Support Workers

CORLANN WEST REGION

POSTS: FIXED TERM LOCUM RELIEF SUPPORT WORKER

Galway West Services

Job Reference: 93822

DESCRIPTION AND VISION OF SERVICES

Corlann West provide a community based, person centred service focusing on the needs and abilities of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The vision of the service is to support people with intellectual disabilities to achieve a full and valued life in their community, in line with best practice both nationally and internationally. Working in partnership with each person supported by Corlann, their family and communities, we aim to create opportunities for people supported by Corlann to have ordinary life experiences, to be equal and valued members of their communities. We are committed to supporting people to live a life of their choosing, and the provision of quality services to meet the needs of the people we support. Corlann is committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and work to uphold the rights of all people supported.

We wish to recruit innovative, creative and motivated people who will relish the opportunity to assist in achieving this vision as part of a team. We are looking for people who will be flexible and adapt to the needs of particular individuals they supportand are open to change.

Various Locations across West Galway:

Connemara, Knocknacarra, Claregalway, Ballybane and Oranmore.

Staff allocation could be either within residential/respite/day settings or in community services or in an individual’s own home. The appointee will initially commence working in one particular area of the service and this work location may change due to future service needs.

The Role:

Support Workers provide a key-working supportive role for individuals supported by the service. The Support Worker role is to support the person in all aspects of daily living focusing on the individual’s ability and promoting independence and development of skills at all times. The Support Worker will assist and support people who use the service with development of their individual person centred plans and the achievement of personal outcomes, and critically, to support people who use the service in participating in the ordinary everyday life of the community through inclusive and creative thinking.

The Support Worker is also responsible for all aspects of personal care required during the day. This includes meals, personal hygiene and other related aspects of physical well-being.

Reporting/Responsible to:

Social Care Worker/Staff Nurse/Team Leader/Team Manager or Service Coordinator depending on location.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills:

Ø Must be 18 years of age or over.

Ø Candidates must be studying a 3rd level qualification.

Ø Right to work/live in Ireland and provide valid working rights documentation at application stage.

Ø Experience working with individuals with an intellectual disability and individuals with challenging behaviour is desirable. Full training will be provided.

Ø Candidates must be able to demonstrate flexibility, good communication, interpersonal and team-working skills, together with patience and a sense of humour.

Ø Candidates must have good verbal and written communication skills.

Ø Candidates should be proficient in I.T. Skills i.e. ability to use computers, modern technology, on-line system and assistive technology.

Ø The ability to exercise good judgement, discretion and confidentiality and a commitment to current best practice.

Full Clean Manual Driving Licence is desirable due to the requirement for staff to drive our service vehicles to meet service needs within Galway.

Fluency in verbal and written English is an essential requirement of this post.

Working Hours:

Up to 39 hours per week based on a 7 day/night duty roster. Successful candidates will be called if and when required and will be required to work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, public holidays, night duty, sleep-ins and irregular in order to meet service demands.

CORLANN West model of service is based on Personal Outcome Measures requiring employees to be flexible in their working hours to provide a quality service delivery for each individual.

Annual Leave:

22 days per annum (pro-rata for part-time), i.e. 8.46 hours per 100 hours worked.

Remuneration:

Department of Health salary scales apply as at 01/08/2025: €34,036 x 11 increments - €46, 652 per annum (pro-rata for part-time). A Long Service Increment €47,454 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) is payable after 3 years on the maximum of the scale. Additional payments will be made for weekends, public holidays, sleep-ins and night-duty when worked.

Salary quoted is based on a 39 hour working week. The successful candidate will be granted incremental credit subject to satisfactory verification of previous public sector service.

Tenure:

It is proposed to set up a locum panel of Support Workers who will be called if and when required to cover for staff on various leave with Corlann.

Probation:

A probationary period of nine months from the date of appointment applies to the post. The employment may be terminated at any time during the probationary period should the employer find that the appointee is unsuitable to continue employment. The probation period may be extended at the Employer’s discretion.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Specific Conditions:

• Staff must have a positive attitude towards working with people with an intellectual disability and autism.
• Staff must treat each person with an intellectual disability as an individual and at all times acknowledge and respect the rights and personal dignity of the person.
• Staff are required to establish and maintain relationships with adults with disabilities that are based on respect and equality and that promote their independence.
• An understanding of person centred supports, that work is tailored to the personal goals, hopes and dreams of each individual.
• An understanding of the New Directions model of day support services, as developed by the HSE. A willingness to work in promoting this model within your role under the supervision and direction of the Manager or any other person designated by the manager.

Main duties and functions:

• Ensure that the support of all People Supported by Corlann is of the highest professional standard using an Individual Personal Outcomes Plan and Key Worker system.
• Assist & cooperate when appropriate with the formulation of educational and vocational programmes designed for the needs of individuals in consultation with the multidisciplinary team.
• Promote participation in Advocacy both internal and external to Corlann.
• Be an active advocate for the individuals in Corlann.
• Develop positive relationships with the People Supported by Corlann, offer choices and assist them in making informed decisions and in achieving their personal goals including, but not limited to work/training, personal finances & home environment and leisure activities.
• Foster and encourage independence and initiative in the People Supported by Corlann and facilitate community participation, integration and the development of people’s independence.
• Support individuals in recreational and social activities in the evenings and weekends including holidays as arranged.
• Support individuals in maintaining good health, receiving appropriate healthcare and maintaining good personal hygiene.
• Administer medication when necessary in line with Corlann Medication Administration and Management Policy.
• Ensure that you are carrying out your work in line with the organisation’s quality system – Personal Outcome Measures (POMs) and also in line with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) regulations and standards.
• Be an active member of your assigned team(s).
• Develop a good working relationship with families and key people involved with the People Supported by Corlann, as deemed appropriate under the supervision of the line manager or delegate.
• Keep appropriate records to enable full reports on the People Supported by Corlann to be available to the multidisciplinary staff and line manager or delegate.
• · Perform household duties as required to support Individuals in their daily lives and ensure that a high standard of cleanliness and décor is maintained. Support people themselves to learn household skills and perform these skills to the best of their ability on a daily basis.
• Be aware of and become familiar with fire drill procedures, i.e. fire detection, evacuation and firefighting.
• Driving the service vehicle is essential in order to meet the needs of the People Supported by Corlann. Where it is necessary for the appointee to obtain a Class D1 licence and assistance will be given for this purpose.
• Ensure that all on-line Information Technology systems and databases are maintained and updated as required
• Maintain Records in line with Record Management Policy.
• Ensure strict confidentiality in all matters concerning People Supported by Corlann including the safe storage of reports and records.
• Be conscious of Health & Safety matters in the workplace and, in particular, to comply with employees’ obligations as set out under Chapter 2 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
• Ensure that all accidents/incidents to the People Supported by Corlann, staff and visitors are reported promptly via online Database.
• Operate within the policies and procedures of the Service at all times.
• Promote dignity at work and show respect to People Supported by Corlann, colleagues and stakeholders in the course of duty.
• Perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned to him/her by the line manager or delegate. All duties must be carried out in person at all times.

The role of the post holder will not be limited by reference to this job description. It would be expected that the role will evolve as professional, structural and People Supported by Corlann demands change and the post holder will be expected to demonstrate flexibility skills that will facilitate this.

CORLANN is an equal opportunities employer