Being a Support Worker at AFG is a hugely rewarding role and could be your first step on a long and happy career in Health & Social Care.
So, what does a Support Worker do?
We have a vision to create a world where people control their lives. Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment. These principles are really important to us.
Our Support Workers work in a variety of settings including community-based services (often supporting people in their own homes) to our Treatment & Recovery Centres.
One thing that is common across all of our services is a focus on personalised support and tailoring our services to the needs and aspirations of the people we support with a diverse range of care needs (including Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Mental Health Concerns, Complex Care, Substance Misuse issues to name a few).
We value the people that work with us…
At AFG we recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you! In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development (including opportunities to undertake vocational qualifications) and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.
About you…
There are a few things that we look for in all of our support workers; we would need you to…
- be a good communicator (verbally and in writing)
- be patient, confident and enthusiastic about caring for others
- be able to use your own initiative
- be able to work as part of a team
- have flexibility to work a varied shift pattern to provide 24-hour support
- share our AFG values
We don’t ask for any other relevant training or a previous career in care as full training will be provided – you just need a willingness to learn and develop.
Your pay - between 4th April 2022 and 31st March 2023, our Support Workers will receive a rate equivalent to £9.90 per hour for all worked hours. This will be made up of the National Living Wage rate of £9.50, plus for any worked hours an addition top-up in your hourly rate of £0.40 to take total hourly equivalent for all worked hours to £9.90. On top of this, any colleagues who work above an average of 39 hours per week in any pay period will receive an additional 10p per hour for worked hours above this level taking hourly earnings up to £10.00 per hour for those shifts (this additional top-up will apply between 4th April 2022 and 31st March 2023).
As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family. If you are passionate about caring for others and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.
More about this vacancy...
We asked the Team Leader to tell us more about this role and the amazing person that we need to work here.
Where is this vacancy based?
This vacancy is based in Haydock, St Helens.
Who do you support?
The property can currently accommodate 4 people with varying levels of Learning Disabilities, there are currently only 3 people supported but any future people would need to be mobile as the current void is an upstairs bedroom.
Person Supported 1 – (Male) Has a high level of Autism and is currently 49years old, goes out in their car every day for 2/3 hours.
Person supported 2 - (Female )Has mobility issues and a high level of personal care and is 69years old. likes music, going out in her vehicle for meals and days out.
Person Supported 3 - (Male) Has moderate mobility issues, requires personal care and is diagnosed with Parkinson's and is 62years old, enjoys going out for meals and days out and likes to colour and complete jigsaws.
Where do they live?
Penny lane is a large Dorma bungalow, the main building hosts 2 lounges, Kitchen, Wet room (contains sink and toilet), 2 upstairs bedrooms and 1 downstairs bedroom.
There is a small utility room containing a washer and dryer of industrial quality with storage for COSHH Products, there is another
Toilet situated just off the utility room which also contains a sink.
The property has an extension which adjoins the main building and this is classed as a flat, this contains a lounge/bedroom, wet room (sink and Toilet) and there is a small kitchen fully fitted with units and storage space.
The kitchen hosts a fridge and electric cooker and there is Gas Central Heating throughout.
The exterior of the property has sufficient parking at the front for 3 good sized vehicles and there are no restrictions to parking on the road in front of the property. There are 2 front door entrances to the main building.
The property has a large garden to the rear with a space for a patio, the garden currently has a large grass area and boarders which contain a variety of bushes and plants, there is a garden gate which situated at the side of the property and leads directly onto the driveway and main road.
The property has all relevant safety features to include a high quality fire alarm system, window restrictors and appropriate fire fighting equipment.
All windows are double glazed throughout the property and all internal doors are fitted with dog guards as part of the alarm system.
The property is situated on a very busy main road but does have excellent public transport facilities either towards St Helens Town Centre or in the other direction to Newton Le Willows and Ashton. There is easy access to the A580 and M6 motorway which will take you many miles in any direction (to include Warrington, Wigan, Liverpool, Manchester,
The North and South as far as the M6 goes)
There is a large Tesco Store within half a mile of the property and a series of small shops within 500yrds (to include Chip Shops, Hairdressers, Cafes, Bakers, Off Licence as example).
There are 3 petrol stations within quarter of a mile of the property and there is a large Medical Centre with Pharmacy again within 500yrds of the property.
There is a local Library and there is also 2 small parks within half a mile of the service and there is a small retail park which hosts a number of stores that meet daily living needs.
A Dental Surgery is also within walking distance, along with a Post Office, Flower shop and a couple of what would be classed as local stores.
A Travel Lodge and Hotel is also available just a short distance from the property and there is easy access to Haydock Race course where there is a number of Hotels to chose from if required.
What would a typical shift be like?
A normal day will start at 07.15am, you will be on shift with 2 other staff members and the morning routines will include the completion of all required health and safety checks, monies and then staff will support each individual via their care plans to get up in the morning, to include personal care, administering medications and providing breakfast.
At 11.30 approximately 2 staff will support one person to go out in their vehicle for a couple of hours, the staff left will lone work and complete household tasks and provide dinner time meals for the 2 people left in the service.
Medication will be administered at 3pm for one person 1 staff will leave at 14.45pm and the 2 staff left will support with Tea time meals and later medication.
At around 8.30pm staff will start to complete night time routines and any other tasks required like washing drying etc,.
The one staff completing the sleep in will retire to bed after 10.15pm until the early staff arrive the following morning.
What activities do the people that we support at this property like to do?
Going out for rides in their mobility vehicles Meals out, Cinema, Completing jigsaws, colouring, gardening
Are there any skills or interests that a candidate could have that would be great to use to support this service?
Eating Out Driver (preferred) Patience and understanding Ability to deal with challenging situations with confidence Complete personal care requirements.
What daily tasks to the people we support need help with?
Daily finances and banking
Household chores including food preparation
Managing a tenancy; reporting property issues to the landlord
Communication
Accessing the community
Moving and handling
Medication management
Building social & lifestyle skills
Health & hygiene needs
Personal care
What is the team here or is it lone-working?
There are currently 6 staff of what needs to be a 8 strong team, there will be short periods of time when you would lone work but most of the time you are with 1 or 2 other staff.
What are your shift patterns?
Long day 07.15am - 22.15pm Morning shift 07.15am - 14.45pm Late shift shift 14.45pm - 22.15pm Flexi shift 09.00am till 16.30pm (this shift can change dependant on activities arranged) Sleep In 22.15pm - 07.15am
We hope it has given you more insight into this role and we hope to see your application soon.
Please note our Support Workers are contracted by area therefore flexibility is essential to work in other services where required.