Casual Support Assistant - Learning Disability and Older People Day Services

Are you ready to make a real difference in people’s lives? Join us as a Casual Support Assistant and become a vital part of our team, supporting adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities and older people. Working within our Learning Disability and Older People Day Services, you’ll engage in meaningful, hands-on care and activities based in our Tilehurst and Whitley centres and the wider community.

Enjoy the benefit of weekday shifts only, with hours available Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm – no weekend work required.

Additionally, there are opportunities to expand your experience by taking shifts within our other Provider Services, including Respite Care, Charles Clore Court, and the Community Reablement Team. These roles may involve evening and weekend shifts, offering a flexible way to broaden your skills and make a greater impact.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide hands-on support to individuals in day services, respite care, and reablement settings.
• Assist with daily living activities, including personal care, mobility, and mealtime support.
• Promote independence and dignity while ensuring the well-being of service users.
• Support individuals in participating in meaningful activities and community engagement.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and families to meet the individual needs of service users.
• Maintain accurate records and adhere to health and safety guidelines.

Your role will be assisting in the delivery of a user led service, where service users are encouraged and supported to develop their independence, build positive relationships, and be empowered to make informed choices as well as experience a fulfilling Day Service.

We are looking for individuals with experience in care settings to join our dedicated team. Your role will involve supporting adults with complex learning disabilities in group environments, ensuring personalized care through tailored staff-to-service user ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4.

As a Support Assistant you will work as part of a team to provide activities, a safe environment as well as follow and contribute to care and activity plans.

 

Skills Required:

• Qualification in Care (NVQ2/Level 2 Diploma in Care/Care Certificate) is desirable but not essential as full training will be given.
• Capability to connect with service users, addressing their needs with a sense of understanding, patience, respect, and dignity
• Ability to follow deliver Person Centred Support, Care plans, Risk assessment and highlight discrepancies.
• Ability to perform personal care duties with dignity and respect, including manual handling if necessary
• Effective teamwork with the capacity to work independently and be self-motivated
• Basic IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Packages such as Word and Outlook and to use online training

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

 

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

 

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Kennet Day nursery (based at the Civic Offices) rated outstanding by Ofsted,
• Opportunities for further development and training available
• We pay for your DBS application 

 

For an informal discussion about the Casual Support Assistant position please contact David Small Senior Support Worker - email David.small@reading.gov.uk or Anna Vockins, Senior Support Worker email Anna.vockins@reading.gov.uk

Closing date: Thursday 9^th January 2025
Interview date: TBC

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.