Are you looking to take the next step in your social care career?

Do you want an opportunity to make a genuine and positive difference to people’s lives?

Then Autism Initiatives wants to hear from you!

We are near completion of an exciting, brand-new housing support service in the Granton area of Edinburgh.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with the supported individuals to make sure their move to their new home is as positive as possible, and help them to settle into their new homes, and live happily there. Not only will you be directly supporting autistic people to ensure they have a great quality of life, but you will be part of the team who develop this brand new service.

The Senior Support Worker (SSW) will support the management team in developing and maintaining the organisation’s standards relating to autism specific and person centred practices. Liaising with the organisation’s practice support team, the SSW will assist in the preparation of support and communication plans, ensuring consistent practices throughout support networks.

Benefits of working with us include:

• Competitive Salary
• Sleepover rate paid at £12.00 per hour
• 31 days Annual Leave Entitlement, including bank holidays
• Ongoing Learning & Development throughout your role
• Opportunity to undertake relevant SVQ qualification
• Career Progression Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Medicash Healthcare Plan
• Eligibility to become a Blue Light Card Member for online & high street discounts

The Senior Support Worker will assist in the supervision and direction of the staff team and in maintaining the high standards of support in line with the organisation’s quality standards and mission statement. Knowledge of current legislation and regulations relating to the social care sector and the requirements of the Care Inspectorate is essential for this role. The post holder will also be expected to commit to on-call duties.

Given the nature of this role, successful applicants must register with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or equivalent regulatory body.

This is a truly rewarding role, with the opportunity for you to develop your skills and knowledge and fulfil your career aspirations.

We are currently recruiting Project Workers to work with Upmo. Join our dedicated team supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism to reach their individual goals and ambitions.

We have vacancies in our teams based at:

• Links House (Leith)
• St. Margaret's House (Meadowbank/London Road)
• Prestonpans (East Lothian)
• Gorebridge (Midlothian)

We are recruiting for full time staff who can work 30 hours a week, between the hours of 10-16:00, Monday to Friday, however both full time and part-time contracts are available. At this time, we won’t be able to consider applicants looking to work less than 2 days per week.

Upmo is a Living Wage Employer; the rate of pay for this role is £12.00 per hour.

Holiday entitlement for this role is 30 days pro rata, which is enhanced by long service at 3 years’ service by an additional day (pro rata) per year thereafter, up to a maximum of 5 days.

As a Project Worker, you will be part of an enthusiastic and creative team who provide daily support to adults with learning disabilities and autism as they participate in workshops and activities within our site-based services, and café sites.

For this role, we are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with skills and expertise in art, IT, music, drama, dance, photography, gardening, and outdoor activities. Or, if you have any other skills, let us know!

This role includes supporting students in workshops of their choosing, working one to one with students, and facilitating workshops, and supporting people with personal care, as and when required.

While previous experience in care or support is highly advantageous, it is not required as we provide full training and ongoing support to our staff team. An interest in visual arts, performing arts, cooking, IT, gardening, or sports would be beneficial.

Our Services

We are looking to recruit employees for our Edinburgh Services located in Edinburgh: Oxgangs, St Johns Hill and Lauristion In Leith.

Our services provide twenty four hour per day, seven days per week supported accommodation to individuals who are homeless and have complex and multiple support needs. These individuals may have experienced trauma, exclusion and stigma in their lives.

The Role

As a Support Worker, you will:

• Have a person centred and trauma informed approach
• Be skilled at building trusting relationships
• Have a compassionate and non-judgemental approach
• Be the first point of contact for people when they are looking for support as our services are staffed twenty four hours a day, seven days a week
• Be required to contact external agencies and advocate on someone's behalf
• Support individuals to attend appointments, provide emotional support or respond to health emergencies

You Will

• Have a positive, flexible attitude and be committed to our values and the work we do
• Have good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Be confident and assertive in your approach as these posts will involve some level of lone working
• Be provided with all relevant training to succeed in the role
• Possess an SVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care, or have the willingness to undertake study to achieve this
• Be required to obtain registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) within 6 months of taking up the post

About the Benefits

• Excellent sleepover payment - Currently £108.00 a night
• Fully paid Induction and shadow shifts
• Death in service scheme - three times your yearly salary
• Cycle to work scheme - 12% - 39% savings
• Tech scheme - 12% savings on laptops and computers
• Supportive management - committed to supporting personal and professional development
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing packages.

Please note that Hillcrest Futures do not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications at present.

The service

The service support people who are homeless with complex and multiple needs. This means that you will be supporting people who have significant trauma, behaviours that challenge us, addictions, mental health, history of non-attendance and not keeping to building rules, mental health and psychological trauma, behaviours that are classed as risk taking and potentially, they are known to the criminal justice services. Relationships and how we interact and respond to people are key, how we reflect on our needs, behaviours and reactions to the work we do are key to being able to deliver the support.

The job

You will be required to carry a case load, write outcome plans and risk assessments and deliver and review the support. Support is provided on a 1-2 basis as well as an ad hoc basis. You will be required to lone work and work as part of a team. You will be expected to respond to emergency situations and take part in the on-call rota. The working hours for the service are Monday- Friday however you may be required to work evening and weekends.

The candidate

You will be expected to work to the national care standards and the SSSC Codes of Practice. You should have a flexible can-do attitude, excellent communication skills, reflective skills and a willingness to work towards an SVQ2 Health and Social Care if you don’t have the required qualifications.

All successful candidates will be required to obtain registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) within 6 months