JOB DESCRIPTION
Service Area: Woodbury Registered Care Home and Respite Service
Job Title: Senior Residential Support Worker
RELATIONSHIPS
1)
Responsible To:
Registered Manager
Team Leader
Head of Operations
2)
Responsible For:
Service Users
Residential Support Workers
3)
Important Functional
Relationships:
Residents, family members/carers, volunteers,
care staff, other Balance staff and services
4)
Important External
Relationships:
Care Quality Commission,
Royal Borough of Kingston Adult Social Care,
Community Learning Disability Team, Your Healthcare,
other Learning Disability providers
MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB
To uphold and model good practice in all areas of social care with staff team, leading by example,
setting standards, and providing supervision to staff, focusing on achieving high quality care for
service-users.
To provide support to residents and respite-users, in relation to all areas of need including personal
care, health and safety needs, social interaction, and quality of life, in line with agreed support plans
and an agreed approach to risk management.
To support manager and team leader in maintaining safe and high quality practice through
participating in on call rota and other duties as required to maintain a year round 24 hour service as
part of management team.
Prepared by: Sam Sprigge
Date:
Agreed by: Andrea Biggs
Date: 27/10/2015
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MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES
A. SENIOR DUTIES
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To supervise designated Woodbury staff, with a focus on supporting professional
development, and achieving excellent service delivery with a focus on outcomes for clients.
To uphold good care practice among full staff team, including modelling client-centred care,
ensuring that shifts are conducted according to the needs of the service-users.
To identify poor practice, ensuring that it is corrected promptly, and that learning is
disseminated among staff team.
To act as a mentor/coach to new and existing staff, developing skills and confidence as
needed
To play a lead role in shift leading, modelling and establishing good practice in
administration and recording of medication, recording and reporting any incidents or
concerns as appropriate, providing help and guidance to staff, and supporting effective
handover between shifts.
Participating in on-call duties as part of the management team, providing assistance and
guidance to staff on shift as emergencies arise.
To support the Registered Care Manager in allocating shifts, following a fair process
focused on meeting the needs of service-users.
To have leadership responsibility for a specific allocated area of practice, for example: a)
well-being; b) training; c) activities; d) quality assurance (see separate document for further
details).
To support the Registered Care Manager in upholding professional standards in every
aspect of Woodbury’s residential and respite service.
B. SUPPORT WORKER DUTIES
1. Supporting Service Users
 To work as part of a team providing physical and emotional care to service-users.
 To provide personal care including moving and handling following individual personal
support plans, risk assessments and Balance’s procedures
 To promote independence through supporting participation in activities and opportunities for
involvement in household tasks and daily life at Woodbury
 Ensuring the residents are integrated into their local community, and supporting them in
being active citizens
 To promote personal growth for each service user that respects their individual qualities and
values, and protects their rights.
 To develop care plans and risk assessments for service-users, working with service-users,
families, team members and partner organisations to ensure that support is tailored to meet
their individual needs and wishes.
 To use a range of communication methods appropriate to service-users needs and abilities,
enabling people to make informed decisions and choices about their lives
 To support ongoing consultation of service users’ and family members in relation to service
provision and development at Woodbury
 To act as a key worker for designated individuals and to attend review meetings as
appropriate,
 To take responsibility for raising any changes in health and emotional and well being needs
of individuals under your care to your line manager in the first instance
 To respect the dignity and privacy of service-users, demonstrating a robust observance of
confidentiality in line with Balance’s Confidentiality Policy.
 To enable people to look after their own finances as suitable to their needs in accordance
with the agreed support plan.
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Promoting a relaxed, understanding and nurturing environment, enabling service-users to
experience Woodbury as their home
To work as a member of a team contributing to the provision of physical, emotional and
rehabilitative care of the service users.
To administer or offer medication to service-users, in line with Woodbury’s Medication
Procedure and individual care plans, and to demonstrate strict and robust observance of
good practice around every aspect of medication at all times.
To support service users to attend meetings, holidays and events as they wish, including
promoting active involvement in internal Service-Users Meetings and external meetings
such as the Learning Disability Parliament
To follow best practice guidance around safeguarding, health and safety, risk management,
and domiciliary care, in line with Balance policies and relevant legislation including the
Care Act 2015 and the Care Standards Act 2000
2. Working as Part of a Team
 To work supportively alongside all colleagues at Woodbury, demonstrating respect,
consideration, and flexibility in providing a coordinated service to service-users.
 To contribute to the smooth running of the home through modelling and promoting effective
communication across the whole staff team with each other, service-users, family members
and partner organisations.
 To work flexibly in order to support the team in meeting service-users needs by sharing
sleep-ins duties and cover during weekends/bank holidays/periods of staff shortage, and by
working with your line manager to coordinate annual leave with that of other staff.
 To participate in Woodbury's financial affairs in line with Balance’s policies and procedures,
inclusive of petty cash, financial receipts and safe keeping of service users money.
 To support the team in ensuring Woodbury is run to the standards of professional
practice established by Balance in accordance with agreed policies and procedures,
demonstrating excellent, outstanding practice at all times.
3. Recording and Reporting
 To maintain a high standard of recording and provide assessment reports as directed,
assessing and monitoring the emotional and physical wellbeing of service users and
reporting observations to senior staff and/or the appropriate key workers as required.
 To report all incidents, accidents, or significant developments to shift leaders or managers
as appropriate and ensure accurate written reporting is followed up.
 To raise any concerns about practice at Woodbury with your line manager, Woodbury’s
Registered Care Manager, or with senior management at Balance
 To ensure that all complaints from service-users, families, or others are recorded accurately
and reported to manager in line with Balance’s Complaints Policy.
 To ensure that all other useful feedback from service-users, families or others is recorded
accurately and reported to manager.
4. Health & Safety
 To comply with the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures at all times.
 Maintain the security and safety of Woodbury and its equipment and to contribute to risk
assessments as required
 Immediately inform the shift leader/manager of any hazard endangering the safety of
service users, staff or visitors.
 Participate in regular tests of the fire alarm system and fire drills, including evacuation, in
accordance with agreed procedure.
 Act in accordance with agreed procedures in the event of emergencies including fire or
suspected fire, accidents/incidents, and missing service users. Following any such
incidents, support the identification of any preventative practice, the recording of any such
learning, and the dissemination of such learning across the team and embedding into
practice (for example through discussion in team meetings)
5. Values
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Understand and sign up to Balance’s ethos and values. Demonstrate those values in day to
day practice by working against discrimination in service provision, providing services that
are sensitive to the individual’s disability, race, culture, gender and sexual preference.
To demonstrate progressive, aspirational and enabling attitudes towards people with
learning disabilities, and to embed these attitudes in everyday practice.
6. Professional Development
 To successfully complete induction and foundation standards, in line with Care Certificate
requirements.
 To commit to ongoing professional development in line with the needs of Woodbury
residents and respite-users, in liaison with your manager. Where appropriate this may
include taking a lead role in relation to a particular area of practice at Woodbury.
 To actively engage in minimum six-weekly supervision, annual appraisals, team meetings,
and training as necessary.
Post holder may be expected to take on other duties as delegated by the manager
commensurate with experience, skills and the grade. The duties of this post may change
and develop over time, and such changes should be discussed with manager in
supervision/appraisal.
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WOODBURY REGISTERED CARE
PERSON SPECIFICATION – Senior Residential Support Worker
This form is intended to assist appointing officers in the selection process. Having ensured the job
description is up to date when a post is to be advertised, you should use this form to list the
personal requirements, which are necessary to perform the job effectively. In the right hand column
you should briefly describe the essential (not ideal) requirements a successful candidate should
meet.
Qualifications
Essential
Good standard of general
education, literate, numerate
Readiness to complete Care
Certificate within 12 weeks of
starting, in line with CQC
standards
Values
Experience
Readiness to undertake
training and learn new skills
as required
NVQ/Diploma level 2 or
above in care-related subject
Commitment to the provision
of high quality personcentred support to people
with learning disabilities
Commitment to the principles
of empowerment, promoting
rights and choice for
vulnerable people
Enabling independence,
supporting people to learn
skills for themselves where
possible
Commitment to promoting
strong relationships between
service-users and their
families, including working in
partnership with family
members and taking account
of their views.
A minimum of 2 years direct
experience of delivering
personal care to vulnerable
people and supporting them
in all their daily needs, either
through professional or
personal experiences
Working within a team in a
Desirable
GCSEs in English & Maths
Training/qualifications in
related areas such as
safeguarding, health and
safety, food hygiene,
communication methods,
moving and handling,
infection control.
Clean driving licence
Understanding of the
principles of self-advocacy
and giving a voice to people
with learning disabilities
Experience of assessment or
Review procedures and
writing assessment or
Review reports
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Knowledge
Skills
comparable setting
Experience providing for the
physical, emotional and
social care of adults with a
learning disability
Knowledge of the needs and
rights of people with a
learning disability, and an
understanding of the
difficulties they may face
Awareness of health and
safety
Ability to support people
emotionally and physically,
respecting choice, dignity,
respect and privacy.
Ability to establish and
maintain relationships built
on trust and understanding
with service-users, families,
colleagues, and external
partners
Understanding of the
principles of safeguarding
vulnerable adults
Excellent verbal and written
communication skills, with
ability to record information
accurately and concisely.
Ability to support staff
development re reporting
and recording.
IT literate, some knowledge
of Microsoft Office package,
use of email and word.
Ability to work one to one
and in groups
Ability to work on own
initiative, planning and
prioritising own workload,
and contributing ideas to
improve service delivery
within the home.
Ability to work at all times
within the bounds of
company procedure and
policy, and good practice
guidelines
Ability to key work service
users and develop individual
care/support plans
Confident and competent in
keeping accurate records of
cash transactions
Ability to lead teams on shift,
and delegating tasks through
to completion
Ability to develop morale
Experience of delegating
tasks and leading teams on
shift
Knowledge of personcentred planning
Knowledge of providing and
ensuring self-advocacy
Knowledge of Care Act 2014
and other relevant legislation
Knowledge of a range of
different communication
methods
Ability to appropriately
manage challenging
behaviour
Ability to assess serviceusers needs and risks
Experience of handling petty
cash and managing financial
procedures
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Attitude and Attributes
among team, building mutual
thrust, and establishing
effective co-working on shift
Ability to take responsibility
for a particular area of
practice, developing
expertise as required, and
leading on developing
excellence in this area.
Tolerance patience and
objectivity in professional
and service-user
relationships
Ability to lead, modelling
good practice and upholding
standards
Understanding the needs of
carers and families
Readiness to learn through
training and other routes
Good physical and mental
health
Ability to assist in all aspects
of personal care including
moving and handling
Ability to manage stress
positively and calmly
Ability to work flexibly to
meet the needs of the
service.
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