Support Worker (Social Farms & Gardens)

Job Title: Support Worker (Social Farms & Gardens)

Purpose

Would you enjoy teaching the people we support new skills?

You will assist people participating in our programmes to engage in meaningful work in our social farm and/ or gardens.

The programmes include Growing and Horticulture and Countryside Management.

Some of the participants in our programmes attend on a day-basis, others are also residents in the homes we provide in our communities, assisted by our supported living teams. 

Location & Travel

Community-based

This role will be based at our Delrow Community in Watford.

Duties & Responsibilities

Main responsibilities:

• Develop, plan, deliver, assess and support people to participate in activities within one or more of the Socials Farms and Gardens programmes (Growing and Horticulture, Countryside Management).
• Support participants to progress towards their personal goals.
• Use templates and established processes, document programme plans and keep records of sessions to inform continual service improvement.
• Work with participants to identify individual goals and determine progression objectives.
• Assist in reviewing participants progress and developing plans for each season to build on that progress to meet individual objectives.
• Document reflections on the effectiveness of activities of supporting people to progress towards their individual goals
• Create a safe, enabling environment.
• Keep records and collect data to evidence progress, outcomes and impact.
• Responsible for safe practice, dynamic risk assessment of the environment and people, following  safe operating processes and procedures; keeping records to evidence the effectiveness of our systems and processes in doing so.
• Report any buildings/ equipment issues with our PALS teams and/or line manager.
• Find solutions to operational challenges and escalate risks or issues that are outside your control or influence to mitigate/ resolve; assist with actioning recommendations made in internal/ external audits to improve safety/reduce risk.
• Ensure we are following processes and procedures developed to meet regulatory requirements to keep people safe, as well as any additional measures described in Trust policies and procedures relevant to your role/ programme.
• Assist with integrating and training new staff and volunteers.
• Support participants to engage in the activities and progress towards their individual goals.
• Assist the manager with staffing schedules/rotas to ensure we resource the service efficiently and appropriately to ensure a safe environment and meet the support needs of participants.
• Aid communication through information cascades, team meetings etc.
• Collect evidence of progression and other data as required to meet KPI and other reporting requirements that evidence effectiveness, efficiency and achievement of target outcomes.
• Work with NBTS managers to build a strong and positive presence in the community by attending and supporting both internal and external events.
• Build and maintain good relationships with stakeholders, including family members and professionals, while ensuring the Camphill Village Trust ethos is clearly communicated.
• Support visits and trials for potential new participants and lead their induction process once they join.
• Comply with the Trust’s policies and procedures, including Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity and Data Protection.
• Comply with the statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
• Employees must look after their own health, safety and welfare and be mindful of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees must co-operate and comply with management instructions regarding health and safety issues and report all accidents, incidents and problems as soon as practicable to their manager or other senior members of staff where necessary.
• Ensure that confidentiality is respected and maintained at all times.
• Attend and participate in team meetings, 1-2-1 supervision sessions and other meetings as required in line with the post.
• Undertake any other duties which are consistent with this post, as directed by line management.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the department.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

• Maths and English GCSE Grade C and above (or equivalent to).

Desirable

• Health & Safety and/or First Aid qualification.
• Safeguarding training certificate.
• Care Certificate.
• NVQ Level 3, in Health and Social care, or equivalent, or willingness to work towards this.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• A minimum of one years’ experience of working within a social care, education or other support setting.
• Experience and confidence in using Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.

Desirable

• Experience in delivering activity-based group sessions to people with support needs.
• Experience of supporting adults with additional needs.
• Experience of supervision of practice is a social care setting.
• Understanding of therapeutic benefits of a connection with nature.

Personal Attributes

• A calm, person-orientated approach with a flexible mind set and the ability to take and give direction from and to others.
• A proven ability to be honest, dependable, and dedicated to your role.
• A common-sense approach, fun but mature attitude and approachability are key. 
• Strong and adaptable communication skills.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.

Key Competencies

Competent to support people to participate in programmes in one or more of the following areas within Social Farms and Gardens:

Gardening and Horticulture

• Able to choose and use garden machinery and equipment effectively and safely; crop planning, seasonal planting and harvesting.
• Able to demonstrate a working knowledge of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) (qualification is desirable).

Countryside Management

• Able to demonstrate a working knowledge of land management techniques such as maintaining pathways, fencing, hedgerow maintenance.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Camphill Village Trust is an equal opportunity employer.

Camphill Village Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to complete the relevant pre-employment checks including a DBS check.