Adult Support Worker 3

Job details

• Branch: Antrim/Ballymena locality
• Location: Ferrard Site: Antrim Adult Ctr
• Directorate: Mental Health, Learning Disability & CWB Division
• Functional Area: Learning Disability Service-Community
• Salary: Band 3 (£24,937 - £26,598)
• Contract Type: Temporary
• Opening Date: 05/06/26
• Closes: Fri, 19 June 2026 @ 5:00 PM
• Interview Dates: TBC

Notes

If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

Job Description

Adult Support Worker

Job Description

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland.

We provide compassionate care with our community in our community. In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.

The diagram below outlines our values and our objectives which support the delivery of compassionate care within our community.

The below diagram details the values and associated behaviours that we expect staff working within Health and Social Care (HSC) to display at all times;

HSC Value

What does this mean?

What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.

I work with others and value everyone’s contribution

I treat people with respect and dignity

I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams

I actively engage people on issues that affect them

I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.

I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness

I learn from others by listening carefully to them

I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others

Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high-quality, compassionate care and support.

I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference

I take responsibility for my decisions and actions

I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing

I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships

I ask someone for help when needed

I speak up if I have concerns

I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Adult Support Worker

BAND: 3

DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: Learning Disability Day Care Services

INITIAL LOCATION: Antrim Adult Centre & Associated Hubs

Post holder must be willing to work Trust wide

REPORTS TO: Facility Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Director of Mental Health and Disability Services

FLEXIBLE WORKING PROVISIONS AVAILABLE: Full Time Working, 7 day working, Fixed Working Patterns, Part Time Working, Flexi Time, Compressed/Elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term Time working, Job Share or Home Working.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of Adult Centre management team, to attend to the personal and social care needs of service users including those who require extra support needs e.g. Complex health care needs and / or behaviour support within Adult Centre policies and procedures.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Adult Centres support adults with a learning disability who: have ‘severely challenging behaviour’ as defined by Emerson et al (1987). and / or who have Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) and / or Complex Health Care Needs, some are totally dependent on others for their care throughout their lives; they may require a wide range of equipment and adaptations.

Under the direction of senior staff, the Support Worker will be available to provide a range of services:

Provide intensive support to access day care activities and prevent the breakdown of home situations, day care and to help prevent the need for admissions to specialist hospitals.

Support in the implementation of therapeutic interventions developed by PBSS. (Positive Behaviour Support Services)

Support the integration of people with complex needs into day care and other community settings.

Participating in the duty rota for transport of service users, as and when required.

Providing personal assistance to members such as bathing, washing, personal care, dressing, assistance with dietary requirements and washing clothes etc. ensuring privacy, dignity and rights of clients.

Reporting to Senior Officer untoward incidents for example, falls, bruises, accidents etc., and complaints and maintain a record of same.

Assisting in the provision of individual and group programmes of care.

Work as part of a Team to care for animals as part of therapeutic intervention

Contributing to the maintenance of records required by the centre.

Being available to listen and talk to members.

Attending and contributing to staff meetings.

Participate in RESPECT training or any other relevant training regarding the management of behaviours of concern and complex needs

Participating in mandatory and general training

Participating in a formal programme of supervision.

Participating in individual and group activities based both in and out of the centre.

Participation in RVQ or equivalent training

Provide cover to other adult centres, community hubs and satellite units across localities as and when required

Ensure the procedures of the Trust are adhered to in respect of

Fire Preventions

Health and Safety Regulations, including Control of Substances hazardous to Health

Handling of money

Safe guarding Vulnerable Adults

Service user feedback

Complex health care needs

Risk management

Restrictive Practice

Deprivation of Liberties

In addition, Support Workers will be expected to

Encourage service user participation in all aspects integration into the life of their local community.

Provide support, if necessary, to assist service users with practical day to day living tasks such as budgeting, menu planning, and shopping, cooking and general housework

Support service users to plan social and leisure activities and to accompany them as appropriate

Contribute to the process of risk management

Provide support to enhance the quality of life for individual service users, which maximises opportunity for choice and self determination

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:-

At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner

At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety

Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations

Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision

Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

Register and maintain registration with NISCC

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

SALARY: BAND 3 £22,816 - £24,336 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

HOURS

Normal full-time hours of duty are 37½ hours per week, exclusive of meal times. Hours of these posts are 30 hours per week exclusive of meal times.

MEDICAL

Appointment will be subject to a successful pre-employment health assessment.

HOLIDAYS

27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years’ service; 33 days after 10 years’ service and 10 statutory and public holidays.

PENSION

The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.

NORTHERN TRUST BENEFITS

You can explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here

WAITING LIST

A Trust wide waiting list may be compiled for similar permanent/temporary, full/part time posts which may arise within the next 12 months.

PAY PROTECTION

Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF)(1) 2011.

This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

Completed application forms should be returned to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh BT61 7PR on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement.

Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works

March 2023

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Adult Support Worker

Band of Post: 3

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Qualifications/ Registration

a/ Applicants should have at least 12 months paid employment experience of supporting people with a disability

OR

b/ 6 months paid employment experience of supporting people with a disability plus NVQ / QCF / RVQ Level 2 in Care or GNVQ/BTEC National certificate or Higher qualification in care or equivalent

AND

c) by date of appointment applicant must be listed or eligible to be registered on NISCC Register of Social Care Workers and within 3 months of date of commencement in post, registration with NISCC must be fully complete.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Ability to sensitively undertake all personal care tasks

Clear verbal and written communication skills

Ability to work as part of a team

As part of your role you will be required to work with individual with complex needs including behaviours of concern and mental health issues. You will be required to attend relevant training and implement agreed support plans

Interview

Knowledge

Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the post

Interview

Value Based Recruitment

Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust. It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.

In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges

Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate. If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

have the right to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance

March 2023