Shared Lives Development Worker – East
Shared Lives Development Worker – Shared Lives East
Salary: £26,089 per annum
Job Ref No: SLDWE042024
Part time post: 37 hours per week
Location: PSS Shared Lives (East) Unit 14 Diss Business Centre, Dark Lane, Scole, Diss, Norfolk IP21 4HD
Contract type: Fixed term initially for 9 months to cover maternity leave (although there is a possibility of a permanent opportunity being available within the team after this time).
PSS in a nutshell
At PSS, we’ve got an important job to do; and that’s to help people make the most of their lives. Whether you’re working directly with the people who use our services, or behind the scenes in one of our offices, every day you’ll be helping to make other people feel happier, healthier and more supported.
We’re a social enterprise or, as we like to call it – a ‘business with a heart’. This means that all the money we make goes back into finding new ways to help people. Our aim is simple; we want to help people change their lives for the better – no matter what life throws at them. We’ve got offices across Merseyside, Wales, Manchester and the Midlands & the East, where we’re making our stamp.
What’s Shared Lives all about?
Alex is 29 and from Thetford. He works as a shop assistant in a local DIY shop. He’s a big footy fan, loves going out for a pint on a Friday night and is secretly a Love Island enthusiast – not that he’d tell that to his mates! He lives with his mum and dad at the moment, but wants to get a bit more independence. Alex has a learning disability, which means he needs a little help around the house with things like making his lunch for work, ironing and looking after his finances. He’d love to move somewhere where he knows he’ll still get the help he needs, but can also have his independence.
Sarah is 45 and lives in Wymondham with her 18-year-old son, David, and their dog Bruno. After being on her feet all day working in a care home, she loves nothing more than putting her achy feet up, relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine and some trashy TV (she’s well and truly caught up with the Kardashians!) She likes her job, but wishes she could work for herself and have more freedom. David is off to university soon, and she’s worried she’ll be lonely without him to look after.
Notice anything?
These two are a perfect match, right?!
Shared Lives is a different type of adult placement that supports people who need a bit of extra support with daily things like cooking, cleaning, ironing and getting out and about to the shops. Each Shared Lives placement is built around the individual person, their hopes and dreams and who’ll be a good fit for them to live with. There’s lots of different types of people using Shared Lives. It could be someone with a learning disability, mental health needs or people moving on from a different type of care. Our big-hearted Shared Lives team work very hard indeed to make sure people are well matched, that both carers and people using the service feel supported and – most of all – that everyone is happy.
Thanks to PSS Shared Lives, Alex now stays with Sarah, in her house, where she supports him to make his ham sandwiches for work and get his uniform ironed and ready for a Monday morning and also have a break from home and do things on his own. Alex loves taking Bruno for a walk, and he’s still close to his mates at Sarah’s. He got his independence and gives Sarah a hand too!
Shared Lives carers are people who, like Sarah, have a spare room in their home and some spare room in their heart too. Sarah gets paid to be Alex’s temporary carer, but he’s become much more than someone she cares for professionally – he’s become part of her family.
What you’ll do
As one of our Shared Lives development workers, you’ll have an important job to do – to develop the Shared Lives service in the East! Using your knowledge of care and support planning, you’ll put plans in place to help people like Alex have his needs met and have a break with his new carer, and you’ll also be responsible for making sure this all runs smoothly.
It will be your job to find, assess and recruit carers like Sarah to work as self-employed PSS Shared Lives carers, and to be a Shared Lives ambassador, welcoming people into the service and helping us promote it whenever you can.
To do this job well, you’re going to need:
- Experience of working with vulnerable adults
- Experience of working with health and social care professionals to deliver great outcomes;
- Great communication skills;
- Passion for finding people safe and happy homes;
- An Enhanced Disclosure;
- A driving license, as this position will require frequent travel across the East
- A big heart, open mind, determination, professionalism and a genuine personality.
Your trusty candidate pack will help you get a feel for what it’s like to work with us, find out what we’re looking for, explain the recruitment process and help you decide whether you can see yourself as a part of our amazing team. Each section is crammed with hints and tips to help you make a great application, so please take the time to give it a good read.
Candidates who consider themselves to be disabled will also be given the opportunity to attend an interview if they meet the essential criteria for the role
Closing date: Tuesday 7th May 2024
View Job Description
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PSS values the importance of diversity