Relief Worker

Job Title:  Relief Worker

Salary: £15.40 per hour

Working Hours: As and when required

Location: Lily Smith House, Maidstone

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.

The difference you will make as a Relief Worker

You will provide a high quality, customer-oriented service and understand that all actions should be customer-led. Under the direction of the scheme manager and support team, you will assist in providing care and support to customers. You will assist in maintaining and promoting the dignity of all individuals to improve their health and wellbeing in a safe and appropriate environment.

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• Experience of working with people from various backgrounds and sectors of society (this could be friends, family, professional experience, children)
• Compassion, patience, and empathy
• A strong customer focus
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Flexibility to cover shifts, sometimes at short notice
• Approachable with a positive attitude
• Excellent team player who can work flexibly to meet business requirements

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.

Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.

Role Profile

• To provide a high quality, customer-oriented service and understand that all the actions should be customer-led.
• As directed by the manager and support team you will assist in providing support to customers in the provision of service and supported housing.
• Maintain and promote the dignity of all individuals which improves their health and wellbeing in a safe and appropriate environment.
• Foster effective communication with each customer and work colleagues and to be aware of communication differences and adopt an approach to suit an individual preferred method of communication.
• Encourage and enable customer to be as independent as possible with regards to their daily living skills and maintaining or improving their quality of life, this includes encouraging personal interests, access to social networks and social activities.
• To maintain records where necessary, ensuring these are wholly accurate, up-to-date and completed in a timely manner.
• Recognise signs of distress in customer and identify and assess positive ways to reduce this and advise the support team promptly of any signs of problems or concerns over a customer.
• To liaise with other relevant people involved with the customer, including family and friends, GP’s and other health and social care professionals.
• To ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times, that a customer’s personal details are not disclosed to any unauthorised person.
• Other further tasks such as general cleaning and security duties.
• Undertake training and development as required.

Additional Information

• The Group has offices across the UK and on this basis, there may be the requirement to travel to other locations to effectively perform this role.
• The role will be exposed to sensitive information; therefore, the role holder is expected to maintain levels of confidentiality at all times.
• In order to fulfil the requirements of this role, you will be required to work flexibly during the hours of operation.
• The role holder is expected to be committed to equal opportunities and to promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.

Person specification

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• Experience of working with people from various backgrounds and sectors of society (this could be friends, family, professional experience, children etc.)
• Compassionate, patient, reliable and empathetic.
• Customer focused with excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Flexible and approachable with a positive attitude.
• Excellent team player who can work flexibly to meet business requirement.
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• Knowledge of safeguarding adults at risk procedure.
• To demonstrate IT Skills to include a basic proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word and Excel as well as a willingness to learn specific IT systems used within Riverside; and complete relevant IT training where required.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a Care and Support environment.
• Understanding of regulations and legislation within the housing and social care profession.
• A relevant qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Health and Social care.