In this role you are a frontline worker supporting people with a range of acquired hearing and / or vision impairment, in some services, the people you support will also have complex needs and learning disabilities. In different services you could be supporting children, adults or older adults, or possibly people from different age groups. The settings for Sense frontline workers include: Residential and supported living services Day activities services The Sense College Community services Our Communicator Guide services enable people to: have choice and control over their lives live as independently as possible and decrease isolation; maximise opportunities to engage in practical, positive and stimulating activities and participate in their local community You will work in a particular service setting, of which more details will be provided in a one-page service profile. In line with our commitment to support people in the most flexible and person centred way we can, you may be asked to work in different services or settings in the future. Purpose The term Communicator Guide is used to emphasis the communication support and escorting / guiding elements of the role and service. Communicator Guides act as the eyes and ears of the person with sight and hearing loss and in some settings work on a one-to-one basis. Communicator Guides are trained to support and facilitate communication in different situations and provide support through communication, mobility and access to information / services to people with both sight and hearing difficulties. Communicator Guides are impartial and give information rather than advice. The main purpose of a Communicator Guide is to support people to be as involved as possible in every part of their day to day lives so that they can be full and active members of society. You will work within the framework of the Sense I Statements to: 1. Keep the needs of the people you are supporting at the centre of your attention at all times; 2. Enable the people you support to influence their services and the way they are supported; 3. Help Sense to provide a high quality service. 4. Carrying out Communicator Guide specific responsibilities. Key Responsibilities 1. Keeping the needs of the people you are supporting at the centre of your attention at all times. This means: 1.1 Listening and responding to people, using communication skills to support them to understand 1.2 Supporting people to make sense of their environments and to access their communities. 1.3 Supporting people to learn new skills. 1.4 Supporting people with their health and well-being. 1.5 Supporting people with their personal care, if needed. 1.6 Supporting people with their behaviour, if needed. 1.7 Following any written plans and guidelines for each person. 1.8 Respecting peoples diversity, age, gender, ethnic origin, religious/cultural background, abilities/disabilities, and other needs. 2. Enabling the people you support to influence their services and the way they are supported. This means: 2.1 Using this information to co-produce person-centred guidelines and plans, involving families, friends and other professionals if this is appropriate. 2.2 Providing opportunities to enable people to make choices and decisions. 2.3 Supporting people to take part in the running of their own homes, if you work in a home environment. 2.4 Advocate on the behalf of and/or speak up for them. 2.5 Supporting people to keep in contact with family and friends, and to develop their social networks. 3. Helping Sense to provide a high quality service by: 3.1 Keeping all records of your work up to date and accurate. Ensure critical information is passed to Supervisor as necessary 3.2 Completing Senses induction and skills development programme and attending courses arranged by your manager. Taking part in supervision. Attending and contributing to meetings. 3.3 Behaving respectfully all the time to the people you support, their families/friends, your colleagues, neighbours and members of the public. 3.4 Helping new colleagues to get to know the people they are supporting and how to work in the service. 3.5 Keeping up to date with Senses policies and practices and following these at all times. 3.6 Keeping a safe, healthy and supportive environment for the people you support, yourself, your colleagues, and anyone else coming into contact with Sense. 3.7 You may also be expected to carry out other duties that are in line with the nature and grade of the role. 3.8 To contribute to the safeguarding of individuals in our care by adhering to our policies and procedures and ensuring that concerns are escalated to management. 4. Carrying out Communicator Guide responsibilities: 4.1 Provide practical help with everyday tasks such as shopping or dealing with mail, assisting to improve or maintain independence within the own home and community and may help people with deafblindness to access services such as GP surgeries, shops and leisure facilities. 4.2 May also do short term pieces of work to re-enable people after loss of sight and/or hearing, so to develop a basic communication method, or to re-organise the home to make it more accessible. 4.3 Demonstrate good practice to staff in residential and supporting living if the individual is moving to one of those settings. 4.4 Communicator guides are assumed to work in situations with less accessible management support and direction and to take greater personal responsibility for an individual service than would be expected as a level one support worker. 4.5 Support people with varying levels of complex communication or other support needs. 4.6 Guide and mentor other staff. 4.7 You may occasionally be required to carry out some work at evenings and weekends. 4.8 Communicator Guide training or the equivalent to be completed as agreed with Supervisor.