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 or 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 needs of staffing the service. There is no onus 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 may be removed. Most services operate 24hr-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.

Key Accountabilities

Accountability Achieved by

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 recording keeping of all actions.

• Actively support and encourage Clients to Develop Life Skills including in the areas of making and attending appointments and accessing other supports in the community, or skills development in 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 and repair 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

• Attention to your own Health & Safety and actively vigilant to any Health & Safety risks in the property that would impact clients, colleagues or visitors.

• Correctly log and report any Health & Safety risks or required repairs & maintenance issues.

• Assist clients with hygiene, health, welfare, providing personal assistance where required and maintain the service to a high standard including cleaning and preparing client rooms, communal areas, workstations and high touch areas.

• Ensure familiarity with contents of risk assessments and notify relevant colleagues, Project Worker or 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, this includes use of CPR, Naloxone and AED devices as 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, and 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 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.

• Applying Trauma Informed Practice to colleague relationships as well as clients. Assume good intent, be curious about their experiences and support one another.

• Support 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 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, mindful of appropriately protecting 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.

• Establish good working relationships with NOVAS teams in other services to share learning and best practice.

• Establish good working relationships with local external service providers including the local authority housing team, other specialist accommodation providers, healthcare specialists and adult education.

• Ensure your line manager and colleagues are aware of your appointments if required to leave the service during duty.

Reporting & Record Keeping

• Ensure all records on Salesforce, PASS or other systems are inputted in a timely manner and are an accurate record of events based on facts not opinions.

• Honour Client Consents and ensure information about Clients is not shared beyond their authorisation.

• Ensure no sensitive information is accessible by persons not authorised to see it.

• Ensure records no longer required are safely destroyed (shredded) in line with NOVAS policies.

• Participate in Service Audits as requested.

• Prepare and provide reports of your work to your line manager as requested.

• Complete organisational documents as requested.

Supervision, Support & Development

• Engage in regular supervision with your line manager.

• Work under the direction of and in collaboration with your line manager and the wider management team.

• Work to help the organisation achieve the aims and objectives of the strategic plan in line with our values and mission.

• Participate in team meetings, case management meetings, and other organisational events as required.

• Familiarity and compliance with all relevant policies and standards.

• Participate in relevant and required training events.

Information Management

• Ensure data and personal information relating to clients, tenants, colleagues, and other members of the organisation or its stakeholders, are kept safe and secure using the correct systems and procedures, is collected for legitimate purposes, and is safely destroyed when appropriate.

• Ensure clients are aware of how to access information about themselves and support any requests from them to access information.

Person Specification

Essential 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 related allied health professions, minimum level 5 (full major award).

• Experience in working with people who are vulnerable or marginalised.

• Ability to understand complex needs of vulnerable clients and provide services that foster dignity, respect and independence.

• Administration skills for record keeping and report writing and 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 drivers’ 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.

• Have an understanding of care and case management protocols including care planning, needs assessment, risk management & assessment, incident management & prevention and key working.

• Experience working on own initiative, lone working, managing one’s own workload and time management.

• Experience and knowledge of working in two or more of the following areas: Homeless sector, Tenancy Sustainment, Family Support, Residential Care, Mental Health, Challenging Behaviour, Substance Misuse, Community Engagement, Disability Support.

• 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.