Job summary
The Optalis Short Term Assessment and Support Team (START) provides reablement care and support to people who have recently been discharged from hospital. Reablement is a short-term, goal-oriented support service aimed at helping people regain their independence after an illness, injury, or hospitalisation. Instead of doing tasks for someone, reablement professionals work with individuals to build or rebuild skills so they can manage daily activities on their own, such as dressing, cooking, or moving around safely. The focus is on empowering people to maintain as much independence as possible, improving their confidence and quality of life.
START is part of the Wokingham Integrated Social Care and Health Team (WISH).
Main duties of the job
This role is available due to one of our long term team members retiring.
As a Reablement Assistant, you will support customers in their own homes with rebuilding their confidence and regaining their independence. Following a person-centred care plan created alongside WISH, you will engage and motivate customers to work toward their recovery goals. There will also be a need to support with care needs, such as personal care, moving and positioning, administering medication and some domestic duties.
Whilst the service is based out of our Head Office in Wokingham, this role is primarily visiting customers at various locations across the borough. It is essential that you are able to drive and have your own vehicle.
As our customers receive a maximum of six weeks support, your caseload will be varied and will change regularly, truly making no two weeks the same.
If you are thinking to start a new career or have previous experience working in adult social care and are looking to make a difference in our community, we would love to hear from you.
About us
Optalis is a LATCo (Local Authority Trading Company) jointly owned by Wokingham Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
In addition to running two reablement services - START in Wokingham and STS&R in Maidenhead - Optalis delivers adult social care on behalf of the two local authorities. We have over 50 services across the WBC and RBWM boroughs, supporting adults with learning disabilities to live independently, as well as providing dementia and nursing care for older people.
We provide stable employment and opportunities to develop yourself and advance your career.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary Purpose of Role
To work with START colleagues and other professionals to provide a short-termassessment and reablement service for a maximum of six weeks to assessed service users in their own homes and within the community. Responsibilities include;
1. All tasks undertaken need to take into account the individual needs of each customer and their particular abilities together with the specified outcomes contained in the service users care plan
2. To encourage a service users independence and activity appropriate to their abilities in all aspects of their day-to-day living.
3. To assist a service user in their personal care for example: washing/toileting/dressing/undressing.
4. To provide assistance with other tasks for example: cleaning/laundry/shopping/collection of pension.
5. To assist a service user in the preparation of meals/drinks/snacks helping them to regain the skills required for such tasks as appropriate.
6. To assist a service user with their medication in strict accordance with laid down procedures.
7. To assist a service user to transfer using appropriate moving techniques and/or aids and equipment.
8. To undertake regular training as required by the START team to ensure the working practices are consistent and up-to-date with all current thinking regarding service delivery, with particular emphasis on reablement.
9. To contribute to the supervision of particularly vulnerable service users and to be aware of the appropriate action to be taken in an emergency.
10. To monitor and observe a service user for possible signs of abuse and report accordingly.
11. To work with Physiotherapists/Occupational Therapists and other professionals to assist a service user in regaining skills required for independent living.
Please refer to the attached Job Description for further detail of duties and responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
12. Full UK Driving Licence
13. Willingness to undertake Care Certificate
Experience
Desirable
14. Experience of working with vulnerable adults
15. Experience of working in a community-based role