ST MARTIN OF TOURS HOUSING ASSOCIATION
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role:
Support Worker
Learning Disability & Mental Health Project
Responsible to:
Project Manager and Deputy Project Manager
Location:
Islington N1
We welcome applications from everyone, irrespective of gender, but as men
are currently under represented at these levels of the above posts, we would
encourage applications from members of this group. Appointment will be
based on merit alone.
St Martins have developed the Simon Julien Suite as a small residential provision for
5 men who have both needs in relation to mental health as well as learning disability.
Service users are of working age and may have spent considerable time in
institutional settings, i.e. hospitals or prisons. Service users are furthermore unable
to live more independently at the present time in their lives due to the challenges of
overcoming the impact of both mental health needs and learning disabilities, and in
some cases also having become trapped in debilitating alcohol and drug taking
lifestyles.
Support workers provide important practical and emotional help to service users and
provide support to senior colleagues in delivering structured services that are
created through our support planning processes.
Key Responsibilities and Tasks Include:

Work with Project Workers to assist in providing services to an allocated number
of service users. This will involve carrying-out individual tasks with service users
both inside the project and in the wider community, as indicated by the service
users’ care plan.

In the absence of the Project Worker to take on ‘key-working’ duties with service
users (regular meetings with service users to discuss and review support plans).

Support service users with activities of daily living in accordance with their
support plan so as to enable service users to maintain their personal care to an
acceptable standard; where necessary take appropriate steps under the
direction of senior colleagues to address issues of poor personal hygiene, e.g.
assisting service users to clean their rooms, to use the laundry facilities or
reminding service users to bath.

Involve service users in any decision about their support, care and future plans
in order to maximise service user choice.

Act as an advocate or help the person self-advocate where necessary with their
personal and professional contacts.

Where necessary to facilitate the work of other stakeholders such as care teams
and external contractors to enable the health and wellbeing of the service users
and that of the project

Ensure all breaches of service users’ license agreements and other conditions
are reported to senior colleagues so that any actions necessary can be taken.

Keep other relevant members of staff informed on issues concerning service
users.

Keep appraised of assessments, support plans, risk assessments that St
Martin’s staff produce in relation to individual service users and take reasonable
care so as to maintain personal safety.

To accurately report untoward incidents and participate in any review of these
within the team meeting or other forums.

To fully document all contact with, and issues concerning, all service users in
the project in accordance with policy and procedure.

Complete other administrative tasks as required and instructed by senior
colleagues.

Administer and record service users’ oral medication and monitor service users’
compliance with depot medication as required. Undertake appropriate training
in medication administration.

Take part in a 24 hour rota that includes a number of waking nights and some
weekends. To be flexible to work extra hours in a crisis

Ensure all breaches of the service user's licence agreement are reported to the
Project Manager and to take such immediate action as is necessary to deal with
a problem.

Follow St Martins Health and Safety and Maintenance procedures. Check the
fabric and fittings of the home; identify what maintenance or repair is required
and report them to the appropriate person. Check the quality of the maintenance
work once it is completed.

Check the building regularly to ensure safety and security during waking night
shifts, clean and tidy communal areas as necessary, operate the emergency
callout procedure and undertake other tasks as required by the line manager.

To support Project workers, with ensuring all service users are claiming all
benefits they are entitled to.

Encourage and enable service users to budget, plan and prepare meals

Occasionally prepare meals with the service users when required.

Undertake fire drills as necessary.

Attend staff meetings on a regular basis and attend other meetings within St.
Martins as appropriate and as agreed by the line managers.

At all times represent the organisation in a professional manner and uphold its
high reputation in all external communications.

To be directed by senior colleagues to ensure that all service users’ statutory
rights are upheld, in particular those contained within the Mental Health Act,
Mental Capacity Act, Equalities Act, Human Rights Act, and relevant housing
legislation.

Adhere to all of St. Martins policies and procedures

Attend supervision and annual appraisal meetings with the line manager.

Attend and implement all mandatory training and also training directed by the
line manager.

Participate in the recruitment, induction and training of new staff members as
necessary

Work with all service users, staff and outside agencies in accordance with St
Martins Equal Opportunities policy.

Keep account of the individual petty cash float and submit claims when
appropriate.

Take on such other duties as are consistent with the post as required by the line
manager

Be responsive to the changing needs of the organisation, the team and the
service users
Person Specification
Job Title: Support Worker – Learning Disability/Mental Health
E = ESSENTIAL, D = DESIRABLE for applicants to meet relevant standard
SELECTION CRITERIA
CRITERIA
STANDARD
E/D
MEASURED BY
Experience of working within learning
disability and mental health care
services and providing support to
vulnerable adults.
E
Application form
Experience of working within a
customer facing and close interacting
environment.
E
Application form
NVQ 2 Health & Social Care
D
Application Form
An understanding of the needs of
adults with learning disabilities who
are also diagnosed with a mental
illness
E
Application form/Interview
Knowledge of food hygiene/health &
other health and safety standards and
E
Interview
Work
experience
Qualifications
Knowledge
practices
Knowledge of issues and social
implications impacting vulnerable
people.
D
Application form/Interview
Ability to communicate clearly in
written and spoken English.
E
Application form/ Interview
Skills
Able to
demonstrate
some or all of:





Initiative
Ability to learn
Problem solving
Dealing with Ambiguity
Flexibility
E
Application form/ Interview





Willingness
Helpfulness
Creativity
Flexibility
Level-headedness
E
Application
Form/Interview
Committed and sympathetic approach
to disadvantaged groups and
individuals.
E
Interview
Treat everyone fairly, with respect
and dignity, responding sensitively to
differences.
E
Application form/Interview
Personal
Attributes
Able to
demonstrate
some or all of:
This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check
SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary Scale
Band
J11
Role
Grade and Salary
Grade 1
£16.925.58
Grade 2
£17,548.75
Grade 3
£18,193.13
Support Worker
Pay
You will be paid at Grade 1 of your Band upon joining St
Martins.
Holidays
You will receive 25 days pro rata leave each year, in
addition to statutory public holidays, for the first two
years service; you will then be entitled to 28 days holiday.
In your fourth year you will be entitled up to a
maximum of 30 days.
Probationary Period
6 Months
Hours
37.5 per week on average, including unpaid 30 minute
break per day shift. Start and finish times will be in
accordance with the weekly rota, which will include
weekend shifts and bank holiday shifts. Waking night shifts
will also be required under a rota, for which a separate
allowance will be paid.
Pension
St Martin of Tours operates a contributory Group Personal
Pensions Scheme. Full details of the scheme are available
from HR.
Other Benefits



Childcare Voucher Scheme
Cycle to Work scheme
St Martins operates a health cash-back plan