Care Assistant - Driver/Activities (24.5 Hours)

Job Specification and Terms & Conditions Job Title & Grade Care assistant - Driver/Activities (24.5 hrs) Campaign Reference RQ950 Closing Date 21 st January 2025 Proposed Interview Date Week of Monday 3 rd February 2025 Taking Up Appointment To be outlined at interview Informal enquires ******   Location of Post Peamount Healthcare, Newcastle, Co. Dublin Details of Service Peamount Healthcare is an independent voluntary organisation that provides a range of high-quality health and social care services.
We help people return home after a serious illness, we provide safe and homely residential care for those who need it, and we support people to live as independently as possible in the community.
  Peamount Healthcare is committed to the following values:     Person centred  - seeing each person as unique, giving them a voice and focusing on ability.
  Respect  - creating a supportive environment where everyone is given courteous and respectful care and support.
  Excellence  - enabling interdisciplinary teams to deliver high quality integrated care, meaningful outcomes with a focus on continuous improvement.
  Team working  - fostering an inclusive, healthy working environment where people are valued and recognised for their individual and shared achievements.
  Quality improvement  - supporting teams to embed continuous improvement methodology as part of everything we do.
  Education & Research  - partnering with academia to support education, learning, research and evidence-based care.
    Reporting Relationship Meaningful Activity Manager   Overall, Purpose of Post The purpose of this position is to assist and support members of the staff team in providing care for People, within Peamount, or a Community Support service in accordance with Peamount Healthcare policies, procedures, guidelines and the Peamount's Safety Statement.
  The successful candidate will be required to work within the guidelines of both HIQA, New Directions and the current Strategic Plan for Peamount Healthcare.
  The Candidate Appointed to this Position will:   1.     Maintain awareness of the privacy and dignity of people in relation to all recreation / therapeutic activities delivered in a meaningful way with a person-centred approach.
2.     Successful candidate will adhere to the softworks rostering system and clock in and out as by company policy.
3.     Ensure the provision of a high standard of care for the service user / consistent with all the policies of the organisation.
4.     Ensure that the care they provide reflect HIQA standards and best practice.
5.     Report to Meaningful Activity Manager/Person in charge and/or persons designated by her/him.
6.     Assist in the delivery of personal care.
The primary role being to support the service user in engaging in recreation therapeutic and social programs, with a focus on wellness.
7.     Will attend training on the safe administration of medication if required to do so to meet the changing needs of the service.
8.     Be familiar with the vulnerability of people using the service and have good knowledge of the policy on the protection of vulnerable adults.
9.     Work well within a team and enjoy the work with a focus on best practice and have good communication skills.
  Driving duties & care of vehicle   Driver Duties - general driving duties both within and outside Peamount as directed by the line manager.
  Vehicle/Equipment - It is essential that vehicles and equipment checks are carried out upon taking up duty daily and that any faults are reported immediately to the manager/PIC: All details recorded on the transport booklet and a follow up email to ****** .
It is the responsibility of all drivers of Peamount Vehicles, assigned to them, that they will be kept clean inside and outside the vehicle.
  Punctuality - It is important that staff clock in to softworks and report for duty on time as per duty rosters and inform person in charge daily.
  Driver must comply - with the rules of the road and the road safety authority, observe speed restrictions and drive in a competent, safe manner.
With the service user and vehicle safety in mind always.
Any breach of these requirements will lead to disciplinary action.
  Driver must fully comply - with the Road Traffic Acts and hold the appropriate clean Drivers Licence.
It is a requirement to send in your current licence on a yearly basis.
  2.
Activities   Promote meaningful engagement with people and promote a right based environment for all.
Assist in the assessment and planning of recreational therapeutic/ social activities for each individual person with a person-centred plan.
In consultation with the service user and key workers identify the priority outcomes from activities and what they like to do.
Record recreation therapeutic activities that people engage with in the person-centred plan for social activities.
Help to organise activities on campus and in the local community that are meaningful to the person.
Be familiar with the meaningful activities policy and feedback to members of the MDT when individuals' personal meetings are scheduled.
Providing updates and maintain UpToDate record keeping.
All Meaningful activity records kept on the K drive in the folder M/A.
 Encourage and assist people with activities that provide socialisation, cognitive and physical stimulation.
Be willing to take part in any training that is deemed necessary to enhance the role.
Be willing to organise afternoon teas and other social activities that include people using our services and their relatives.
    3.
Nutrition   Ensure service users dietary needs are adhered to including special diets or supplementary drinks under the advice of relevant healthcare professionals.
All staff must be familiar with the individuals care plan and have read information recorded from the multidisciplinary team.
Prepare and serve food/drinks outside of normal catering hours and collect and clean crockery etc.
where necessary. Assist service users to complete menu options where necessary.
  4.
Mobilisation   Assist to lift and position service user.
Assist the service user/with walking and limb exercises as directed.
 Ensure the service user is comfortable in their chairs.
Mandatory manual handling training: ensuring good knowledge of equipment for transferring a person from chair to therapy beds, personal care and comfort chairs.
Support people in wheelchairs and assist into Transport vehicles.
Attend official Clamping Training to secure wheelchair users, safely into vehicles.
Assist people with personal hygiene including showers.
Assist people with the management of their personal care, where required.
    5.Communication   1.     Report any complaint of pain, distress expressed by people using the services to the manager or relevant staff.
2.     Ensure that peoples, right to choice is respected.
3.     Have good knowledge with the system Viclarity: reporting an incident, the online system.
Attend training.
4.     Answer telephones, locate appropriate manager/ personnel and direct enquires concerning SU where appropriate and pass on the information.
5.     Receive and direct visitors within the Health and Wellness centre and campus.
6.     Assist SU to make telephone calls, where appropriate.
7.     Answer call bells in a timely manner. Ensure that bells are in working order and are within the reach of people who require this support.
8.     Excellent communication skills required: maintain all confidences in line with company policy and GDPR guidelines.
9.     Do not discuss people's private details with anyone; unless it is in an approved health professional and deemed to be appropriate by Peamount's policy.
10.  Communicate in a respectful way to all other staff and be pleasant at work.
  Communicate in a respectful and a sensitive way that they people can understand.
     Other Responsibilities   1.     Be familiar, comply with the Peamount policies in relation to Health and Safety, Fire Safety, major disaster, infection control, waste disposal, green energy, smoking policy and Health Charter.
Be familiar with the building you are working in and the staff fire orders.
2.     Ensure that you are up to date with all Mandatory training.
3.     Report all incidents involving self, Service User or visitors to  the Manager and complete the ViClarity process online.
4.     Assist with emergency first aid as directed.
5.     Attend in-service instruction as required.
Mandatory training and other relevant training.
    Eligibility Criteria Qualifications & Experience         Leaving Certificate standard of education.
        FETAC Level 5 Healthcare Support certificate with a minimum of 6 modules, one of which to be work experience.
        One year's continuous experience of working with adults in a healthcare setting.
        A flexible, committed and caring approach to carrying out the range of duties associated with the post.
        Agree to complete further education or training which would benefit the role.
  Campaign Specific Selection Post A ranking and or short-listing exercise may be carried out based on information supplied in your CV. The criteria for ranking and or short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore, it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
  Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
  Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview depending on the decision made by the interviewer panel.
Code of Practice Peamount will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle's basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of Code of Practice.  Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.hse/ie/eng/staff/jobs Annual registration   The reform programme outlined for the Health Service may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.
  The job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive or restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
      Terms & Conditions of Employment Peamount Healthcare, Newcastle, Co. Dublin.
Tenure The current vacancy available is on a Permanent Part -time basis.
  The post is pensionable.    Appointment as an employee of Peamount Healthcare is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.
  Remuneration Remuneration is in accordance with the salary scale approved by the Department of Health: Care Assistant (Disability Services) 6482   Current salary scale with effect from 1 October 2024: € 32,699 to €45,984 LSI.
(13)   Working Week The hours allocated to this post are 24.5 hours per week .
The allocation of these hours will be at the discretion of the Department Head and in accordance with the needs of the service.
  HSE Circular 003-2009 "Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended Working Day/Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016" applies.
Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16 th , 2008, will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager.
Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016 Annual Leave As per Health Service Executive (HSE) Probation All employees will be subject to a probationary period as per the probation policy.
This policy applies to all employees irrespective of the type of contract under which they have been employed.
A period of 6 months' probation will be served:      On commencement of employment.
     Fixed term to permanent contract.
     Permanent employees commencing in promotional posts will also undertake a probationary period relating to their new post.
  Pension Employees of Peamount Healthcare are required to be members of the Hospitals Superannuation Scheme.
Deductions at the appropriate rate will be made from your salary payment.
If you are being rehired after drawing down a public service pension your attention is drawn to Section 52 of the Public Services Pension (Single and Other Provisions) Act 2012.
The 2012 Act extends the principle of abatement to retired public servants in receipt of a public service pension who secure another public service appointment in any public service body.
  Maternity Maternity leave is granted in accordance with the terms of the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2001.
  Sick Leave Peamount Healthcare operates a Sickness Absence Management policy in line with the new Public Service Sick Leave Scheme as introduced in 31 st March 2014.
  Pre-Employment Health Assessment   Prior to commencing in this role a person will be required to complete a form declaring their health status which is reviewed by the hospital's Occupational Health Service and if required undergo a medical assessment with this department.
Any person employed by Peamount Healthcare must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
  Validation of Qualifications & Experience  Any credit given to a candidate at interview, in respect of claims to qualifications, training and experience is provisional and is subject to verification.
The recommendation of the interview board is liable to revision if the claimed qualification, training or experience is not proven.
References Peamount Healthcare will seek up to two written references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated.
The hospital also reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.
  Garda Vetting Peamount Healthcare will carry out Garda vetting on all new employees.
An employee will not take up employment with the hospital until the Garda Vetting process has been completed and the hospital is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to clients, service users and employees.
  Character Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
Health & Safety These duties must be performed in accordance with the hospital health and safety policy.
In carrying out these duties the employee must ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply with the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act.
Staff must carry out their duties in a safe and responsible manner in line with the Hospital Policy as set out in the appropriate department's safety statement, which must be read and understood.
Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines, and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to Peamount. Protection and Care and comply with associated Peamount protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role. To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
    Quality, Risk & Safety Responsibilities   It is the responsibility of all staff to:           Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements regarding Quality, Risk and Safety.
          Participate and cooperate with external agencies on safety initiatives as required.
          Participate and cooperate with internal and external evaluations of hospital structures, services and processes as required, including but not limited to: O National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare.
O National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.
O HSE Standards and Recommended Practices for Healthcare Records Management O Safety audits and other audits specified by the HSE or other regulatory authorities.
          To initiate, support and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with the hospital's continuous quality improvement programme.
  It is the responsibility of all managers to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for Quality, Safety and Risk within their area/department.
  Education and Training   Participate in mandatory training programmes.
Pursue continuous professional development to develop professional knowledge and keep updated with current and legislation.    Specific Responsibility for Best Practice in Hygiene Hygiene in healthcare is defined as "the practice that serves to keep people and the environment clean and prevent infection.
It involves preserving one's health, preventing the spread of disease and recognizing, evaluating and controlling health hazards."
        It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure compliance with hospital hygiene standards, guidelines and practices.
        Department heads/ managers have overall responsibility for best practice in hygiene in their area.
        It is mandatory to complete hand hygiene training every 2-years and sharps awareness workshops yearly.