Re: Sessional Support Worker - Job Ref LOUSW01

Thank you for your interest in the above position. I am pleased that you are interested in working for RNIB, which achieves such a tremendous amount for blind and partially sighted people.

Our application pack consists of: an application form a job description and person specification our values and behaviours an equal opportunities monitoring form

This pack can also be made available to you in large print, Grade 1 or Grade 2 braille, or on disk or tape. Please feel free to ask us if you would prefer to receive it in one of these alternative formats.

If you have a disability and would like assistance in filling in the form then please contact me at least three days before the closing date for the role and we shall be glad to help you.

We only accept CVs from applicants whose disability makes it difficult to complete an application form. All applicants however need to address the specific information we have asked for in the job advert.

Please read the guidance notes on the careers page of our website before filling in the application form as you may find this helpful when completing the form.

Logo – RNIB supporting blind and partially sighted peopleRegistered charity number 226227

If you are able to, please complete and return your application form and the equal opportunities monitoring form by email to applications@rnib.org.uk .

However we will accept braille, audio, disk, typed and handwritten applications sent to HR Administrator, RNIB, Human Resources, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE.

We want to ensure that as much of our resources as possible go towards supporting people with sight loss and therefore we do not normally contact unsuccessful applicants individually. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. However, we would encourage you to apply for other suitable roles.

Once again, thank you for your interest in this vacancy and for working for the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Rupert GarveyAssistant HR Business Partner (Resourcing)rupert.garvey@rnib.org.uk0207 391 2257

Brief Guide to RNIB College Loughborough

RNIB College Loughborough is a national specialist college for people with disabilities and is part of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, the largest sight loss charity in the UK. The College was relocated from London in 1989, with the new building and residences being entirely funded by RNIB. The site was chosen in order that the College could be co-located with the mainstream Loughborough College. The main aim of this was to create a specialist support structure to enable blind and partially sighted students to attend the wide range of courses available at the mainstream college.

The College recruits people with sight loss and other disabilities aged 16 – 65 from all over Britain, although most are from Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire. It is not part of a local authority and is overwhelmingly dependent on contract income from local authorities and the Department for Work and Pensions. Turnover is around £3 million per year.

In September 2013 there were 50 further education (FE) students aged 16 – 25. We also had 5 starting on the “Bridge Programme” to independent living and 9 registered on the “Flexible Futures” work experience programme in the College enterprises. In 2012-13 19 adult students aged 18 – 65 looking to get into employment took part in the College Adult Employment Programme. Around one third of students are residential and the rest come on a day basis. Most residential bedrooms are in our Stan Bell Centre on William Street and others are in a nearby house.

Students have a wide range of disabilities including sight loss, learning disabilities, autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, communication problems, physical disabilities, chronic illness and hearing loss. Most have more than one, although not all students have a sight loss. Over the last 8 years there has been a major shift towards students with greater levels of disability, which has transformed the College in many ways. The Stan Bell residential centre, which has 59 single en suite rooms, is registered as a care home. For most students a high priority is developing their independent living skills.

Most students have learning disabilities. However the academic range is very wide and extends from severe learning disabilities to a small number preparing to enter higher education.

Learning Work and Life SkillsThe main aim of the College is to prepare people for as fulfilling an adult life as possible by maximising independence. This includes:

Progression to an occupation such as paid employment, voluntary work, mainstream education or active involvement in community activities

As independent a life-style as possible in one’s own housing or a family home

Healthy, sociable living including good personal relationships, hobbies and interests.

Hence the curriculum philosophy of the College is for learning to be as practically based as possible, using adult environments. It currently has five work-related enterprises within it:

The Bell Bar cafeteria is run by students and serves food to other students and staff during the day

The College Office develops administration, IT and office skills in a realistic environment. It does real College work using PCs and standard office machinery

The College shop is run by students and is near the main entrance

The eBay shop is run by students and sells goods that are donated or on a commission basis

The College Arts Centre is a large area in which performances and music take place and students create items for sale.

The College also has an arts and crafts studio and facilities for sport and fitness, gardening, literacy, numeracy and Braille.

The aim is not only to prepare students to work in these settings on a paid or voluntary basis but also to stimulate the learning of skills such as communication, numeracy and working with others using a realistic adult environment.

PartnershipsRNIB College works closely with its main partner, Loughborough College, with which it shares a campus. As of September 2013, 10 students were supported at Loughborough College for at least some of their learning. This partnership widens the range of courses on offer and helps students develop the skills needed to access mainstream education once they leave.

Other important partnerships are with Homefield College, another specialist college, with whom we share work placements and other curriculum opportunities, and Ashmount Area Special School and Maplewell Hall School whose sixth forms we accommodate for several days per week. The College is also an active participant in the East Midlands Peer Review Group of independent specialist colleges which shares good practice and organises quality reviews and occasional student events.

Employer LinksThe College has active links with around 100 employers. These include some large organisations such as Boots head office in Nottingham, local authorities and the NHS. The links enable the College to provide a very wide range of work placements, including for students with the most complex disabilities. Employers also support the College by providing mock interviews and visits. The College holds regular events with local employers and in so doing is able to demonstrate to them that, with College advice or support as necessary, they can employ someone with sight loss or other disabilities. The College’s work in supporting people into employment won a National Training Award in 2007.

Quality and Inspection OutcomesAt the full Ofsted residential care inspection in 2011 the College was awarded outstanding grades in every category. At the Ofsted education inspection in November 2013 the College was awarded good grades in every category.

The College has the Investors in People Gold Award and is in the process of becoming an IIP Champion. Staff

show a strong commitment to developing their own skills and abilities through the College’s own staff development opportunities and by attending externally-based courses where appropriate. Staff are expected to be committed to continuous improvement in the quality of what we do and participate in self-assessment and action planning.

Tony Warren (Principal), June 2014

RNIB Job description Job title: Support Worker

Job level cluster: Support / Delivery

Job level: S2

Group: RNIB Places

Section: Education and Social Care

Unit: RNIB College Loughborough

Location: RNIB College Loughborough. Hours: Various including shift work, evenings and weekends. Causal arrangements and zero hour contracts are available.

Reports to: Care Supervisor

Vacancy ref: LOUSW01

Purpose of jobTo provide a person-centred, holistic support service for Learners, enabling progression towards independence.

Impact:No line management responsibility

Financial responsibility:No budget responsibility

Decision making responsibility:Role well defined with recurrent work. Limited timeframes and limited freedom to act

Main accountabilities

1. Provide intellectual, social, emotional and physical support for Learners, including personal care where required.

2. To contribute to keeping learners safe at all times, by monitoring learners, complying with Policies / Procedures and reporting any concerns to Senior staff / College Safeguarding Officer.

3. To gather evidence of Learner progression against targets, working in close liaison with Key worker and Personal Tutor.

4. To act as Link-worker for designated learners, supporting the key worker, advocating for them and meeting them regularly offer support and resolve any general concerns.

5. Support learners with independent living skills, including preparation of meals, snacks, laundry and cleaning.

6. To support learners to manage their finances, which may include helping them to keep their money / financial information safe, completing RNIB financial records and referring concerns to senior staff.

7. Support Learners in accessing community and leisure activities, maximising learning opportunities and carrying out risk assessments where required.

8. To plan and facilitate activity sessions with learners in close cooperation with the Extended Curriculum Coordinator.

9. Support learners with the administration of medication.

10. Support Learners to develop and maintain relationship networks.

11. Support learners to achieve their targets, personal goals and aspirations through ‘Person Centred Planning’.

12. Monitor and maintain learner and ‘Care Home’ records in both electronic and paper formats, write reports where appropriate and maintain records of individual progress and achievement.

13. To be responsible for the safety and welfare of learners, self and colleagues.

14. Act as a representative of RNIB in all community dealings and actively promote the awareness of rights, respect and responsibilities for disabled members of the community.

15. To Contribute to the Planning and Development of the College as a Regional and National Centre of Excellence.

16. Attend and contribute to team meetings.

17. Undertake any job related training as required and specified by the Registered Manager.

18. Follow agreed standards, policies and procedures as determined by CQC, Ofsted, RNIB and other agencies.

19. Undertake any further reasonable duties as required commensurate with the role.

20. Adhere to all RNIB policies and procedures

Person specification

All criteria are essential unless otherwise stated.

1. Specialist knowledge, skills and experience

1.1 Knowledge of the needs of disabled and / or Blind and partially sighted people.

1.2 Basic knowledge and understanding of Health and Social Care Act 2008

1.3 Achieved or willing to work towards Level 2 NVQ / QCF in Health and Social Care or equivalent.

1.4 Ability to use Microsoft Office packages, such as Word, Outlook and the Internet.

Desirable

1.5 Experience of working in a social care or educational setting to include facilitating development of personal care skills and the preparation of meals.

1.6 First aid at work qualification or willingness to train.

2. Team working skills

2.1 Ability to develop effective and supportive relationships with colleagues.

2.2 Ability to build rapport quickly and easily establishes relationships with learners, College Staff, parents, carers and outside agencies.

3. Planning and organisational skillsAbility to organise time effectively, create work schedules, prioritise workload and meet deadlines

4. Problem solving and creative skills

4.1 Ability to maintain accurate and precise records, paying attention to detail.

4.2 Ability to take responsibility for own actions and make decisions, knowing when to refer to others.

5. Communication Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing in, adapting style to suit the audience.

6. Equal opportunitiesAbility to understand and demonstrate commitment to RNIB’s Equal Opportunities Policy and to ensure all activities are consistent with the Equal Opportunities Policy. This includes all staff activities and their interface with the general public.

7. Special conditions

7.1 Appointment is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services Check for regulated activity

7.2 The post requires a high level of confidentiality; therefore applicants will be able to display a level of maturity and confidentiality in their day to day work.

7.3 Shift work required including evenings and weekends.

Behaviours

Deliver results Shows Commitment to continuous personal learning

and development which supports the delivery of outstanding service.

Engage customers Prepared to go the extra mile to exceed customer

expectations.

Engage others Builds and sustains strong support relationships with

colleagues and customers and others which engenders trust and respect and contributes to team and organisation’s profile and reputation.

Set direction Demonstrates awareness of commercial and financial

considerations. Identifies opportunities for innovation and creativity

which contribute to team’s goals and continued success.

Cooperates and is open to possibilities of change, responds positively to change and considers ways to implement and adapt to change.

Lead and inspire Shows willingness to take responsibility for own action. Remains calm and focused under pressure. Displays resilience and takes a rational approach.

Personal impact Communicates clearly, concisely, accurately and

appropriately to the audience.