Home Support Worker



JOB INFORMATION PACK

Contents

Application information

About the work and the team

Job description

Person specification

APPLICATION INFORMATION

THE JOB

Job title Project Worker 14 hours

Recruiting manager Alan Midwinter, Service Manager

Where Lothian Early Onset Support Service

Address The Prentice Centre, 1 Granton Mains Avenue, EH4 4GA

E-mail leossproject@

Telephone 0131 551 9350

DATES

Closing date 15th November 2013

(You will hear within 7 days of the closing date if you have been invited for an interview.)

Interview date w/c 18th November 2013

WHERE TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FORM

To the e-mail address (preferred) or postal address in “The Job” box above.

Alzheimer Scotland

About the Work and the Team

Background Information

Alzheimer Scotland is the leading dementia charity in Scotland and works to improve the lives of everyone affected by dementia. We provide information, support and a network of services and support groups around Scotland. We also campaign to improve public policies for people with dementia and their carers.

The Lothian Early Onset Support Service is a specialist service, which caters specifically for younger people with dementia, i.e. where the illness has begun to develop before the age of 65. Dementia is an illness, which is normally associated with older people, but it can strike at any age and when it does affect a younger person, their support needs can be very complex and different from those of older people affected by the illness.

While the causes of dementia in younger people may be the same as those in older people, the effects are often more distressing because of the greater impact on the life of the individual and the family. Younger people are more likely to be physically fit and active and also to have more insight into their condition and a greater desire to understand what is happening to them. All this may lead to feelings of anger, frustration or depression. For their carers and their families too, the problems can be made worse by the unexpected nature of the illness, which can be far more difficult to accept in the midst of an active, working, family and social life. There will inevitably be a dramatic shift in the balance of the relationship and major changes in the roles and responsibilities within the family unit. There may well also be the additional burden of unexpected financial hardship caused by the enforced early retirement of the person with dementia, and their partner perhaps having to give up work to care. Children too will face problems of understanding, coping with and adjusting to their new family situation, at an age when they are still looking to their parents for emotional and financial support.

Aims of the Service

Our aim is to provide consistent and continuing support in a variety of ways to enable these people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, and to enable their carers to continue caring for as long as they are able and willing to do so, with the best possible quality of life for both.

The Service

The project is a specialist support service for younger people with dementia, their carers and families.

The key features are:

• A flexible and responsive service tailored specifically to the needs of the individuals referred

• A family outreach service which offers information and advice, emotional support and practical assistance for the whole family from a key worker who also provides a link with other services and professionals

• A home support service offering one to one support in the home or other settings for the person with dementia

• Day Clubs offering opportunities for social contact, mutual support, activities and outings for younger people with dementia at varying stages of the illness

• Social opportunities both for the person with dementia and their carers, either together or separately

• Carers’ support groups and carers’ education courses

Staffing

The project is staffed by:

• A Service Manager who is responsible for the day to day management of the project

• Currently two part-time Family Outreach Workers who provide practical and emotional support, information and advice to the family, and form a link with and facilitate access to appropriate services

• A part-time Service Administrator who provides full administrative and clerical support to the project, ensuring accurate payroll and financial information is passed to our National Office departments and playing an important role in the running of the service office.

• A team of Sessional Home Support Workers who provide personal support and assistance to the person with dementia

• A Day Care Organiser and Assistant who run 6 clubs for people in the early, moderate and later stages of dementia

• A small team of volunteers who assist in the running of the day clubs

| | |[pic] |

|[pic] |We are Scotland’s leading dementia charity, providing services | |

| |and campaigning to help people with dementia and their carers. | |

| |We are committed to recruiting and retaining high-quality, | |

| |dedicated staff and will reward you with benefits including | |

| |customised training and generous holiday and pension | |

| |entitlements. We strive to be an equal opportunities employer. | |

Alzheimer Scotland seeks a highly skilled people for our exciting project you will assist the Service Manager to develop and support a range of flexible, creative and responsive community based initiatives for people with dementia and their carers.

Project Worker

You will also be responsible for;

1. Supporting the promotion of dementia cafes within the community across West Lothian

2. Supporting communities to become more dementia friendly and equip volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge to enable them to host a dementia café

3. Provide training and support to café volunteers

You will have excellent communication and organisational skills and training experience. Full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.

The project is funded by West Lothian Council for 2 years.

For enquiries and application pack contact Edinburgh and West Lothian Service, The Prentice Centre, 1 Granton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh EH4 4GA. Telephone: 0131 551 9350. Details also at Closing date for both posts: 15th November. Please note that the successful candidates will be subject to a criminal conviction check through PVG.

Alzheimer Scotland

Job Description

West Lothian Project Worker

Purpose of the Post

The Project Worker’s main function is to manage the day-to-day activities of a project or part of a service. The Project Worker will also assist the Service Manager to develop and support a range of flexible, creative and responsive community based initiatives for people with dementia and their carers.

The West Lothian Project Worker will set up and develop dementia café’s in partnership with local communities across the area.

Reports to the Service Manager

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1 Support the promotion of dementia cafes within the community across West Lothian

2 Support communities to become more dementia friendly and equip volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge to enable them to host a dementia café

3 Provide training and support to café volunteers

4. Facilitate the development of a support network for café volunteers across the area

5. Aid the understanding and appreciation of the concept and purpose of dementia cafes

6. Signpost and refer individuals to the café who are likely to benefit

7. Provide advice and support in running a dementia café and evaluating its effectiveness

8. Represent the organisation e.g. at meetings, events and other appropriate fora.

9. Provide information: raise public awareness about the service also other support agencies and give advice and information about dementia. Facilitate access to other agencies/resources.

10. Manage finance and budgets: ensure correct entries and collation of information so all returns are made within allocated timescales.

11. Service Planning: to provide information and quarterly reports regarding service activity

12. Attend and contribute to meetings: at local and national level as required

Under direction of Service manager

13. Development of the project: identify gaps in service provision and encourage the development of effective, high quality innovative services. Play a key role in developing partnership working with other organisations and professionals.

14. Any other reasonable request within the capability of the jobholder.

All of the responsibilities and duties are to be carried out according to Alzheimer

Scotland’s standards, policies and procedures as described in the:

• Organisation’s Manual

• Practice Standards

As well as promote and adhere to National Care Standards and the Scottish Social Services

Council Codes of Practice

Pattern of hours

The working week varies between posts. It is anticipated that there will be flexible working according to the needs of the programme of work.

Salary - The post is graded at £21,006-23,048 (pro rata)

The post holder will be subject to a criminal check through Disclosure Scotland.

This job description is open to review by the organisation at any time and was last revised in April 2012.

Alzheimer Scotland

Person Specification – Project Worker

The following criteria will be used in selecting a candidate:

| | | |

| |Essential |Desirable |

|Skills, ability, knowledge | | |

|Good communication skills both written and verbal. |√ | |

|Ability to use a computer for emails and recording information |√ | |

|Full driving license and access to a vehicle during working time |√ | |

|Personal qualities | | |

|Enthusiasm and motivation as well as understanding of and empathy with vulnerable people |√ | |

|Ability to relate to service users and carers and to understand their needs |√ | |

|Non discriminatory and inclusive approach to enable people with dementia to still live |√ | |

|life to the full | | |

|Ability to manage own time and to organise tasks and work load |√ | |

|Qualifications/experience | | |

|Literacy and numeracy skills to complete service users’ paperwork and complete time |√ | |

|sheets and forms. To be able deliver training to volunteers | | |

|SVQ level 3 in Social Care or other relevant qualification | |√ |

|Understanding and/or experience of working with, or supporting vulnerable people or |√ | |

|carers | | |

|Experience of contributing to support plans and work diaries | |√ |

|Experience in working with volunteers | |√ |

|Experience of working with, or supporting, people with dementia | |√ |

March 2010

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