BHSCT - Band 5 Senior Care Assistant ACOPS
Reference: 55914501
Branch: Belfast HSCT
Location: Belfast HSCT
Salary: Band 5 (£31,049 - £37,796)
Contract Type: Permanent
Opening date: 11/11/26
Closes: Wed, 25 November 2026 @ 4:30 PM
Interview Dates: TBC
Notes: Accept online applications only, A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026.

Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.

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Flexible Working
We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role.
Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

Flexible Working
Successful applicants have the opportunity to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of Flexible Working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations, what provisions are available depends on the role being undertaken.
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Full job description documents:
Band 5 Senior Care Assistant Residential Homes ACOPS

JOB DESCRIPTION
Post: Senior Care Assistant
Location: Residential Care Homes within BHSCT
Band: 5
Reports to: Registered Manager & Deputy Manager
Responsible to: Service Manager – Community Mental Health Team for Older People Services

Job Summary / Main Purpose
Residential Care aims to extend and improve services for people with dementia, through the provision of quality care and specialist support. Residential Care for People with Dementia offers an alternative housing solution to people with dementia who are no longer able to live independently within their own home. The primary aim of the support model is to provide each person with dementia with the appropriate support and assistance to live a meaningful life in the community.

The philosophy of care aims to balance the recognition of the impact of Dementia with promoting positive approaches that focus on improving the quality of life for the person and their family.

The principles under pinning all care and support offered are the promotion of individuality, independence, choice, autonomy and empowerment of the person. The care model focuses on enabling each person to achieve maximum independence and fulfilment by ensuring they have the opportunity to practice and retain daily living skills and empowers the person to be involved and in control of all aspects of their daily life.

A key benefit for the person is that they continue to live independently within an environment which promotes them feeling safe and secure, with care and support available from a dedicated staff over a 24 hour period. The social and built environment is designed to compensate for the person’s disability, to promote orientation and enhance the person’s feelings of well-being.

The service is a residential EMI care home working under the Registered Homes (NI Order 1992), in that the senior care assistant will work as a member of a team of care partners, providing a combined residential and enhanced care and support service, which will be individually tailored to actively assist each resident to achieve maximum independence in their own home.

The role of the senior care assistant is to support the deputy manager and registered manager in the provision of a holistic person centred service which encourages and promotes the independence, empowerment, choice and dignity of each tenant.

They will assist the deputy manager and registered manager and care assistant’s in providing an environment which respects privacy and promotes the autonomy through consultation and agreement with the resident.

This is a regulated service and as such the senior care assistant will be required to work to DHSSPS minimum standards which will be regularly monitored and inspected by RQIA.

Main Duties / Responsibilities
For each of the following, the postholder will;

Management

• Undertake the role of a key worker having specific responsibility for the on-going assessment, care planning and review of a specific group of residents.
• Assist in the development of a skilled workforce through supervision and training of the care staff team to ensure staff are fully equipped to carry out their role.
• Assist management of the home in maintaining and delivering a high quality, safe and effective service within budget.
• Undertake day to day leadership duties in the absence of the management.
• Undertake day to day supervision and line management of the support staff team and ensure support staff have a clear understanding of the assessed needs of each of the residents.
• Co-operate with the duty rota schedule so as to ensure adequate staffing and be flexible at times due to the changing needs of the facility and the residents.
• Work flexible hours including shifts and undertaking sleep- in/ waken night duties also evenings and weekend shifts on a rota basis.
• Have knowledge of and be responsible for ensuring good practices demonstrated by adhering to the policies and procedures of the Trust and the facility.
• Deliver all care and support in line for the Code of Conduct of their professional body.

Person Centred Care

• Coordinate and contribute to the assessment process of identifying residents needs in consultation with them, their relatives and relevant others.
• Plan, develop and implement care plans, risk assessments which reflect the personal strengths, needs and wishes of the individual resident and promotes maximum choice and independence leading to a more participative and inclusive life in the community.
• Participate in the on-going assessment, monitoring and review of care needs, risks of individual residents and amending individual records according.
• Ensure the physical and personal care needs of the residents are appropriately met. On occasions this may involve providing practical assistance or role modelling to care staff how to more effectively support a residents to meet their personal care needs.
• Support residents to express their views on the quality of the service they receive which could influence and improve future delivery of services.
• Be a role model to care assistants within the service, promoting good practice through person centered care.
• Facilitate care assistants in maximising use of technology used in residential care.

Activities/Community Involvement

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of activities both inside and outside the facility.
• Encourage residents to participate in a programme of recreational and social activities.
• Assist and support residents in maintaining links with their friends and other groups in the community.

Liaising with Family/ Relatives /Friends/ Other Agencies

• Provide advice or information on services available from other agencies.
• Develop and maintain good relationships with family and friends of residents and professionals from other voluntary or statutory agencies.
• Enable residents to make contact with family friends or other agencies.
• Promote a culture which encourages families to work in partnership with staff within residential care settings to enhance the wellbeing of the residents.

Complaints

• Support residents where a complaint/dispute has arisen by enabling their understanding and acting or seeking advocacy on their behalf.
• Ensure residents’ complaints/concerns are taken and responded to appropriately within the procedures and assist in having them resolved to the resident’s satisfaction.
• Ensure that all new residents and new staff are familiar with the complaints procedure.
• Refer to the manager any complaint unable to be resolved in accordance with the Trust's complaints procedure.

Communication/Teamwork

• Undertake daily hand over reports using both verbal and written records to ensure good communication is maintained within the staff team.
• Work with other members of staff/departments to ensure that harmonious relationships are maintained.
• Participate in monthly team meetings to ensure effective communication between all persons within the staff team.
• Report incidents such as falls, accidents, complaints and work within Trust procedures.
• Maintain records to comply with all requirements contained in policies and procedures.

Staff Supervision Development and Training

• Have responsibility for providing advice, guidance and practical help through personal example to support staff on a day to day basis.
• Ensure staff practices reflect the core values of privacy, independence, dignity, choice, rights and fulfilment and that this is demonstrated in practice by all the staff team on a day to day basis.
• Participate in a formal programme of supervision which will include planned individual supervision sessions with support of staff.
• Promote the personal development of support staff in line with the Trust’s PCP/PDP/KFS frameworks.
• Participate in the delivery of induction training for new staff.
• Participate in staff training initiatives including the promotion of QCF.
• Assess and monitor the effectiveness of training for the individual member of staff, the tenants and the organisation.
• Undertake training to keep abreast of changes and enhance personal development. Undertake link worker responsibilities.

Health & Safety

• Help maintain a safe environment by complying with the Trust's Health & Safety at Work policy and procedures.
• Undertake training and keep up to date in all mandatory training including maneuvering and handling, infection control, fire prevention policies and procedures ensuring good practice is demonstrated by the care team.
• Identify and complete risk assessments whilst working to create an enabling environment for the residents where they can be encouraged to achieve maximum independence.

Medication

• Must comply with the DHSS, RQIA and Trust policies and procedures in relation to safe storage, administration and disposal of medication.
• Assist in the training and monitoring of care staff practices in relation to supporting tenants with administration of their medications.

Personal Development

• Take responsibility for own personal development and undertake training necessary to enhance personal development, knowledge and competence.
• Undertake training to develop the skills and knowledge to undertake delegated link worker responsibilities.
• Have knowledge of and be responsible for ensuring good practice is demonstrated by adhering to the Policies and Procedures of the Trust and the Facility.

Budgetary / Administrative

• Be required to assist in ensuring the most efficient and effective use of resources is maintained.
• Implement and comply with the trust’s managing attendance policy.
• Undertake the administrative tasks required by the post.

Applicants must be aware that in this job they can be caring for people who may demonstrate behaviors that they find challenging and/or who may be terminally ill.

Manual Handling procedures are a necessary requirement of the job. Training, policies, protective equipment and health surveillance programmes are in place to protect staff and you will be obliged to comply with these.

The post holder is also required to do sleep in duties. This is in addition to the contracted hours.

This post involves working in regulated activity with vulnerable groups. As such, post holders will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

General Responsibilities
Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:

• At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
• The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with Belfast Trust’s Whistleblowing Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
• Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.
• Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.
• Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.
• Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.
• Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.
• Maintain high standards of personal accountability.
• Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Information Governance
All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

For further information on how we use your personal data within HR, please refer to the Privacy Notice available on the HUB or Your HR

Environmental Cleaning Strategy
The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognises the key principle that “Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.

Infection Prevention and Control
The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

This includes:-

• Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’);
• Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique;
• Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;
• Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet);
• Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
• Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and laundry;
• Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised;
• Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Personal Public Involvement
Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

Clause: This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION
Job Title / Band: Senior Care Assistant / Band 5
Dept / Directorate: Adult Social & Primary Care Services

Notes to applicants:

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
2. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined below at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
3. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Essential Criteria

• Qualifications / Registration / Experience: Professional qualification in Nursing / Social work / Allied Health Professions, OR NVQ/QCF/RQF Level 3 Award in Care or higher AND GCSE English Language grade C/4 or above or an equivalent qualification, OR 5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 to include English Language or above or equivalent qualification, and willingness to complete NVQ / QCF 3 in Care. AND be registered with a Professional Body i.e. NMC/NISCC or eligible to be registered with NISCC. A minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a professional paid capacity with older people and/or people with dementia.
• Other: Ability to work flexible hours including shifts and undertaking sleep- in/ waken night duties also evenings and weekend shifts on a rota basis to meet the needs of the home.
• Knowledge / Skills / Abilities: Can demonstrate best practice in the care of and needs of people with dementia. An understanding of working within a team. Enthusiasm for the work of the post including the ability to promote the core values and rights of older people with specialist needs. A willingness to train and develop within the job role. Caring attitude. Can demonstrate good verbal and written communication. Good coping skills and ability to use own initiative.

Desirable Criteria

• Qualifications / Registration / Experience: Experience of working with people with dementia. Experience in working in a residential home/nursing home/day centre/community services for older people or people with dementia.
• Other: I.T. skills to include experience in working with Microsoft Office packages i.e. Microsoft: Word, Excel and Teams.

Note: Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates and one photocopy of same issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.

If successful you will be required to produce documentary evidence that you are legally entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a P45, Payslip, National Insurance Card or a Birth Certificate confirming birth in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Failure to produce evidence will result in a non-appointment.

Where a post involves working in regulated activity with vulnerable groups, post holders will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

HSC Values
Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role