MIDSTREAM (WEST LANCS) LTD

Midstream (West Lancs) Ltd
JOB DESCRIPTION - LEARNING & CARE SUPPORT ASSISTANT

Location:  Skelmersdale

Duration: Permanent

 Salary: £24,150

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours:  Full Time 8.45 a.m. – 4.45 p.m. (35hrs per week)

  (will consider part time / job sharing)

Responsible To:

Training & Operations Manager

Summary:

This position combines the knowledge & skills of a care assistant with those of a teaching
assistant within the SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disability) sector.

Working as part of an established team and under the guidance of qualified teaching or
care professionals, you will be providing support to young people and adults with a wide
range of learning disabilities and additional needs who are undertaking daytime vocational
training and work activities within a specialist vocational training & social care provider.

You  will  be  supporting  individuals  to  achieve  nationally  recognised  vocational
qualifications,  prompting  and  guiding  them  in  their  daily  work  activities,  encouraging
independence and positive behaviour, helping them to achieve personal targets via their
Individual Learning Plan (ILP) and their EHCP (Education, Health & Care Plan) outcomes.
Social inclusion and making choices are also promoted as part of this essential role.

You will be a key person to ensure the health, safety & wellbeing of the young people and
adults being supported is maintained always. You may be required to assist with personal
care needs as appropriate.

Work and training activities take place daily in a variety of purpose built, practical ‘real
life’ working environments. These include:

-  Horticultural unit
-  Garden centre
-  Café & Catering unit
-  Office
-  Crafts workshop
-  Hair & beauty salon
-  Pathways to Adulthood (educational setting)
-  Offsite practical work experience in the wider community

Work is both indoors & outdoors and can be physically demanding. Support staff are also
expected to  drive company  vehicles  when  accompanying  young  people  and  adults  who
engage in activities offsite, or to transport them to and from home as required, therefore,
applicants must have a full clean driving licence.

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Main Duties and Responsibilities:

•  Support, guide, prompt and encourage individuals throughout their daily work and
training activities to ensure good conduct, health, safety and wellbeing always.

•  Under the guidance of qualified teaching staff or workplace assessors, assist with
training,  developing  and  the  assessment  of  learnt  knowledge  for  nationally
recognised vocational qualifications.

•  As required, and under the guidance of qualified health & social care staff, provide
assistance to young people or adults with additional needs with their personal care.

•  Administer prescribed and over the counter medication as required and in-line with

the established medication policy.

•  Support individuals over lunches and breaks.

•  Provide 1:1 support as required.

•  Transport  or  escort  clients  to  and  from  home  using  company  vehicles  when

required.

•  Record keeping & contributing towards meeting & reviews.

•  Undertake Continuous Professional Development opportunities in line with  your

job role.

•  Carry out any other duties as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Minimum Essential Qualifications and Experience:

Education

•  GCSE / O Level passes in five subjects including:
English Language Grade A-C (or equivalent)
Mathematics Grade A-C (or equivalent)

Vocational

You should hold (or be willing to work towards) the following vocational qualifications:

•  NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 Health & Social Care

or

•  NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 Teaching & Learning
•  Workplace Assessors Award (D unit, A unit or TAQA)

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Experience

•  Recent experience within the care industry

or

•  Recent experience as a Teaching Assistant within an education setting (preferably

a SEND setting).

Other Minimum Essential Requirements:

•  Must hold a full, clean driving licence and have access to own transport.
•  Must produce a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Report from the Disclosure &

Barring Service (disclosure expenses will be met by Midstream).

•  Personal  qualities  to  include  being  pleasant,  empathetic,  caring,  flexible  and

adaptable.
IT skills (e.g. Microsoft Word & Excel).

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•  Good interpersonal skills.
•  Effective communication skills.
•  Willing to take part in further training and attain further vocational qualifications

as applicable.

•  Ability to work as part of a team.
•  Prepared to work both indoors and outdoors in all weathers.
•  Able to carry out physically demanding work.

In addition to fulfilling the above minimum criteria any attributes from the following,
although not essential, would be very advantageous:

•  Nursing skills, experience & qualifications e.g. RN / RNLD
•  British Sign Language Level 2 or Level 3

N/B Employment offers are subject to:

-  Satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Report from the Disclosure and Barring Service
-  Satisfactory references
-  Satisfactory completion of a 12-month probation period

Midstream is committed to Equal Opportunities and is positive about people with disabilities.

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