Heron Care are registered with CQC as a domiciliary care agency. We are well-led by an experienced management team which enables us to offer expert care and support. We provide home care services and home help to individuals with; learning difficulties, onset dementia, mental health, end of life and more.

Hours: Working between the hours of 6:30am-9:30pm and every other weekend. All staff have a two-week rolling rota and set days.

Full training is provided to all successful applicants depending on DBS disclosure.

Role Purpose

• The role of the Care Worker is to perform duties and tasks to enable our service users to continue living within the comfort of their own homes in a safe and secure way. To offer a level of care which promotes dignity, respect and choice.
• Supporting service users who may have a wide range of differing requirements and whose needs may range from companionship and domestic support to personal care. Care must be delivered in accordance with current best practices, according to Heron care’s policies and procedures, agreed standards, legislative requirements, and relevant regulations under the direction of the Care Manager.

What the role involves

Deliver Companionship & Personal Care to Service Users.

• Deliver companionship and personal care in line with the service users support plans which is agreed and set out before we start delivering care. You will receive full training and support to undertake the duties within this role and these needs to be delivered within the guidelines set out in our policies and procedures.

Companionship duties may include:

• Providing support and encouragement to empower the service user to lead an independent lifestyle
• Providing companionship and conversation
• Shopping for the weekly essentials
• Meal preparation and cooking
• Joining and assisting in hobbies or crafts
• Light domestic tasks and general household duties such as cleaning, bed making, laundry and ironing
• Accompanying service users to appointments
• Driving clients to desired places
• Pet care
• Communicating with family, friends and other healthcare professionals on their behalf

Personal Care may additionally involve:

• Assisting a service user to get up, dressed and preparing them for the day
• Washing, bathing, showering, oral care, grooming
• Toileting including assisting with the use of a commode
• Continence management
• Assistance with eating
• Assisting with prescribed medication
• Use of moving and handling equipment (after training) if a service user is unable to mobilise on their own.
• Working closely with other care professionals such as District Nurses and GPs
• Assisting service users to go to bed, including undressing and washing
• Be reliable and understand the necessity of not letting the service user , colleagues or the Company down at short notice and leaving service users vulnerable.

Recording and Reporting:

• To write and maintain accurate records of care on a daily basis.
• To accurately complete Medication Administration Records (MAR sheets) in accordance with Heron Care’s policies and procedures where this is part of the care plan (once fully trained).
• To report to the Line Manager or Supervisor if there are any changes or causes of concern in a service users condition.

Follow Policies and Procedures:

• Maintain awareness, understanding and adherence to Company rules and policies and procedures as set out in the Employee Handbook.
• Treat all service users with respect and dignity and ensure they receive a quality service.
• Maintain personal and service user’s safety through adhering to proper Health & Safety procedures.
• Attend/complete mandatory training and be responsible for ensuring that mandatory care certificate training units are in date.

Personal Competencies

• To be able to commit to and attend all customer visits
• To be able to cope with emergency and difficult situations and seek solutions
• To be able to communicate effectively and develop effective working relationships with colleagues, families, clients, etc
• To be able to maintain high standards of care provision with compassion and empathy

You do not need any experience or formal qualifications to become a care assistant.

Excellent communication skills, your own life experiences and transferable skills alongside reliability, trustworthiness and respect for others will allow you to build professional friendships.