Charityseeks to fill a variety of care roles
person he supports is ensuring that, although he has multiple complex needs, he is realising his full potential.
He needs help with personal care, household chores, shopping and organisational skills, and Craig supports him through his medical appointments, helping him to communicate.
“We don’t just go in and do everything for them,” stressed Craig, who lives in Glasgow with his wife, Lauren, and their two cats. “You are there to support them, to make sure they have a great quality of life.
“If they are capable of doing something, we are there to support that and make sure they can do stuff, and feel rewarded by that accomplishment.
“I help with hobbies and little things, like if a family member has a birthday coming up. We are going in, but keeping them independent.”
The pandemic brought with it particular challenges for people who are supported by Sense Scotland, and for the charity’s support workers, who received additional training to ensure they and the people they care for felt safe and protected.
For people like the man who is supported by Craig, structure is imperative in their everyday lives. “With Covid, everything came to a standstill for the people we support,” said Craig.
“How do you tell them they cannot go anywhere when they don’t understand what a virus is? How do you make things comfortable and good with their mental and physical health?
“We put our heads together as a team, took the activities planner and flipped it around to make it an in-the-house planner.”
Unable to take part in circuit training, trampolining and hand weights at the Matt Busby Centre in Bellshill, Craig found a way to bring these physical activities into the home of the man he supports, in keeping with his familiar routine.
He was able take part in the dance classes he so enjoyed through online coaching, and Craig added during lockdown new, stimulating home-based activities, including baking.
“At night, he likes to draw and watch TV,” Craig explained.
“We kept his structure to make sure it all wasn’t too much of a shock to the system.
“When I started working with the man I support, I noticed he loves a good dance, just like me. I’m always first up on the dance floor. He is bubbly and outgoing and so am I. I am a runner and quite into fitness. He and I have a right good time with that. You’re in their life, supporting them 24 hours a day. As much as it is very professional, of course you build a relationship with them. We have a great time.”
Craig says he and the person he supports learn from each other.
Because English is not the man’s first language, Craig learns words and phrases from his mother tongue, which gives them both a sense of achievement.
“I can take that into my personal life and it makes me feel like a better person,” continued Craig, who laments that there are not more men carving a career for themselves in the care sector.
“In doing this job, I take on as a person in everyday life the core values of being open and honest. Building relationships through trust is something that’s very important in life.
“I love my job and I love supporting the man I support. I learn a lot from him.
“Yes, it’s a rewarding job – but it’s so much more than that. Being able to understand things differently when you deal with people from all walks of life has made me more confident.
“It ’s amazing to walk in someone else’s shoes. I can honestly say I’m happy and proud to be a man in care.”
Sense Scotland is searching for new team members whose natural attributes will help people with complex needs to lead fulfilling, enriching lives and realise their potential.
Whether you prefer to work days or nights, enjoy being out and about or getting creative, the charity has a host of support worker roles available in the Lanarkshire area.
Although there are various, different types of support worker roles, all positions have one thing in common – they support the people with whom Sense Scotland works to live meaningful and independent lives.
The charity has working patterns and environments to suit everyone.
Posts vary, covering days, nights, evenings and weekends, allowing support workers the flexibility to continue with other personal commitments.
Sense Scotland includes in its ranks students, mums, dads, carers, school leavers and those who have decided to take their careers in a new direction.
If you have the core values the charity is looking for, it promises to find a role for you.
Sense Scotland’s day services atTouchBase Lanarkshire in Hamilton may provide the ideal role for someone who enjoys working with a variety of people over the course of a day.
If you prefer a one-to-one scenario with the same person every day, the charity’s care at home or supported living services offer the opportunity to build close relationships with people who share similar interests.
Blantyre Short Breaks is the perfect working environment for someone who likes helping people enjoy a much-needed break.
Sense Scotland is currently seeking to fill the following roles:
■ 29 hours permanent contract in Coatbridge.
■ 20 hours permanent nightshift in Coatbridge.
■ 9.5 hours,11.5 hours and relief evening/ weekend contracts in Coatbridge.
■ 30 hours permanent contract inTouchBase Lanarkshire (Hamilton).
■ 30 hours maternity cover at Blantyre Short Breaks.
■ 23 hours permanent nightshift at Blantyre Short Breaks.
Sense Scotland is an SVQ certified centre and will provide comprehensive training to allow recruits to support the person (or people) in their care.
To find out more about Lanarkshire vacancies, contact the Sense Scotland recruitment team by emailing recruitment@ sensescotland.org.uk, calling 0300 330 9292 or visiting its SenseScotlandJobs Facebook page.