Joining the Moray Council as a Social Care Assistant
- Social Care Assistants - making a positive difference and improving lives
- What does a Social Care Assistant do?
- Who are we looking for?
- What we need
- About the Care at Home Teams
- What Moray Council offers
- Apply to be a Social Care Assistant
Social Care Assistants - making a positive difference and improving lives
For many people the daily living tasks we take for granted are a challenge.
This could be because they are getting older, have a disability, long term health condition or had a sudden change in their wellbeing such as a fall.
Their wish to carry on living at home would be impossible without the vital support given by Moray Council’s Social Care Assistants. By making sure people’s care needs are met with consideration and understanding, Social Care Assistants (SCAs) enable people to maintain their independence with dignity and lead fuller, more secure lives.
If you’re looking to start work for the first time, return to work after a break or change careers, then becoming a SCA could be for you. It’s a worthwhile and rewarding job that offers close contact with people and lots of variety.
Here’s what you need to know about a career in Social Care as a SCA.
What does a SCA do?
You will have a list of service users to go and visit in their own homes. It could be the same ones every day or different ones depending on the day.
Every person will be different, and some will need more help than others. Each will have their own individual support plan setting out the goals SCA should be working to help them achieve.
You will be encouraging and assisting the service users with things like getting in and out of bed, washing, dressing, dental care and continence care.
During a visit you might be heating a meal, making snacks and drinks or providing domestic support by clearing up after providing support and personal care laundry.
The role of SCA is to promote the independence of the people they care for – rather than doing things to them it’s about doing things with them to encourage and support them to maintain or improve their daily living skills so they can do as much for themselves as they can.
SCAs often work closely with Community Nursing staff to provide end of life care, supporting people to remain at home for as long as possible.
Who are we looking for?
Qualifications and previous experience would be preferable but not essential. It is your values that are important and the type of person you are with a willingness and ability to care for vulnerable people. SCAs must be honest and reliable, caring and compassionate, patient and understanding. We need people who are flexible, enthusiastic, good timekeepers and who are not afraid of a challenge.
Caring can be physically demanding so you must have a good level of fitness. Bending, stretching, kneeling and pulling hoists are all part of the role.
You’ll need good communication skills, be able to follow instruction and accurately record information as well as work using your initiative to react to a situation.
The service works to the guidelines of the National Care Standards, Care at Home and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and our SCAs are expected to have knowledge of them. It’s a good idea for potential candidates to read these guidelines so they are familiar with them before they come for interview.
What we need
A driver
You must have a full driving licence and have use of a vehicle to carry out your work. You must also have business insurance for using your vehicle for work purposes. You will be paid 45p per mile.
A good character
Any offer of employment will be subject to you providing suitable references, passing a medical screening and being approved as a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme to ensure you are not barred from working with protected adults.
The cost of the PVG check will be met by the Moray Council. However, if you leave within 3 months of starting your employment with the council, you will be asked to repay the full cost of the PVG check which is currently £59 for first time applicants or £18 for an existing member.
Registration with SSSC
It is a condition of employment that all new SCAs register with SSSC within 6 months of starting the role and that registration is maintained. SCAs are responsible for fulfilling registration requirements and the cost, including the annual registration cost. Note: (At the moment the Government is paying for registration fees and so the there is no cost to the worker).
About the Care at Home Teams
Care at Home is based around 4 localities in Moray – Elgin, Lossiemouth & Forres, Buckie, Fochabers & Lhanbryde and Keith & Speyside.
We also have an Independent Living Team covering the localities of Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Keith & Speyside.
Four Assistant Managers oversee these localities and manage the Care at Home Officers (CAHO). The CAHOs are responsible for the day to day running of the teams and are the direct supervisors of the SCAs. Care at Home Officers also regularly review care packages.
You will be placed within a team in a locality and will usually work within that team.
However, we need our SCAs to be adaptable about the areas and teams they work in. If delivery of the service requires carers to change teams or areas, then you will be expected to be flexible to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of all service users. You would be paid travel costs accordingly.
You will be required to attend team meetings which are an opportunity for you to raise and discuss issues as well as be updated on matters relating to Home Care and the wider council.
What Moray Council offers
Contracts
We currently offer 6 ½, 13, 19½, 26 & 32½ hour weekly contracts ranging from working 1 day a week to 5 days a week. We also offer relief contracts as well as flexible contracts of 13 hours per month where you work a minimum of 2 shifts each month on days that suit you.
Pay
The current hourly rate is £13.88. An enhanced rate of time & 1/3 is paid for working after 8pm and for all work at weekends. SCAs who work on a public holiday are paid double time.
Work Pattern
You will work a mix of early and late rotas over a 4-week period. The same rota pattern will apply every 4 weeks unless the needs of the service change.
You will be given 4 weeks’ notice of any permanent change to your work pattern
Hours of work
Each working shift is 6½ hrs long. Early rotas start at 7am and finish around 1.30pm.
You will be expected to be at your first service user at 7am and have the flexibility to be able to pick up additional visits during your morning if you have space in your rota.
Late rotas start around 4pm and may continue until 11pm.
You will be expected to be available to Work for the whole of your shift so it would not be acceptable for you to make any other arrangements in between your start and finish times. Travel time is included in the 6.5 hour shift.
Training
We offer a 2-week induction training course which is held council training rooms and at Moray College and covers mandatory subjects.
There are also some online courses for you to complete. This training must be completed by all, SCAs even if they have worked in a caring role in the past.
The training covers an introduction to Care at Home roles and responsibilities.
You will learn skills for safely moving and handling service users, first aid, dementia care, personal care and continence, medicines management, promoting independence and Adult/ Child Support and Protection.
Also addressed will be Social Work Codes of Practice, Health & Social Care Standards and guidelines regarding infection control.
As a condition of your SSSC registration you will be required to study for an SVQ Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care and the SVQ 3 unit in Medication Management with the support of the council’s Social Work Training team assessors.
Uniform
You will be provided with tunics, trousers, a jacket and a high visibility jacket.
You will be a given a bag along with a first aid kit. Disposable gloves and aprons are also provided as part of your personal protective equipment (PPE).
Android Phones
You will be provided with an Android mobile phone which is used to record your home care visits and work pattern. You will use this device to “log” your visits in and out of the home of every service user you visit.
This enables the council to ensure you are correctly paid for the work you do.
A demonstration on the use of the Android Phone is included in your induction training.
You must sign for all the equipment you receive and return it if you leave your post. You will be charged for any equipment not returned.