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

We are currently recruiting Project Workers to work within our Edinburgh services. You will be joining our dedicated team supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism to reach their individual goals and ambitions.

Rate:£12.60 per hour

Working Hours: 10:00 – 16:00, Monday – Friday, with full time hours at 30 per week

Contract Type:Permanent, Full Time & Part Time: we’d love to hear from all applicants interested in part time or full time work, however we won’t be able to consider applicants looking to work less than 2 days per week.

Holiday:30 days pro rata, enhanced at 3 years’ service by an additional day (pro rata) per year thereafter, up to a maximum of 5 days. Upmo regularly closes during the Christmas/New Year period.

About the role

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 workshop activities of their choosing within our site-based services, and café sites.

This role includes supporting students on a 1:1 basis, facilitating workshops, and supporting people with personal care tasks throughout the day such as assistance with eating and drinking, toileting needs, and other private hygiene needs.

For this vacancy, we are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with musical and performance skills, but will consider those with all round skills for our services, which run varied workshops throughout the week which involve the following areas: art & crafts, IT, music, drama, dance, cooking, gardening, and outdoor activities.

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.

The main purpose of this role is to support the parents and carers of neurodivergent children and young people by providing high quality, person-centred information, advice and support. Parents and carers contact us for advice and information about a wide-ranging variety of topics relating to neurodiversity, including neurodevelopmental conditions, rights and responsibilities, pathways and services, communication with professionals and promoting wellbeing.

The post holder will provide advice and information to parents and carers who contact the service. They will also provide further support for parents and carers to identify desired goals and outcomes and create a plan to work towards these, using a coaching approach. They will provide parents and carers with the tools to independently communicate with professionals and support their child(ren), while providing a safe space to reflect on their own wellbeing, using a non-judgemental, trauma-informed approach at all times.

The role mainly involves communication by phone, text and email but may also include in person support and virtual or in person attendance at meetings where required. The post holder may be required to communicate with professionals on behalf of parents and carers and will also provide advice and support to professionals working with neurodivergent children and young people and their families.

Our Parent Carer Service also provides group-based support for parents and carers and the post holder may be required to facilitate peer support or information-based group sessions, both online and in person.

This post may occasionally require weekend and/or evening work and very occasionally working elsewhere. The charity is based in Edinburgh but the Direct Help and Support (DHS) service in which this role sits, covers the whole of Scotland. Our Parent Carer Support Specialists support families and professionals primarily through the use of technology, with some in-person working when required. The post involves hybrid working, working from home and from our office in Edinburgh when required, as well as travel to support parents and carers in person, including at meetings or in group settings.

Organisation profile

Mindroom is a charity that champions all forms of neurodiversity and supports all kinds of minds. Our mission is to be a leading centre for change, in how we live, work and learn. We achieve this through support, education, advocacy, and research.

Introduction

Columcille provides a safe and supportive healthy social environment which offers creative daytime activities and a sense of community from its premises in the Morningside area of Edinburgh. We support people who have learning disabilities, and mental health needs through arts & crafts, cooking, printing, gardening, pottery, drama, keep fit, holistic therapies and dance. Some support is provided in the local community. We provide relationship centred support that upholds the dignity and value of each human being and supports their development and growth.

Relief workers cover staff absences due to illness, holiday or training. There are no guaranteed hours, but for flexible and available individuals there can be regular work.

Main Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide support to service users to learn new skills, develop socially, and gain self- confidence and greater independence. This may be small group or 1-1 support.
• Be attentive to group dynamics and proactive in creating a positive atmosphere.
• Respond positively and calmly to any behaviour that challenges.
• Provide personal care and support with using wheelchairs and mobility aids.
• Provide cover on the centre’s tea break and lunch rota as required.
• Tidy workshops each day and help maintain a clean and safe work environment.
• Be guided by Columcille policies and procedures and the SSSC Codes of Practice.
• Take part in induction, staff training and supervision meetings.

Essential Skills, Experience and Attributes

• Experience of support work with people with learning disabilities.
• Knowledge and skills relating to one of the work activities listed above.
• An approach based on empathy and positive regard for people
• Attentive and alert to the needs and different communication styles of people
• Compassionate and caring
• Ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative.
• A person-centred approach.
• Interest in working from an approach based on the work of Rudolf Steiner using Social Therapy, which values the whole person, meaningful work and productive activity, creativity, community and seasonal and cultural celebrations.
• Become a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
• Available for minimum of two days in a week to make the work mutually worthwhile.