Senior Support Worker
Organisation: LArche BelfastReporting To: Team LeaderResponsible For: Taking a senior role in providing practical and emotional support to our Core Members, encouraging both interdependence and independence as far as possible in all areas of their lives, in a safe environment where their rights are protected and respected.
Main Job Purpose
Work as a key member of the team across all of our supported living houses, delivering an excellent service of housing-related support and domiciliary care to our Core Members in the setting of an intentional community.
Ensure all health and safety and statutory requirements of the service specification are met in accordance with the organisations commitment to standards.
Key Performance Measures
Delivering professionalism and excellence in respect of our Core Members care, support and general household living needs.
Feedback from Core Members, Line Managers, families and other carers.
Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records.
Compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and regulatory requirements.
Maintaining a professional approach to work at all times.
Projecting a professional and reputable image for LArche Belfast and acting as an ambassador for the organisation at all times.
Working within the ethos and values of LArche Belfast, as outlined in our Statement of Purpose and in guidelines from the LArche International Federation.
Detailed Responsibilities
In fulfilling this role, the jobholder undertakes the following activities:
Take a lead role in providing emotional and practical support, advocacy and information to our Core Members.
Take a lead role in helping our Core Members meet their personal care needs sensitively, appropriately and to a high standard, including personal hygiene, support with medication management, assistance with household tasks and preparing meals.
Oversight of the Referencing System
Have oversight of the referencing, also known as key working, system, including:
Supporting Reference Persons in their role, providing training and mentoring as needed.
Working with the House Administrator to ensure all care and support plans, Core Member risk assessments, action plans and other referencing paperwork are up to date.
Attending Trust care reviews as required and assisting with preparation for reviews.
Reference Person Responsibilities
Act as a Reference Person, or key worker, for one of our Core Members. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Helping Core Members design the care and support they receive and maintaining oversight of this.
Maintaining essential records, such as care and support plans, risk assessments and finances, with support from the Leadership Team.
Taking an active role in reviewing care and support plans and risk assessments.
Liaising with health and other professionals, family members and others as required.
Acting as an advocate for the Core Member, ensuring their care and support plans are person-centred and designed to meet their specific needs, and ensuring their human rights are respected at all times.
Attending case conferences and other professional meetings as required.
Household, Staffing and Safety Responsibilities
Support Core Members to actively contribute to the upkeep of their own house and ensure their home is a safe and welcoming place.
Participate in rotas, which may include day, evening, weekend and Bank Holiday working, and sleeping-in duties at night.
Temporarily step up into a shift leader role when the Team Leader and House Administrator are both absent.
Temporarily assist the Team Leader or House Administrator with management tasks when either is on holiday.
Assist the Team Leader and House Administrator with the induction of new staff and volunteers as required.
Actively contribute to workplace health and safety assessments, follow health and safety procedures, and participate in fire drills and audits.
Report maintenance and repair tasks in the house to the House Administrator or Team Leader and assist with following these up as required.
Ensure all emergency procedures are followed, including providing first aid when necessary.
Supporting Active and Fulfilled Lives
Assist our Core Members to lead active and fulfilled lives, including:
Helping them to be contributing members of their local community.
Helping them engage in a variety of social and leisure activities suited to their interests.
Helping them access a variety of services in the local neighbourhood and across the Belfast area.
Helping them plan and take holidays, short breaks away and similar activities based on their needs and interests.
Administration, Development and Professional Practice
Take a lead role in completing the wide range of administrative tasks necessary for the smooth running of the household and ensure all records are kept to the highest standard.
Be willing to work across all of our supported living houses, which may mean being based in more than one house team.
Participate in opportunities provided for personal training and development, including implementation of an Individual Development Plan.
Participate in regular supervision to receive support, increase knowledge, identify training needs, evaluate work performance, and aid and assess professional development.
Participate in an annual appraisal coordinated by your Team Leader.
Work within, and promote, the policies and procedures of LArche Belfast.
Maintain confidentiality about Core Members, staff and the organisation as a whole, and follow GDPR data protection regulations.
Teamwork
Be an active and supportive team member:
Treat everyone on the team and all Core Members with respect at all times.
Help cover the work of the team during absences, vacancies or when a colleague is under pressure.
Attend and contribute to weekly team meetings.
Promote and engage in effective communication within the team and with other areas of the organisation.
This Role Profile is not exhaustive and should be taken only as a general outline of the duties of the postholder. It may be reviewed and varied periodically with due notice.
Person SpecificationEducation and Qualifications
Essential: A good standard of education to at least secondary level.
Essential: Prepared to undertake additional qualifications and development in relation to social care management and understanding of learning disability.
Desirable: Level 3 qualification in Social Care, or a relevant professional or vocational qualification.
Knowledge
Essential: Understanding of and commitment to the Mission and Values of LArche.
Essential: Up-to-date knowledge of social care standards, regulations and best practice.
Desirable: Knowledge of current issues and trends affecting the support of people with learning disabilities.
Experience
Essential: At least two years of relevant experience working with people with learning disabilities.
Classification not specified in the document: Previous experience in person-centred care and support planning processes, including the development, production and review of care and support plans and risk assessments.
Desirable: Previous management or leadership experience.
Task-Based Skills
Essential: Personal effectiveness, excellent organisational skills, and the ability to prioritise and delegate.
Essential: Effective written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
Essential: Ability to work autonomously and provide effective leadership and mentoring to junior staff.
Essential: IT literacy, particularly with Microsoft Office.
Desirable: Excellent financial management skills.
Other Requirements
Desirable: Hold a full, current driving licence and have access to a means of transport.
Desirable: Prior experience of LArche or another intentional community.
40 hrs per week and it closes at 09 November 2026 5:00pm
WHJS1_NI
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