Care Staff - Resident Services (SC047)

Applications are invited for the above positions based in West Dublin, North Kildare and Meath.

Job Purpose  

The overall role and responsibility of Care Staff is to enhance the lives of the Residents.  To this aim Care Staff must work effectively with all staff directly involved with the residents of Stewarts Care.

Care Staff are members of the Resident Services team and deliver support in conjunction with the wider multidisciplinary team and other relevant stakeholders.   

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

General Duties  

  • To supervise the residents in all aspects of daily life, have due regard for their safety and the safety of others, both on and off sections including outdoor activities in accordance with Stewarts Care Policy. 

  • To ensure that all efforts are made to cater for the physical and emotional needs of the residents to ensure the highest quality of care. 

  • To assist in the day to day running of sections so that each area is run in a manner that is in keeping with the highest professional standards and care. 

  • To assist in the training of residents and to observe and report on residents to nursing staff and other personnel directly involved with residents when requested. To assist in client assessment and programme implementation. 

  • To accompany residents to outside clinics, hospitals or other centres where they have been transferred for specialised treatment or care and to give a preliminary verbal report on returning to residence. 

  • To assist in the implementation of nursing treatment as directed. 

  • To assist in the induction of new Care Staff to the Residents and general routine. 

  • To accept delegated responsibility for residents when requested as directed by the Manager/Social Care Worker or Nurse in Charge. 

  • To attend In-service Training Programme and lectures educating on the development of service users.  

  • Attend Fire Prevention and Emergency Training Sessions and become conversant with them and to implement fire orders as per letter of appointment. 

  • Observe strictly the Code of Confidentiality. 

  • Maintain Hygiene and tidiness in area assigned to. 

  • Undertake training for the safe administration of medication. 

  • Administer medication in line with organisational policy. 

  • In the course of employment all employees may be required to support residents or day attenders in leisure activities including participating in activities in the swimming pool, cooking, cleaning and driving. 

 

Education and Training  

  • Partake in career and personal development planning. 

  • Maintain own professional development and competence.   

  • Actively participate in induction, supervision, mentoring, appraisal, reflection and be open to reflective practice.  

  • Attend mandatory training programmes as directed by Stewarts Care.  

 

Quality and Risk, Health and Safety Management  

  • Participate in any quality improvement projects and change initiatives which may be introduced. 

  • Follow and adhere to all risk related guidelines as stipulated by Risk Management.  

  • Ensure the highest level of confidentiality pertaining to all organisational stakeholders.  

  • Maintain appropriate service user record details and statistics in accordance with organisational and departmental guidelines, along with GDPR and the Freedom of Information Act.  

  • Comply with and contribute to the development of relevant organisational policies, legislation and professional policies, guidelines and requirements to ensure safe practice and high standards of service delivery.  

  • Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.  

  • Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role.  

  • Follow and adhere to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse National Policy and the Organisations Safeguarding procedures. 

 

Administrative  

  • Responsibility for daily administration duties.  

  • Positive representation of Residents Services through effective communication and engagement with other disciplines.  

  • Compliance with Stewarts Care HR policies with respect to all types of leave, to ensure the Residents needs are met.  

  • Compliance with Health and Safety regulations within the workplace at all times.  

  • Compliance with all relevant statutory local and organisational regulations and policies at all times.  

  • Maintain appropriate service user records and comply with department policies regarding clinical documentation practices.  

  • Contribute to implementing and achieving KPIs as agreed by the Line Manager. 

Competencies, Skills and Knowledge 

Candidates must demonstrate sufficient competency and professional knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role. 

Education and Skills  

  • QQI Level 5 (Healthcare Support) or SKILL-VEC Level 5 or equivalent is desirable. 

  • One years’ experience working in the area of disability is preferable. 

  • Excellent Communication Skills. 

  • Knowledge of HIQA, the Health Act 2007- 2013, Progressing Disability Services for children and young people, New Directions & Mental Health in Intellectual disability. 

  • Flexibility to work in all areas of Resident Services. 

  • Creativity (e.g., in using community resources, problem solving, supporting service user needs).  

  • Professional, accountable, good planning and time management skills.

Organisational and Role Specific Knowledge 

  • Demonstrates knowledge of the services provided by the organisation.  

  • Demonstrates a strong understanding of the importance of inclusion and ways to ensure meaningful activities are incorporated into a Service Users daily life. 

  • Knowledge of Stewarts Care organisational structure and functions. 

  • Knowledge of HIQA, the Health Act 2007- 2013. 

 

Communication  

  • Effective communication skills verbal, non-verbal and written both within the team and with Service Users.  

  • Proficient in Microsoft suite and strong ICT skills relevant to the role.  

  • Displays high personal standards, gives and receives feedback. 

Teamwork 

  • Resilience, positive attitude and openness to change. 

  • Supportive towards other team members and uses initiative to ensure the goals of the team are met. 

  • Ability to engage and negotiate with relevant stakeholders in the best interests of service users. 

  • Understanding the importance of the Multi- Disciplinary Team (MDT) in the provision of care and the ability to develop and maintain relationships with all stakeholders.  

 

Planning and Organising  

  • Effectively deal with a wide range of information sources, investigating all relevant issues. 

  • Ability to prioritise and organise tasks within a dynamic and changing environment. 

  • Draws accurate conclusions and makes balanced and fair recommendations backed up with evidence.  

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. 

Terms and Conditions of Employment Care Staff, Resident Services – Stewarts Care 

Remuneration

Remuneration is in accordance with the Department of Health consolidated pay scales  Current Salary Scale: Care Assistant (Disability Services) 

€34,536-€47,954 incl. LSIs per annum.  

Your salary is paid monthly (16th unless when 16th falls on Saturday or Sunday you are paid on the Friday prior to the 16th) by direct credit transfer into any Bank or Building Society of your choice where the paypath system operates. 

Annual leave

Entitlement is 179.4 hours pro rata per annum.

Working week

The hours allocated to this post are 39 hours exclusive of lunch breaks.

The allocation of these hours will be at the discretion of the Director of Care and in accordance with the needs of the service to include evenings, weekends and sleepovers.

Probation

All employees will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months, with an extension if required to 9 months.

This probationary period applies to all employees irrespective of their role or type of role.

Garda Vetting

Stewarts Care will carry out Garda vetting on all new employees. An employee will not take up employment with the organisation until the Garda Vetting process has been completed, and the organisation is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to the service users and employees.

References

Stewarts Care will seek up to three written references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisation with which the candidate has been associated. Stewarts Care reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.

How to apply

Email a copy of your CV to recruitment@stewartscare.ie listing the Role Reference (SC047) in the subject of your email. 

Stewarts Care is an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity and inclusion.