Health Care Assistant - Cork

Health Care Assistant - Cork 

12 Month Fixed Term Contract (with the possibility of extension) 

€33,820.83 / Annum 

Full Time 35 Hours / Week

Scope of Responsibility: 

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to provide support to our organisation’s central services in Cork. Depaul is a values-led organisation working with a number of services throughout the Republic of Ireland. This role will report directly to the Local Management Team and will be responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day personal care, hygiene and nutritional needs of high support need residents and infection control in their personal living areas. This is an exciting opportunity to join a diverse team of talented individuals.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Offer personal care & support in regard to hygiene issues in accordance with Depaul’s career standards, to uphold the dignity and respect of the residents

Prompting service users to take their medication regularly.

Assisting high support needs residents with getting up in the morning, washing dressing and changing of clothes, incontinence management etc. in privacy of rooms.

Monitor for pressure areas occurring and know what measures to put in place to prevent them.

As required, adapt levels of assistance to needs of particular residents, encouraging maximum levels of independence.

Apply the Depaul Carer’s personal standard of hygiene in assisting in the prevention of infection.

Operate effectively to prevent cross-infection, using recognized Infection Control measures.

Assist with maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for residents

Offer laundry support for residents – in particular those with incontinence issues.

Support and assist residents where possible to be active themselves in maintaining good standards of cleanliness in bedrooms.

Ensure the nutritional needs of residents are met. Assist with feeding of residents when required.

Promote and support the importance of a well-balanced diet for residents with high support care needs

Where appropriate ensure that food is stored hygienically and safely.

Offer support and intervene, as directed by the nurse, to the residents in regard hydration and nutrition.

Liaise with Shift Co-ordinator, as often as required, and participate fully in Handovers, when in attendance

Link in with on-site nurse daily, as required, especially in regard to resident care.

Report health issues or concerns to Nurse, Shift co-ordinator and LMT as required.

Report all Incidents (as instructed by the Local Management), as per Depaul’s Incident Management procedure.

Alert a manager of any crisis or behaviour management issues and to use on call manager, if no local manager present.

Support other staff in maintaining good order and organisation in the house.

If required, at the direction of a manager or Nurse, accompany residents to medical/health related appointments.

Support residents in taking their daily medication and keep appropriate records as per the medication standards on-site.

Ensure that Health and Safety standards are met within the service in accordance with Depaul’s Health and Safety policy and localised safety statement.

Undertake assigned duties regarding the overall security of the house and to use security systems put in place.

Report all Health & Safety issues and manage same, as appropriate to your role.

Work collaboratively with other carers and all other staff in the best interests of the residents.

Use the formal communication systems of the service (i.e. Communications book, Case Notes, Handover records etc.) to ensure effective communication between shifts and other staff.

The above list is not exhaustive; additional areas of responsibility may be added over time and flexibility to cover for other staff roles is required from time to time.  

Person Requirements:

One year’s full time experience as Health Care Assistant, preferably in a residential setting. It is essential that you have experience in assisting with personal care management. It is desirable to have experience/ interest in dealing with homelessness, substance misuse problems and mental health issues.

Good standard education.

QQI/FETAC level 5 Healthcare Support Major Award to work as a Health Care Assistant.

Infection Control and Manual Handling

Understand why people become homeless and the issues they present with, and what supports can be offered in services to service users with complex needs

Understanding of risk management principles.

Capable of responding calmly in a crisis and use your own initiative to deal with incidents as they arise

Be able to work as part of a team understanding the importance of team communication

Have an understanding of Health and Safety and the health and safety requirements within a residential setting working with homeless people.

Have a knowledge and understanding of the vision, mission and values of Depaul

WHY WORK FOR US?

Depaul is a cross border charity supporting some of the most marginalised individuals, couples and families experiencing homelessness. Our mission is to end homelessness and change the lives of those affected by it. Would you like to help us to meet our mission?

We are a values led organisation and aim, at all times, to live and breathe these values in our everyday work. Our values are based on four key principles:
• We celebrate the potential of people
• We put our words into action
• We aim to take a wider role in civil society
• We believe in rights and responsibilities If you choose to work for Depaul we offer:

Our Benefits

Annual Leave Up to 3 years' service: 25 days per year
3 years' up to 5 years' service: 27 days per year
Over 5 years' service: 30 working days per year (Exclusive of bank and statutory holidays)
10 public holidays each year with Good Friday as discretionary day. 
Day off and day pay for Christmas Day, St.Stephen's Day, and New Year's Day worked for shift workers.
Non-Shift Workers: Paid day off on public holidays.
Shift Workers: Expected to work on public holidays; receive an additional day of annual leave in lieu.
Non-Rostered Employees: May be entitled to one-fifth of the normal weekly rate of remuneration for the public holiday.

Pension Matched by the employer
Health Assistance Each staff member gets access to a health cash plan so you can claim money back, up to set limits, on a number of treatments. This includes dental, optical, acupuncture and many more. Your children under 16 are also included on the plan.

Life Assurance Four times salary

Maternity /Adoptive Leave 18 weeks full pay

Paternity Leave 2 weeks full pay

Sick Leave Entitlement to sick pay starting from day 1 with level of entitlement increasing with length of service (subject to policy terms)

Employee Assistance Program EAP is a confidential counselling service that provides support to company employees and their family. It is available 24/7, 365 days a year covering; Counselling, legal advice, financial information, career guidance, life coaching, mediation, health information, cancer support, autism support, infertility and pregnancy loss, elder care support, parent coaching and international employee support.

Learning and Development Depaul’s Vision, Mission and Values course, this involves travel to meet the Depaul International family.
Emerging Leaders, supporting workers that would like to develop their leadership skills and to progress to a management role.
Online learning resources within Depaul’s award nominated online learning platform, Moodle. Mandatory training including, MAPA, Health and Safety,
Child Protection, Fire Safety, and First Aid