Job Description:

Service Support Worker
Location: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading RG1 5AN

Hours: Fixed weekly hours between minimum of 19.5 hours and maximum of 32.5 hours (to be agreed at interview)

Contract type: Permanent x 2 roles

Salary: £18,972 per annum pro rata

We’ve got an opportunity…

Do you love helping people in need? Are you looking for a rewarding role that could kick start your career in the health and social sector? We are looking for a passionate and enthusiastic person with great people skills to join our Independent Living team.

At the British Red Cross, we put the people that need us at the heart of what we do. As a Service Support Worker, you will support Royal Berkshire Hospital Emergency Departments by providing transport, using a small British Red Cross vehicle, and aiding a safe discharge from the hospital for individuals within Berkshire area. You will also provide practical and emotional support (telephone calls, welfare checks, shopping etc) and guidance to service users in the home to prevent an attendance or admission to hospital.

You will provide reactive, focused and flexible support to adults either following a hospital stay to enable early discharge when clinical needs have been met or to those living in the community to prevent hospital admission. You will assist the Independent Living Service Coordinator by undertaking duties required to meet the service users’ needs in order to re-enable service users to remain in their own home and prevent hospital re-admission.

You will respond to referrals from Clinicians and Community Health Professionals and will be required to have the ability to assess service users’ needs, complete and follow a support plan for the individual. In addition, you will be providing practical and emotional support in the service user’s own home and signposting to other services where appropriate to enable the individual to live independently in their own home.

Not only will your role a llow people to enjoy healthier, more fulfilling lives, but a career within Independent Living can be both rewarding and satisfying, providing extensive progression opportunities and allowing you to build meaningful relationships with both colleagues and service users.

Say hello to the team…

The Independent Living (IL) & Crisis Response (CR) service (IL/CR)supports people in the space between hospital and home and responds to the needs of people in crisis following an emergency; maintaining an extensive network of external relationships across health, social care and emergency services.

The service operates between 1.30pm – 8.30pm Monday to Friday (6.5 hour shifts plus half hour break).

This is not a casual role, it is a permanent role. We are looking for two candidates to split the available hours.

The minimum number of hours will be 19.5 per week and the maximum number of hours will be 32.5 per week to be agreed with successful candidates.

This role could be for you if…

• You can make things great. You know how to improve service quality for the benefit of users.
• You’re professional. You can deal with queries in a diplomatic and confidential manner
• You love being flexible. Working hours out with the norm suits you.

Also, you should be the following:

• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent by experience)
• IT literate
• Full manual driving licence holder
• Have a good knowledge of services provided by the NHS and Social Care

Closing date for application is 23.59 on Monday 17th April 2023 with interviews to follow.

Please note that early application is encouraged, as we’ll be reviewing applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert in advance of the advertised closing date.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, these include:

• 36 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days annual leave
• Up to 6% contributory pension
• Flexible working policy

Click here for further details on our staff benefits

Connecting human kindness with human crisis