Care Assistant

Are you passionate about doing a good job? Do you share our values? then we hope you’ll consider applying to join our team.

Summary responsibilities

• Delivery of day-to-day holistic care for residents and meeting their unique needs. Duties include (but not exclusive to): personal care; assisting with mobility needs; medications (as appropriate to role); infection control; supporting residents with dementia, and end of life care; changing bed linen, sorting laundry, safe disposal of clinical waste, manage stock levels and equipment such as wheelchairs.
• Working with volunteers, Wellbeing Coordinator and therapy teams to provide and encourage meaningful activities.
• Relationship building with a range of stakeholders, including a key worker relationship with named residents.
• Assist with nutrition and food choices, serving drinks and assisting with eating/drinking.
• Accurate maintenance of records relating to care and regulatory needs.
• Active contribution in handovers, team meetings and supervisions.

Skills and experience

Communication

• Write notes and messages – numeracy, literacy and verbal skills. 
• Communicate with people with differing communication needs. 
• Encourage and influence. 
• Understand and follow instructions and procedures. 
• Strong customer service skills. 
• Mixed methods and mediums of communication. 

Thinking Style

• Analyses and evaluates given information. 
• Adapts style and approach appropriate to situation or task. 
• Structures tasks/activities. 
• Pre-empts issues and trouble-shoots. 
• Refers appropriate decisions to line manager. 
• Challenge, or suggest new ways of working, to promote the efficiency of the unit or team.

Well-being and Values

• Aware of cultural and individual differences in all interactions and service areas. 
• Demonstrate interest, care and attention. 
• Create a positive impression. 
• Collaborate with residents and their families where appropriate – tailoring service to meet individual needs. 
• Promptly respond to or refer to team leader/line manager (as appropriate to role), issues of residents or colleagues' health or well-being. 
• Contribute to maintaining a safe and secure environment – reporting faults, repairs or hazards through appropriate channels.
• Unquestionably embodies the Trust’s values and behaviours internally and externally. 

Working with others

• Works effectively as part of a team. 
• Build relationships of trust with others (team, residents and their family & friends).
• Potential exposure to challenging, physical or emotional situations.

Other Skills and Qualifications

Essential

• Level 2 in Care (or equivalent qualification or experience) for Senior Care Assistants
• Ability to provide effective personal care with dignity (assisting with nutrition, bathing and toileting)
• Educated to GCSE (or equivalent) level to include maths and English
• Confident with using IT and a basic understanding of Word/Email.
• Awareness of older people’s needs and some understanding of dementia.

Desirable

• Level 2 in Care (or equivalent qualification or experience)
• Level 3 in Care (or willingness to work towards it) for Senior Care Assistants
• Experience of working with older people, those with a disability, and/or dementia
• Experience of working in a nursing home/hospital/sheltered housing/social care setting
• Knowledge of basic first aid, manual handling and food and hygiene practices
• Awareness of regulations/framework established in the CQC Essential Standards of Quality and Safety and the Mental Capacity Act. Training is provided.

Additional information

• Duties must be carried out in compliance with St Monica Trust’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
• This role profile contains the principal accountabilities relating to this post and does not describe in detail all the duties required to carry them out.
• This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and this means that any criminal conviction, including spent convictions, must be made known at the time of the application.

Hours: 35 hours per week to include some weekend working. Day shifts only.