Job description
Do you want to be part of a charity that improves the lives of older people in the community? At Age UK Oxfordshire we are looking for caring, respectful, flexible, compassionate, and empathetic individuals to join our professional and friendly Home Support Service.
Our Home Support Workers provide flexible solutions for older people and their carers to help older people stay independent at home. We do not provide personal care. Our home support helps people by assisting with the little things that make a big difference. This can include domestic tasks, providing companionship and supporting people to pursue their interests and participate in their local community. Each support package is tailored to each of our customer’s unique needs and we provide as much or as little support as needed, when and where it is wanted.
This is a hugely rewarding role as our Home Support Workers can form friendly working relationships with older people.
Position:
About the role
Home Support Options provide flexible solutions to older people and their carers to help older people stay independent at home. Our Home Support helps people with keeping the home clean and tidy, laundry, bed making, picking up prescriptions, shopping and simple meal preparation and assisting with the little things that make a big difference in terms of quality of life which can include providing companionship and supporting people to pursue their interests and participate in their local community. Each support package is tailored to each of our customer’s unique needs and we provide as much or as little support as needed, when and where it is wanted. Home Support workers play a vital role by contributing to the delivery of a range of high quality services
About You
You might have a background in care work but no longer wish to work weekends or evening shifts. Perhaps you just want a change of career where you can get more job satisfaction, knowing that you are helping older people. Perhaps you have always worked in an office and would now prefer to be more active and not stuck in one building all day. Or would like a second job to help with the costs of living.
No previous experience is necessary, however, you will be a dedicated and empathic person who understands and appreciates of the needs of older people.
You will be:
- Organised and a good time keeper
- Willing to accept instruction and responsibility
- Be self-motivated and able to work alone
- Flexible, passionate and committed to providing a service focused on the individual
- Reliable
Have you got what it takes to make a difference?
We can offer you;
As an employee you will receive the following;
- £9.56 an hour (rising to £10.42 from 1st April 2023)
- Paid travel time, at £9.56 per hour.
- No weekends
- No evenings
- 4 weeks holiday, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 5 after 1 years service and 6 after 5 years service (per annum, pro rata)
- Charity sick pay, increasing with length of service
- Health care cash plan. Includes cover for dependents under the age of 24.
- Mileage paid at 45p after first journey
We require applicants to be available for at least 5 hours a day, for 3 days a week (Monday - Friday)
Due to the requirements of the role, access to a car is essential.
Requirements:
Main duties:
To provide regular visits to clients in their own homes, giving practical assistance with domestic tasks and providing general companionship. There are no personal care duties.
- Housekeeping: domestic services such as keeping the home tidy, light cleaning, changing bed linen, laundry and ironing.
- Shopping and meal preparation: shopping for weekly groceries, checking the fridge for out of date food, help with meal planning and ensuring a balanced diet, simple preparation of meals and drinks. Washing-up and putting dishes away.
- Household management: preparing the home for receiving guests, assistance with managing bill payments, support with correspondence and telephone calls. Running errands such as picking up prescriptions or posting letters. Wardrobe management.
- Ensuring clients feel less lonely and isolated: managing a diary, support with hobbies and activities, helping clients learn new skills such as using a computer or mobile phone. Helping maintain contact with family and friends, accompanying people on outings or on shopping trips and providing support to attend appointments. Arranging holidays or regular breaks away from home.
The service is available between 09:00 - 17:00 Monday to Friday so there is no weekend or evening work.