Background
The client is a 29 year-old young women with cerebral palsy plus complex physical and learning disabilities.
The client lives in her own accessible property, with her parents living next door.
The client requires 24/7 care and support with all daily activities and assistance to access her daily therapeutic interventions, community activities and personal interests.
The client has a friendly and cooperative personality and uses facial expression, augmentative and alternative communication strategies.
Purpose
The Team Leader is crucial in ensuring the effective coordination, management, and delivery of support & care services to the client. The Team Leader roles & responsibilities are multifaceted, involving a combination of leadership, communication, direct care/support, and administrative skills. The team leader’s primary focus is to ensure that the client receives high-quality care while encouraging a collaborative and supportive environment amongst the staff team and other involved professionals.
GENERAL PHILOSOPHY
· The client should be treated with respect and dignity, be spoken to and thought of in a non-judgemental, respectful and caring way, acknowledging her individuality.
· The team leader will assist the client to exercise choice and control over her own life as far as she is able in everyday matters but taking into consideration cognitive and physical problems.
· The team leader should enable the client to use community facilities and attend community events as appropriate.
· The team leader will ensure that their knowledge is updated and that any training needs are discussed with the case manager.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY DUTIES
· Oversee the care provided to the client.
The team leader will assist in ensuring that the care delivered aligns with the client’s medical needs, preferences, and overall safety & well-being to ensure the client can participate in activities and that her week is appropriately structured achieving a balance between being out in the community, completing home based activities and has opportunities for rest, relaxation & recovery.
This involves collaborating with other health & social care services & the multi-disciplinary team to create, implement and update comprehensive service user plans. The team leader will also provide hands-on support with the client to ensure they fully understand the client’s needs, including cognitive, physical and behavioural problems, awareness of the client’s limitations and strengths and also her vulnerabilities plus precautions required to protect.
The team leader must have a good understanding of the client’s service user plan, risk assessments & MDT guidance documentation and work to encourage the client’s independence as far as possible. The team leader must be able to support the client when using her specialist equipment & deliver therapeutic programmes as directed by the relevant professionals such as the maintenance of the client’s 24-hour postural management programme.
· Communicate effectively
This is crucial within this team. The Team Leader will be a central point of contact, facilitating clear communication among team members, clients, their families, health & social care services & the multi-disciplinary team The team leader will ensure that everyone is informed about the client’s condition, progress, and any changes in the care plan. At times of significant changes in the client’s health, functioning or behaviour, the team leader must respond quickly to inform the GP, Nursing teams, hospital, family and case manager as appropriate.
On a daily basis the team leader should provide feedback to the case manager and family on all aspects of the client’s well-being and her care regime.
· Work collaboratively
The team leader will work collaboratively with health & social care services & the multi-disciplinary team. They will coordinate the therapy intervention for the client at home and attend meetings with the MDT and case manager. The Team Leader will need to promote collaborative working among team members & Westcountry Case Management, ensuring that everyone’s expertise is utilised to provide the best possible care to the client. The team leader will be required to liaise closely with the case manager and client’s financial deputy. The team leader also needs to liaise and support with the client’s family as required & work hard to maintain the client’s regular contact with her family. The team leader is to ensure the family are aware of the client’s routine and any changes in it as appropriate.
· Problem solve
The team leader will need to be adaptable and capable in response to unexpected situations and emergencies. The team leader will need to problem solve & be responsible for making critical decisions that may arise during the course of a day. This involves assessing situations, identifying solutions, and taking prompt action to ensure client well-being.
· Be accountable
The team leader has accountability for the quality of care provided by themselves and the support team. The team leader must work to ensure consistency and high standards of support and ensure that employed support workers understand their duties and the responsibilities of their jobs.
To help maintain standards the team leader must undertake training in all relevant areas to undertake the role, as identified by case manager & in liaison with other professionals involved in delivery of care for the client.
· Monitor and assess
The team leader will need to monitor and assess the outcomes of client care, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to enhance the quality of services.
The team leader will help to ensure risk assessments and service user plans stay up to date and are reviewed at least annually in collaboration with the case manager & in line with regular audit and regulatory requirements.
The team leader must monitor the client’s property, attend site meetings with the case manager and financial deputy and deal with any property issues that occur, liaising with the case manager when necessary.
The team leader must ensure that support workers within the team remain up to date with training requirements plus ensure that all support workers have read & signed updated client documentation in a timely manner.
· Supporting the staff team
The team leader will need to support the staff team by acting as a positive role model, provide feedback, support with training opportunities, and encourage continuous learning to ensure that the staff team remains skilled and up-to-date in accordance with the needs of the client. The team leader must nurture a work environment of open dialogue; hearing concerns, sharing ideas and experiences through informal peer support and regular formal supervision meetings. The team leader must be able to deal with conflict & have difficult conversations with staff members and the client’s family. The team leader needs to be approachable yet assertive, setting clear expectations and boundaries in accordance with policies, procedures and CQC regulations which in turn will help to ensure a consistency of approach and standards within the team. The team leader will supervise and support staff, approving annual leave and monitor sickness / absence levels in accordance with policy.
· Handle administrative tasks
The team leader must have a good understanding of administrative procedures, policy and be able to take direct instructions from the client’s financial deputy, case manager, CQC registered manager, & WCM office staff.
Following a successful probation period, a hybrid working arrangement can be considered. This is a form of flexible working where the team leader could spend some of their time working remotely in relation to the administrative aspects of the role plus some in the client’s home.
Collaborating closely with the Case Manager, the team leader will be responsible for:
1. Completion of accurate & detailed daily care records weekly.
2. Planning staff rotas, accommodating annual leave / sickness cover by arranging bank support workers and agency as needed, and maintain appropriate staff records.
3. Checking staff timesheets and processing information to HR for payroll within agreed timescales
4. Monitoring of expenditure & daily spending budgets.
5. Ensure that the necessary supplies, including medical supplies & medication, equipment, and facilities are available to deliver effective client care.
6. Ensure that the clients’ specialist equipment is in good working order, report any that is not, and arrange maintenance, if applicable.
7. Arrange appointments and meetings as required.
8. To attend, take minutes and lead team/staff meetings as required.
9. Take an active part in future employment of team members as and when required & assist with the induction of new staff by ensuring they are aware of day-to-day routines and procedures.
10. Carry out additional tasks, when requested, to assist the case manager.
GENERAL DUTIES
· Attend relevant training days and sessions when the opportunity arises.
· Attend staff, team and site meetings as requested.
· To carry out domestic chores as appropriate.
· To keep check of all medication & PPE stock levels for staff and order as necessary.
· Keep your own record of hours worked on a time sheet.
· Provide feedback to the case manager, deputy and family on progress / problems.
· To be aware of the house rules, policies and procedures.
· To organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.
· To complete detailed & accurate daily records.
· To liaise with the case manager, HR & WCM office and respond to requests in a professional & timely manner.
· The team leader must always respect confidentiality.
QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in Care as well as previous experience in a similar role is essential.
NVQ Level 4 (or equivalent) in management would be desirable.
Experience of working with clients with physical and learning difficulties & managing complex conditions is required.
Experience of leading a team and knowledge of organising staff rotas is needed.
A positive interest in active rehabilitation and a desire to enable an individual to reach their full potential is essential.
The successful candidate will be expected to have excellent communication skills and experience of liaising with family members, professionals and organisations.
The successful candidate will be expected to have assertiveness skills and have experience of handling complex & challenging situations and conversations.
A patient, warm, caring, reliable and trustworthy person is needed who can work as part of a team.
Full training, supervision and support will be provided as required.
Applicants must have a full driving licence as they will be required to drive the client’s wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Our ideal candidate:
An experience team leader is required to work with a 29 year-old women with cerebral palsy plus complex physical and learning disabilities. The client lives in her own accessible property, with her parents living next-door.
An experienced team leader is required to co-ordinate, supervise and work as part of a team in the provision of 24/7 care for this client.
You must hold a recognised Health and Social Care qualification (NVQ Level 3 or above or a Diploma). An NVQ Level 4 (or equivalent) in management would be desirable.
Experience in a similar role is essential, as are competent IT skills and good English skills to understand and apply policies and procedures in practice.
Knowledge of Continuing Health Care is desirable.
Full driving license and own car required.
Qualifications (essential):
• NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in Care
Qualifications (desirable):
• NVQ 4 (or equivalent) in Management.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities (essential):
• Previous experience in a similar role within care, including managing a care team.
• Experience of caring or providing care for clients with complex physical, learning needs and communication difficulties.
• Knowledge of training requirements in a care setting.
• Ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
• Good English skills to understand and apply policies and procedures in practice
• Good computer skills with the ability to use email and the internet.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities (desirable):
• Relevant recent training and experience in First Aid; Moving & Handling & Health & Safety.
• Good understanding of the personal and physical needs of a client with physical and cognitive/ learning difficulties.
• Experience working with vulnerable adults
• Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005
Personal requirements (essential):
• Mature outlook.
• Assertive.
• Approachable
• Flexibility.
• Reliability.
• Patience.
• Able to use own initiative.
• Ability to deal with stressful situations.
• Ability to manage challenging conversations.
• Excellent communication skills – both oral and written.
• Good observational skills.
• Ability to build up rapport with client, family and others.
• Be able to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
• To be able to maintain a consistent approach.
• Able to take and give constructive criticism.
• To be able to work as part of and lead a team, within boundaries.
• Able to acknowledge limitations.
• Consideration of others and of the family.
• Non-judgmental.
Other requirements (essential):
• Full driving licence.
• This position requires a fully enhanced disclosure request from the DBS, which the employer will obtain and fund on your behalf. You will also be required to register with the DBS Update Service which is at a cost of £16.00 per year.
• Female applicants only due to the nature of personal care.
