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 ST Helens , finger post .
Who do you support?
We support a lovely happy smiling lady with learning disabilities and Cerebral palsy and mobility support needs , using a hoist and wheelchair with wheelchair accessible vehicle .
She access the local community daily and has a range of activities , attends Group called vibe weekly , sensory rooms and hydro pool , love music and loves jokes and laughing all day long .
SP is non verbal with communication however she does have Itracker communication aide/ tool and is able to communicate with people once hey get to know her well .
SP can express her wants and needs
Where do they live?
Ground floor 1 level bungalow , 2 bedrooms , lounge area , garden with parking
What would a typical shift be like?
At the start of your shift at 8 am , you and another female staff as SP is 2 staff levels at all times will support SP with her Moring routine , waking up , personal care support needs ( pad change and accessing her mobile commode ) washing her face , Support SP to choose her clothing and shoes , and then off to lounge to have breakfast , staff will support SP to choose which cereals she would like .
After it's then brushing teeth and styling her hair .
SP might have visit from her parents in the morning , or Professionals from SALT team may have appt to visit SP as supporting her with her Itracker - communication tool , SP always has a planned activity and plan her activities 2 days in advance , you will see this described on her communication board .
Activities range from accessing the local town , Liverpool to join a group called vibe - meet 2x weekly ,or going to evening disco , or going further from local area to visit other towns , SP loves a good day out , likes live music and loves a good fair.
Depending on the activity / time of what time SP returns home , evening routines , SP likes to get involved with home daily tasks and love baking cakes , evening routine would be cooking evening meal , laughs , speaks with parents on video chat on her smart phone , personal care - bath , likes to play games or sometimes watch her preferred you tube shows .
With Sp there is never a dull moment and always something to keep you busy with plenty of laughs and SP has great sense of humor Sp does require full support in every aspect in her life .
SP is support by 2 female staff from 8 am to 10 pm with 1x sleep in staff . Shift pattens currently are 8 am to 10 pm and 8 am to 11pm with sleep in from 11 pm to 8 am ..
What activities do the people that we support at this property like to do?
Likes Music , Hydro pool , sensory rooms , joins group weekly with friends called vibe , loves days out to blackpool , going on the train , good mooch / look around town and in shops , disco evenings , holidays , visiting grandparents and family Loves to go around local town or taking pack lunch and going to visit towns further away from local area
Are there any skills or interests that a candidate could have that would be great to use to support this service?
We have a mobility car at the property so ideally we would like someone who can drive. We have 1x monthly visit the hydrotherapy pool so it would be great if you were a confident swimmer Have a jolly sense of humor , bring your funny jokes and make us laugh and openminded with patience and empathy
What is the team here or is it lone-working?
You will work 2:1 , along side another female who will be confident and experienced with support SP and likes to have a jolly good laugh
What are your shift patterns?
8 am to 10pm , 8 am to 11 pm sleep in 11 pm to 8 am
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.