We are currently looking to recruit support workers to join our small team within Inclusion Alliance. The role involves supporting people with learning disabilities to be included in the community and lead an ordinary life. Your work would involve helping people to access educational, social, leisure and work or volunteering opportunities in the community.

No experience or formal qualifications are necessary for the role although a caring nature, positive attitude and a sense of fun are important characteristics to have. New staff will receive paid training and undertake shadow shifts with experienced staff members during induction. We want new staff to feel ready and able to work prior to working on their own for the first time.

We have various vacancies available including part time and relief/casual positions in various locations throughout Edinburgh.

Working hours are based between the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday

We have various permanent and casual vacancies available.

Relief/ Casual pay rate- £12.65 per hour

Candidates must be caring, motivated and have excellent communication skills whilst being committed to working in a person-centred way ensuring that support is built around the supported person’s wishes and needs.

Benefits include

• Employer contributory pension scheme
• Funded SVQ 3 qualification and learning opportunity
• Paid annual leave entitlement
• Regular paid supervision sessions
• Regular paid training and development opportunities
• Daytime Monday to Friday working
• Working for a well-established small organisation where person centred values are at the core.Free 24/7 access to employee support app

Ark is a major provider of Housing, Care and Support to people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and autism.

Ark supports people to live independently in their own homes providing everything from a few hours a week social and life admin support to 24/7 care supporting with personal care, medication, household tasks, attending appointments and leisure activities.

We have lots of opportunities across Scotland for our Support Worker roles. As we provide full training no previous is experience is required.

If you are enthusiastic about supporting people to live their best lives, then apply now to join our team!

Your main duties will include but not be limited to:

• Working with colleagues as part of an effective and efficient team to support vulnerable people.
• Communicate and work well with our supported people to provide individual care and maintain appropriate relationships.
• Being responsible in supporting individuals throughout the activities, giving positive feedback and encouragement.
• Updating and maintaining accurate records using a tablet on Arks Information Management system.

Previous experience of the following is an advantage but not essential as Ark will provide full training: Care Worker, Social worker, Home Carer, Case Worker, Care Assistant, Autism Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant , Social Care Worker.

View our job outline, find out what you working week could look like and hear from our current Support Workers on Arks website arkha.org.uk/work-with-us

Why Ark?

• No Previous Experience Required - Ark provide full training so no previous experience is required making our Support Worker roles the perfect place to start your career in Adult Social Care.
• Get a qualification while you work - Ark fully fund your SVQ2 in Health & Social Care which you complete with the support of our in house SVQ team.
• Employee Discounts - Employee Discounts Portal with 1000s of discounts on your favourite brands including Supermarkets, Cinema Tickets, Gym Membership and Holidays.
• Career Progression -Over 75% of all Managers within Care & Support have been promoted internally.
• Employee Assistance Program - Arks Employee Assistance program (EAP) gives all employees access to counselling sessions. There is also support available through weekly webinars and the EAP Website & App.
• Contracted hours to suit you-We have Full-time, Part-time and Relief Support Worker roles available at our services throughout Scotland.

In return for your valuable contribution, Ark will also offer you:

• Up to 36 days paid holiday per year pro rata
• 4% Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Fully funded PVG & 1st year SSSC registration paid by Ark

Our employees told us in a recent survey that they stay with Ark because they believe in our values, we have supportive managers who continually appreciate their staff and they love making a positive difference in our supported peoples lives, helping them to achieve their dreams.

Ark would love to hear from you whether you are an experienced Support Worker or new to Social Care.

Are you interested in a role that would support a wonderful, friendly, popular young woman to live her best life whilst providing you with a regular salary, brilliant development opportunities and a great work/life balance?

We have a role available to complete this person’s support team. We are looking for someone caring, responsible, respectful and considerate. Ideally you will have creative interests and be keen to support this lady in basic arts and crafts and in her love of music and dancing. You will also have great attention to detail and be enthusiastic about supporting this young woman in her daily life including going to her classes and activities, seeing her friends and keeping in touch with her family.

You should be motivated to provide an excellent standard of support and want to use and develop person-centred approaches and basic therapeutic techniques to support this (full training will be provided). You must be responsible and proactive in supporting the person in running and maintaining their household. A range of additional benefits is provided alongside the salary.

A full or part time role is available. Full time is equivalent to two 24-hour shifts a week including a paid sleepover (the sleepover pay is additional to the basic salary). Part time is roughly equivalent to one shift a week. Each shift also includes an additional ½ hour paid handover.

Please note that this role is reserved for female applicants only*. Applicants should be looking to commit to the role for a minimum of 18 months to 2 years in the first instance. You would be working in a small, friendly team with ongoing support, training and supervision provided by a professional care provider. This role includes personal care. Applicants should have flexibility in their availability over the week. Rotas are organised within the team several months in advance.

*Exemption under the Equality Act 2010

Package includes

• Starting salary £12.60 per hour (£25,552 per annum (FTE) rising to £13.52 per hour (£27,418 FTE) plus sleepover payments

• 18 hours role - £11,793 rising to £12,654 plus sleepover payments

• Fantastic training (on full pay) including enhanced learning in person-centred practice, leadership skills and other bespoke training courses.

• Contributory pension scheme, membership of HSF health plan and more.

• 30 days of annual leave, increasing by 1 day/year up to 35 days (pro rata for part time roles).

About Us

Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity providing non-clinical, person-centred support to people in communities across Scotland. With over 50 years’ experience, we are fighting for a future where no one faces mental illness alone. We are changing society by changing attitudes, fighting stigma and influencing government to ensure a better of quality of life for those affected by poor mental health and mental illness. As a charity supporting over 10,000 people year, we believe everyone should have access to the support they need, when they need it and in a way which works best for them.

About the Role

As a Counselling Lead, you will manage the Counselling Support team and the service alongside the Head of Services. You will oversee the day-to-day running of the services whilst being responsible for managing all stakeholders involved.

You will also report on outcomes achieved and help promote and develop the services in your region. A skilled practitioner, you will have a good understanding and knowledge of counselling services and an understanding of the health and social care landscape. An empathic and motivating manager, you will be able to bring out the best in others by developing, guiding and supporting your team and enabling them to provide high-quality, person-centred counselling and support services.

The Counselling Lead will be responsible for line-managing and supervising staff and consultants who deliver specialist counselling support people affected by mental health issues, as well as their own caseload. This role includes developing and implementing an induction programme for counsellor roles, carrying out safe recruitment and providing high quality therapeutic support. The post-holder will take a trauma-informed approach and build a supportive and reflective culture, in line with Change Mental Health values. The Counselling Lead will work alongside both the local and national management team to contribute to the operational and strategic leadership of the local service, and of the overarching counselling programme that Change Mental Health are committed to developing.

Reports To: Head of Edinburgh Services

Disclosure & Barring Check: This post will be subject to a PVG check for working with vulnerable adults.