old woman in her own home because of her recently reduced capacity to attend L'Arche's day service.

Position Summary

The Outreach Day Service Support/Care Assistant will play an advocacy role in helping to meet the social support needs of this person, with a focus on wellbeing and accessibility.

Duties and responsibilities

Supporting the person in the following areas:

• Personal care - Toileting as required (Note that Home Help attends three times a day to assist in this regard and to wash and dress the person).
• Medical needs - Monitor the well being of the person, in close liaison with the guardian, accompany the person to medical appointments, administer medication, as required, and keep records of all medical events.
• Health promotion - Encourage good health habits including appropriate exercise, diet, and relaxation techniques.
• Spirituality - Support the person's spiritual needs, such as engaging in religious services of their choosing, mindfulness practice, etc.
• Activities appropriate to the individual - Encourage and support participation in activities or pastimes appropriate to the person's level of ability, interest areas, and expressed preferences.
• Active citizenship - Encourage and support the person to engage with community groups with similar interests or hobbies, including transport to L'Arche in Togher. Activities may include car trips to places of interest, chair yoga, qi gong, etc.
• Safeguarding - Ensure the safety and wellbeing of both yourself and the person you support, with respect for risk assessments, incident reports and adherence to best practice guidelines and organisational policy.
• Driving - Drive the person you support to appointments, to L'Arche community events, or on trips out locally.

Quality

• Align with New Directions standards to ensure safe, responsive service.
• Maintain continuous professional development and identify training needs.
• Continuously improve services, documenting and reviewing them in consultation with the person.
• Obtain feedback from the person and their support circles to improve service.
• Comply with and contribute to day service monitoring systems.

Communication and Reporting

• Forge a positive and trusting relationship with the person you support and the person's guardian.
• Report directly to the Day Service Co ordinator / Day Service Team Lead.
• Liaise with Day Support Staff as required.
• Attend regular support and supervision sessions with the Day Service Co ordinator to ensure adequate support and identify training needs.
• Facilitate person centred planning meetings and reviews.
• Attend other meetings relating to the person as necessary.

Administration

• Complete accident or incident forms where necessary.
• Report safeguarding concerns within the designated time limits.
• Document contacts (phone calls, emails, visits) for day service monitoring.
• Monitor and document resource requirements for activities of interest, make purchases as authorised, and retain receipts.

Person Specification

• Minimum QQI Level 5 qualification in social care or health care, or equivalent qualification with minimum of 2 years' relevant experience working with adults with an intellectual disability or in a related service.
• Experience of working in a care delivery capacity, preferably in a disability service.
• Experience of communicating with persons with an intellectual disability (ID).
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to engage a person with intellectual disability one to one.
• Ability to work on own initiative and collaborate with a team while managing time autonomously.
• Demonstrate patience, compassion and understanding, treating the person with dignity and respect, aligning with New Directions and Person Centred practice.
• Uphold confidentiality.
• Adaptable to changing needs, solution focused, contingency planning.
• Flexibility in response to arising needs.
• Full clean driving licence.
• Post is subject to ongoing Garda vetting.

Conditions of employment

The post is offered on a part time basis, 15 hours a week, for an initial fixed term period of 12 months.

Working hours

15 hours per week (spread of hours negotiable).

Annual leave

Annual leave will be 25 days per annum, pro rata. Entitlement to Public Holidays will be in accordance with the Working Time Act 1997.