Locum Worker

Purpose of the Job

The role of Locum is vital to the successful delivery of quality services in NOVAS for our clients. The Locum will support the services within a geographical area and may be offered shifts in a variety of services. Locum shifts are offered to ensure services can deliver a full roster of cover while other service employees are on training courses, annual leave or other leave.

The Locum will report to the Service Manager of the service they are on duty in for the shift. Locums will be a member of and work collaboratively with the NOVAS team in the relevant service for the shift, the wider NOVAS organisation, other external service providers, local authority and HSE teams in the region.

The Locum is responsible for participating in the duties of the service team to deliver a safe and effective service and responding to requests and concerns of clients of the service. This includes meeting clients' needs in terms of food, hygiene and wellbeing as well as collaborating with Support Workers, Project Workers and Managers to assist with actions in Clients' Care Plans where appropriate.

Support Workers require experience working with marginalised groups, ideally in the area of Homeless Services, and will be expected to work within the National Quality Standards Framework for Homeless Services (NQSF).

Shifts offered for this role are based on the needs of the services in the area. Typically, Locums will be offered shifts with 4–8 weeks' notice; however, as needs arise, shifts at short notice will also be offered to meet the staffing needs of the service. There is no obligation on the Locum to accept all shifts offered, but where a Locum has not accepted a shift from any service in the region for 3 months or more, their availability to remain on the locum panel will be reviewed and they may be removed. Most services operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and may offer shifts across that timeframe.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review.

Environment of the Job

NOVAS is a not-for-profit organisation and Approved Housing Body. We work with single adults, couples, and families who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. We also provide a service for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. We support adults with disabilities and complex needs.

We provide a range of services and accommodation. Our first service was established in Limerick in 2002 as temporary low-threshold emergency homeless accommodation, and we have grown from there. We now have over 300 employees and more than 30 services in Limerick, Dublin, Clare, Kerry, Cork, and Tipperary, including:

• Emergency homeless accommodation
• Transitional homeless accommodation
• Social housing
• Community-based services for tenancy sustainment
• Homelessness prevention
• Mental health and recovery

NOVAS is a Trauma Informed Practice organisation, and the principles of collaboration, diversity, respect, and trust are embedded in our way of working together.

Our services are provided through the support of our partners in local government through the Local Authorities, HSE, and other donors and funders.

Delegation and Reporting

The Locum has decision-making responsibility for the safe and effective delivery of service while on duty. This includes responding to queries from clients and carrying out a share of the duties of the service team to keep clients, colleagues, visitors, and property safe.

Locums will work cohesively as part of the service team, participating in Team Meetings where possible and taking input, feedback, and direction from colleagues and the management team.

In the absence of the Service Manager, or at times, the Locum may be required to consult with and take direction from another designated person in the service team, the relevant Senior Services Manager, or the Head of Operations.

Oversight for the work in this role is provided by the Quality Client Services Sub Committee of the NOVAS Board of Directors.

The Locum will at all times operate in a professional and respectful manner, maintaining high-quality standards of work in accordance with the values and mission of NOVAS. Their decision-making will always be informed by the best interests of the clients and by ensuring cost-effective value for money in the use of donations and public funding.

Challenges

The nature of our work involves supporting the most vulnerable people who often have complex needs and may be survivors of trauma. As a result, during the course of your work you may engage with sensitive and confidential matters that require empathy, compassion, and pragmatism.

You may also encounter clients or tenants who are in distress, displaying challenging behaviours or struggling to moderate their behaviour. Patience, respect, and an ability to remain professional and focused on de-escalation are essential. Further training will be provided in Trauma Informed Practice and Crisis Prevention.

As an organisation that is largely funded by public money, effective use of resources is a continuous focus and challenge.

Quality Client Service Delivery

• Engage with clients in a way that is trauma informed, person-centred, responsive to the needs of the clients through a harm reduction lens, and focused on "finding a home."
• Where appropriate, under the direction of the Service Manager, assist clients with interventions to progress the goals on their Care Plans, ensuring appropriate record keeping of all actions.
• Actively support and encourage clients to develop life skills, including making and attending appointments, accessing other supports in the community, and developing skills within the service such as nutrition and food awareness.
• Encourage attendance by all clients at Resident Coffee Mornings for client feedback.
• Support clients to record a complaint when necessary and work to resolve matters as effectively as possible while repairing relationships as quickly as practical.
• Follow NOVAS policies for reporting safeguarding concerns relating to Vulnerable Adult Protection or Child Safeguarding Protection, including historical abuse concerns.

Safe & Effective Service Delivery

• Take responsibility for your own Health & Safety and remain vigilant to any Health & Safety risks in the property that could impact clients, colleagues, or visitors.
• Correctly log and report any Health & Safety risks or required repairs and maintenance issues.
• Assist clients with hygiene, health, welfare, and provide personal assistance where required.
• Maintain the service to a high standard, including cleaning and preparing client rooms, communal areas, workstations, and high-touch areas.
• Ensure familiarity with the contents of risk assessments and notify relevant colleagues, the Project Worker, or the Manager about any newly emerging risks for any resident.
• Ensure incidents are appropriately recorded according to established procedures on the system.
• Be proficient in administering basic first aid to clients as required, with necessary training provided, including the use of CPR, Naloxone, and AED devices where appropriate.
• As delegated by the Service Manager, support the implementation of fire safety measures, ensuring regular checks are conducted in line with policies and procedures, and promptly escalating any issues to the Service Manager.
• Ensure Client Wellbeing Room Checks are conducted as planned and recorded appropriately, and that any additional safety monitoring of individuals with additional risk needs is carried out in accordance with instructions in individual risk assessments.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control measures, including health, hygiene, and room cleaning protocols.
• Monitor site security through gate, camera, and perimeter control, reporting any security issues to the relevant authorities.
• Implement any recommendations made for the service in the annual Health & Safety audits.
• Keep all required training programmes current and within certification.

Teamwork

• Communicate clearly with colleagues during handovers, in records, and in relation to clients.
• Proactively report any concerns about the service or suggestions for more effective practices, equipment, or resources to the Service Manager.
• Apply Trauma Informed Practice to colleague relationships as well as client relationships. Assume good intent, be curious about others' experiences, and support one another.
• Support the effective running of the service by being mindful of the impact of absence or lateness on colleagues and providing as much notice as possible to the management team.

Safe Cash Handling

• Ensure all cash in the service is handled safely and in line with procedures.
• Ensure clients receive receipts when they pay their accommodation charge.
• Ensure donors receive receipts when donations are made directly to the service and that the fundraising team is informed.
• Ensure the accrual of expenses is agreed in advance with your line manager when required and that the correct process for applying to receive expenses is followed.
• Ensure no unauthorised expenditure is made in the service without authorisation from the budget holder (Service Manager).
• Report any concerns about the use of funds to the Service Manager or a member of the Finance Department.

External Collaboration

• Be responsive to queries from service funders for information in line with our Data Protection Policy, ensuring appropriate protection of information, client privacy, and client consent, or make arrangements for another employee to respond to their query.
• Keep your Service Manager informed of any communication with service funders.

Person SpecificationEssential Criteria

Documentary evidence of qualifications and eligibility will be confirmed at the end of any recruitment process. Candidates who do not possess the essential requirements on the date of application will not be offered a position. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they meet the essential criteria of the person specification.

The appropriate candidate should have:

• Professional qualification in Health Care or a related allied health profession, minimum Level 5 (full major award).
• Experience working with people who are vulnerable or marginalised.
• Ability to understand the complex needs of vulnerable clients and provide services that foster dignity, respect, and independence.
• Administration skills for record keeping and report writing, along with computer literacy.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people.
• Garda Vetting will be sought for this role.

Desirable Criteria

It would be an advantage for the candidate to have:

• Full driver's licence and use of own car.
• Eligibility to register with CORU as a Social Care Worker.
• Experience working with people at risk of or experiencing homelessness or with other social care groups.
• An understanding of care and case management protocols, including care planning, needs assessment, risk management and assessment, incident management and prevention, and key working.
• Experience working on own initiative, lone working, managing one's own workload, and effective time management.
• Experience and knowledge of working in two or more of the following areas:
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary social care services and systems.
• Experience and knowledge in the area of vulnerable adult or child protection and associated legislation and guidelines.
• Experience of working in, or a strong interest in, the charity or not-for-profit sector.