Person Specification

Qualifications
- Evidence of continued personal development
- To have or be willing to work towards The Care Certificate, under regulation 18 and 19 in accordance with CQC fundamental Standards

Experience
- Substantial experience of working with people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behavior that challenges or with a mental health condition
- Experience maintaining high professional standards across a staff team inc. integrity of approach and maintenance of appropriate boundaries between staff & clients
- Experience of lone working
- Experience of supporting people into inclusive opportunities
- Experience of all aspects of medication management

Skills and Abilities
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to liaise effectively at all levels
- Ability to problem solve creatively
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Understanding and ability to implement and utilise relevant I.T. systems
- To develop and sustain empowering relationships with people being supported
- Person-centered planning and risk management skills
- Demonstrable therapeutic skills that are relevant to addressing the range of survival and coping strategies that clients may use e.g. self-injury, development of chaotic relationships, eating difficulties, substance misuse, offending behaviours, and underlying causes of service users’ mental distress
- To act calmly in emergencies and respond professionally and responsibly to distress, disturbance and unpredictable and challenging behaviour
- Ability to use a range of tailored communication methods e.g. Widgit, Makaton, PECS, Easy-Read

Knowledge
- CQC (Care Quality Commission) New Standards (2014); The Care Act (2014)
- REACH: Support for living an ordinary life: Service review – Pavilion Publishing and Media Ltd and its licensors 2013
- Human Rights Act 1998

Personal Attributes
- To be committed to team-working and be supportive of colleagues and other staff
- A commitment to Imagine’s philosophy, objectives and policies/procedures
- A commitment to equality, diversity and social inclusion
- Drive and enthusiasm with a commitment to deliver excellent services
- Belief in the possibility of positive change and recovery in people
- Commitment the regular review of the service’s model of care
- Genuine empathy and compassion for the people supported across Imagine’s services, conveying this to all those with whom they come into contact

Vacancy Details

1. JOB SUMMARY
This is an exciting opportunity to work at our service in the Oldham area of Greater Manchester with Imagine Independence, providing personalised support to individuals in line with the person-centred plan. To assist people to live as tenants and citizens in the local community. The level of support will vary according to the agreed level of support required and informed choice. Support must be consistent with people’s rights, choices and responsibilities. For example:
• To see the people we support as valued customers of our service
• To support people by planning ‘with them’ and not ‘for them’ and to make informed choices
• To create a support package that is holistic and led by the needs and preferences of each individual person

You will be required to work flexibly on a rota basis to meet the needs of the service, this includes weekends, Bank Holidays, waking nights shifts and sleep-ins as required by the individual’s care plan.

Service Delivery Model: To follow the principles of the REACH standards when working with individuals:
– I choose who I live with
– I choose where I live
– I choose who supports me
– I choose how I am supported
– I have my own home
– I choose what happens in my own home
– I make friendships and relationships with people on my terms
– I am supported to be healthy and safe on my terms
– I have the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens.

Service Focus: To establish services in line with strategic objectives adapted from the Golden Threads contained within the National Service Model (2015):
1. Quality of life: people should be treated with dignity and respect. Care and support should be personalised, enabling the person to achieve their hopes, goals and aspirations
2. Keeping people safe: people should be supported to take positive risks whilst ensuring that they are protected from potential harm, abuse or neglect, within a culture of transparent and open reporting, reflecting/actioning on lessons
3. Choice and control: people should have choice and control over their own health and care services; the emphasis should be on ‘working with’ rather than 'doing to' individuals and any decisions about care and support should be in line with the Mental Capacity Act.
4. Support and interventions: should always be provided in the least restrictive manner and should promote independence. If an individual needs to be restrained either for their own protection or the protection of others, restrictive interventions should be for the shortest time possible and using the least restrictive means possible, in line with Positive and Proactive Care, Department of Health 2014.
5. Equitable outcomes: comparable with the general population, by addressing the determinants of health inequalities outlined in the Health Equalities Framework, enabling people to access mainstream services, activities and informal supports, making reasonable adjustments where necessary in line with Equality Act legislation.

2. LOCATION
The post will be based at Imagine service in Oldham within Greater Manchester, but post holders will be expected to work flexibly as a part of a cluster and work at any site in Greater Manchester as required.

3. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
This post has no direct supervisory responsibilities but there is of course a duty upon all employees to be aware of appropriate service standards and to report any breach of standards to someone in authority.

4. MAIN DUTIES under the guidance of the Manager
• To work with individuals in transition from hospital to a community setting according to their care and support plan
• Take part in helping people draw up/follow their person-centred plan and follow set Positive Behaviour Support Plans
• Work in partnership with others to allow independence of choice
• To act with integrity and to identify opportunities to celebrate achievements to allow a positive, respectful and trusting relationship to grow and support people to improve their confidence and self esteem
• Support people to make informed choices around a healthy lifestyle including physical health and improving self-care
• Support people to manage their own physical, mental health and wellbeing in a positive manner
• Support people to meet their leisure, work, social, emotional and spiritual needs and access community activities
• Support people to manage finances to meet domestic responsibilities and personal aspirations
• To support with domestic tasks and practical issues such as dealing with neighbours and keeping their house clean
• Support people to access other services and attend, as appropriate, case conferences, reviews etc.
• Support people to maintain the safety and security of their home
• To prompt individuals and undertake personal care duties as required
• To write up & record activities undertaken; complete risk assessment according to Imagine policy and procedure
• To follow any restraint, break away safeguards in place detailed in care plan required by the individual
• To report any significant change in client’s health, behaviour, wider situation to a manager & liaise with clinical teams
• To treat all people with dignity and respect; promote an environment free from bullying, harassment & intimidation
• To take responsibility for own health and safety, that of tenants and to report areas of risk to the Manager
• All employees are subject to the Health & Safety at Work Act.

5. REQUIREMENTS – All employees are expected to:
• Act with integrity at all times and with a proactive professional manner
• Ensure that principles of quality are included in all aspects of work
• Always be responsive to client priorities
• Adhere to all Imagine policies and procedures and at all times
• Comply with safeguarding, health and safety and any other statutory regulatory requirements
• Demonstrate working within the organisation’s objectives
• Undertake any other tasks which may be requested from time to time by the organisation
• Safeguard all organisation property or privileged knowledge
• Meet targets and objectives as set by the line manager
• Undertake all duties and tasks in an efficient accurate manner resulting in excellent service provision.

6. TRAINING and DEVELOPMENT
• Commitment to continuous personal development and participate fully in relevant training and learning
• Attend and participate in staff meetings; contribute to the learning and development of other staff within the team
• Attend and participate in regular supervision and an annual personal review.

7. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: Imagine aims to provide high quality services to enhance the quality of life of people experiencing disadvantage. In order to fulfil this aim, it operates a policy of equal opportunities to ensure that no client, job applicant, employee, volunteer or carer is discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of gender, age, race, colour, sexuality, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, disability or marital status.

8. CONFIDENTIALITY: In the course of your duties, you may have access to confidential information about individuals or about Company business. Under no circumstances must this information be communicated to anyone other than the authorised persons. These may include medical or other professional staff who are involved in the care and treatment of the person. If in doubt refer to the Line Manager.

Please note that this job profile may be amended to meet the needs of the service and does not preclude other tasks as directed by the team leader. Alteration will be discussed in advance with the post holder whose agreement will not be unreasonably withheld. The job description does not form part of your contract of employment.