January 2015

Dear Applicant

JOB INFORMATION and APPLICATION PACK

I am delighted to hear that you are considering making an application for employment with Turning Point Scotland. Turning Point Scotland’s workers make a significant and positive difference to the lives of the people we support and I hope that you will want to join one of our teams.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries regarding the post.

I look forward to receiving your completed Application Form by no later than Monday 9th February 2015 at 5pm.

Unfortunately it is not possible for us to respond individually to all applicants and if you have not received an invitation to an interview within the next 4 weeks, you should assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. Should there be any unforeseen delay in progressing to the interview stage, I will let you know.

Regards

Joanne McGloneAdministration Co-ordinator

1 Sandyford Road

Renfrew

PA3 4HT 0141 840 2299

F 0141 840 1190

Renfrewshire Housing First Service

JOB DESCRIPTION

HOMELESSNESS SERVICES

RENFREWSHIRE HOUSING FIRST

POST: PEER SUPPORT WORKER GRADE 1

REPORTING TO: SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR

ACCOUNTABLE TO: SERVICE MANAGER

JOB PURPOSE: To provide direct support to people who use Turning Point Scotland’s services and in so doing, contribute to the delivery of the highest possible quality of social care support which meets the requirements of the service specification.

To provide insight into the process of Recovery and to share experiences in a positive way which assists the people we support.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

SERVICE DELIVERY1. To directly provide person-centred supports to service users to assist

them to develop their skills, abilities and confidence in all aspects of their daily lives, working in accordance with their Support Plans/Recovery Plans, including social and recreational activities, housekeeping and household activities, attendance at court, medical and dental appointments etc.

2. To operate in compliance with: the SSSC codes of practice; the relevant legislation and National Care Standards, acknowledged good practice, and in accordance with direct instructions from the Service Manager or other senior colleague.

3. To assist with ongoing assessments of service users at various stages of their engagement with the service, in accordance with direct instructions from the Service Manager or other senior colleague.

4. To assist the people supported by Turning Point Scotland to recognise and exercise their rights and provide an appropriate level of professional

support to assist them to make informed choices in accordance with direct instructions from the Service Manager or other senior colleague.

.5. To input in to the update Support Plans/Recovery Plans and record

events, observations and details of support accurately.

6. To attend at service users reviews with their Care Managers and other professionals.

7. To input into and maintain service user records

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

1. To be aware of and operate in compliance with the Scottish Social Services Council Code of Practice for Social Services Workers.

2. To participate purposefully in and take advantage of the opportunities for discussion afforded by Turning Point Scotland’s staff supervision and annual appraisal scheme.

3. To be responsible for your own good practice/conduct, the maintenance of professional boundaries and the person centred focus on service user(s).

4. To work to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and create an atmosphere for service users which is free from conflict, which includes good and timeous attendance at work as well as respectful, positive and open communication

5. To report concerns about practice or conduct issues to the Service Manager (or nominated deputy)

6. To attend training which has been identified by the Service Manager (or nominated deputy) as being necessary to provide you with the necessary skills to undertake the duties and responsibilities of your post.

7. To take any action necessary to become eligible for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council and to maintain registration once achieved.

8. To be responsible for your own continuous professional development and identify any perceived ‘gaps’ in your knowledge which require to be addressed through training, or other means to the Service Manager (or nominated deputy)

9. To ensure that you can demonstrate your continued suitability to work with vulnerable adults or children by completing an Application for an up-to-date Enhanced Disclosure for Disclosure Scotland, on a 3-yearly basis or as required.

10.To be familiar and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s Human Resources and Training policies and procedures.

11.To assist the Service Manager with the on-the-job induction of new starts within the service and demonstrate good practice at all times in this regard

12.When required, to ask for support and assistance in undertaking your role competently and confidently

13.To act as a role model to service users and ensure your conduct and practice is in line with this

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

1. To be familiar with and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s Finance policies and procedures.

2. To be familiar with and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s Property and Equipment policies and procedures.

3. To be familiar with and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s IT policies and procedures.

4. To input to and maintain accurate and complete records.

5. To share information gathered during the course of work appropriately and as directed with other professionals within and outwith Turning Point Scotland in compliance with the Data Protection Act and regulatory authorities’ and other legal requirements.

6. To maintain accurate and up-to-date time sheets which can be relied on by the Service Manager for billing purposes and statistical reporting etc.

7. To minimise expenses incurred by the Turning Point Scotland in the course of providing supports.

8. To liaise with landlords and contractors on behalf of service users.

HEALTH &SAFETY

9. To support the Service Manager in the management of risk within the service especially with regard to those service users who can occasionally be violent or aggressive towards their support team.

10.To take action to implement regular risk assessments and monitoring activities to ensure a hygienic, healthy and safe environment for colleagues, service users, and where appropriate their families and other visitors and members of the public.

11.To be familiar and comply with Turning Point Scotland’s Health & Safety

policies and procedures.

12.To inform your line manager immediately if there are any issues for yourself or service users that might compromise the health, safety or wellbeing of any party.

COMMUNICATIONS

1. To promote Turning Point Scotland’s aims and values at all times at the point of service delivery, in communications with colleagues and interfaces with other agencies.

2. To safeguard Turning Point Scotland’s interests and the work to maintain and enhance Turning Point Scotland’s reputation as a professional social care provider.

3. To promote the positives of the Recovery process and share personal experiences in a professional way which assists the people we support.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. To participate when required in sleepovers, overnight and weekend working.

2. To undertake any other duties or responsibilities as may be deemed appropriate to the post by the Service Manager (or nominated deputy).

PERSON SPECIFICATION

POST: PEER SUPPORT WORKER GRADE 1TURNING POINT SCOTLAND SERVICE SECTOR: HOMELESSNESS SERVICE

CRITERIA WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL CANDIDATES TO HAVE

CRITERIA WHICH IS DESIRABLE FOR CANDIDATES TO HAVE

ADDITIONAL CRITERIA WHICH WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR CANDIDATES TO HAVE

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

E1

(If not already completed), must be in a position to undertake study towards an appropriate vocational qualification

D1

Has completed an SVQ Level 2 or 3 in Social Care or HNC in Health and Social Care (or other specialty recognised by the SSSC for registration purposes)

EXPERIENCE E2

Must have had personal experience of Addiction/and or homelessness and been successful in own Recovery

D2

Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of professional social care worker operating in homeless/addiction/mental health services

A1

Has direct experience of supporting people whose behaviours can challenge services

E

3

Must have remained successful in personal Recovery for a continuous period of 2 years or more.

D3

Has experience, personal or professional of providing social care-type supports to an individual in their own home or on a social care providers

A2

Has experience of working in a lone working environment

premises.

A3

Has experience of providing direct supports to people who use homeless/addiction/mental health services

ATTITUDES AND VALUES

E4

Must be able to be wholly respectful towards all service users and colleagues at all times, and conscientious/ attentive to the needs of the service.

D4

Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the need to maintain professional boundaries between social care workers and people who use services.

A4

Has experience of working with people who have barriers to social inclusion and supporting them to become more socially integrated.

E5

Must be able and willing to communicate positively about Recovery experiences in a way which is supportive to service users

D5

Must haves successfully supported a number of service users who have a wide range of support needs and personal aims on a wholly person-centred basis

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

E6

Must be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills in order

D6

Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the SSSC Code of Practice for

A5

Has experience of working in an environment where the

to communicate well with service users and colleagues at all levels in the organisation

Social Care Workers.

SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers

D7

Must be able to demonstrate the ability to advocate for the service user and support them to access services

E7

Must have good cooking and housekeeping skills and an ability to support others to develop these skills

E8

Must be able to be mobile in the community by using public transport

E9

Adequate numeracy and literacy to contribute to support plans, write up records, read and comprehend information, deal with petty cash and support service users who may need support to complete paperwork

MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

PEER SUPPORT WORKER

There are a significant number of benefits to working for Turning Point Scotland including excellent terms and conditions of service, including access to a wide range of high quality vocational and skills training, a range of family-friendly policies to help balance work-life, participation in a number of environmentally –friendly initiatives, active promotion of healthy living in the workplace, and not least the provision of a working environment where opinions and ideas are valued and arrangements are in place to ensure that there is a high level of staff representation and that people are encouraged to make their views heard and to participate in team meetings etc.

The main terms of conditions of service include the following:The salary scale for the post will be:

£14,481£14,798£15,041

The annual leave entitlement will be:

25 days per year plus 8 public holidays and 2 local holidays

Additional annual leave is granted in recognition of 3 years’ perfect attendance and of completing 10 years’ continuous service with Turning Point Scotland.