SEHSCT Senior Care Assistant Band 5
Ref: 55983976
Branch: North Down & Ards Area (SEHSCT)
Location: Northfield, Main Building
Salary: Band 5 (£31,049 - £37,796)
Contract Type: Permanent
Opening date: 10/11/26
Closes: Tue, 24 November 2026 @ 5:30 PM
Interview Dates: To be confirmed

Notes: Online and Manual applications accepted. If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. 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. Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards.

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.

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Job Description & Personnel Specification

Senior Care Assistant - Residential Homes

Job Title: Senior Care Assistant
Band: Band 5
Directorate: Primary Care and Older People
Initial Location: Northfield House, Donaghadee
Reports To: Assistant Director Older Peoples Community Health Services
Accountable To: Director of Primary Care, Older People

Job Summary
The Senior Care Assistant is a skilled Senior Practitioner who assists the Registered Manager in the effective management of the home and its staff. He / she develops and maintains good standards of professional practice and implements programme of care for each resident. He / she may also have responsibility for day care services provided with facility.

Key Duties / Responsibilities

• To assess plan and implement programmes of care with clients / carers.
• To assess residents on a regular basis and to participate in reviews.
• To liaise with all appropriate persons involved in the programme of care of residents.
• To participate in the meeting the physical and personal needs of residents. This may include feeding, toileting, washing and bathing.
• To contribute to the development of a range of individual and group activities both inside and outside the home relevant to the needs and desires of residents.
• To facilitate admissions and discharges.
• To control and administer medication in accordance with policy and procedures.
• To maintain records as required by the Trust.
• To cover in other Statutory Residential Facilities when required.

Clinical / Professional / Specific Managerial Responsibilities

• The Senior Care Assistant will assume responsibility for screening and accepting referrals in the absence of or delegated from the Registered Manager.
• The Senior Care Assistant will develop and record person centred care plans for each client that are consistent with the outcomes of assessment. Identify the risks that need to be managed, have clear goals to meet assessed individual needs and risks within the resources available and identify unmet need. They will ensure that the service user and whoever they consider to be significant are fully involved in the care planning process.
• The Senior Care Assistant will implement monitor and review care plans in accordance with policy and procedure and amend as appropriate.
• The Senior Care Assistant will ensure that service provision is validated and outcomes are evaluated. They will liaise closely with the Key Workers and all members of the multi-disciplinary teams.
• The Senior Care Assistant will monitor the quality and standards of the service provision and will work with the Registered Manager to improve outcomes.
• The Senior Care Assistant will maintain timely accurate records in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
• The Senior Care Assistant will facilitate Inspectors from RQIA in line with Trust policy and procedures. In the event where quality issues arise concerning the care provided the Senior Care Assistant will work in partnership with Inspectors to ensure that appropriate action is taken.
• To participate in the organisation and implementation of regular meetings for service users, carers and staff.
• The Senior Care Assistant will participate in the sleep-in duty rota.
• To participate in personal supervision performance appraisal, training and development planning.
• The Senior Care Assistant will perform administrative and clerical duties as required.
• To facilitate the placements of students and to provide the necessary support and supervision for them.
• The Senior Care Assistant will respect people's dignity, wishes and beliefs involve them in shared decision making and obtain their consent.

Generic managerial responsibilities both within an operational and strategic context.

• The Senior Care Assistant will assist with the day to day management of the facility and will accept management responsibility in the Registered Manager's absence.
• The Senior Care Assistant will be required to ensure that their registration for practice is maintained and training updated.
• The Senior Care Assistant will be required to act independently and on occasions, particularly in a crisis make service related decisions to ensure client safety which can later be ratified by the Registered Manager.
• The Senior Care Assistant will provide assistance, information, advice, guidance and practical help on a day to day basis or as appropriate for Care staff.
• The Senior Care Assistant will provide supervision and appraisal to care staff in accordance with Trust policy and procedure. This will include identification of staff development and training needs under Personal Performance and Development Review.
• The Senior Care Assistant will contribute to the implementation of clinical and social Care Governance, including training, standard setting and quality assurance.
• The Senior Care Assistant will liaise with and work closely promoting partnership between service users, carers, key workers and all members of the community and hospital multi-disciplinary teams.
• The Senior Care Assistant ensures that information systems and client records are maintained in accordance with Trust policies and procedures and to provide statistical and other information as required.
• The Senior Care Assistant will be required to participate in working groups to develop new services and improve on existing services.
• The Senior Care Assistant will participate in planned supervision with the Registered Manager in accordance with Governance arrangements.
• The Senior Care Assistant will monitor the quality and standard of service provision.
• The Senior Care Assistant will contribute to the Trust Total Quality Management System.
• The Senior Care Assistant will contribute to the implementation of all relevant statutory and Trust policies and procedures and the interpretation of these to staff eg Disciplinary, Grievance, Attendance at Work Protocol.

Human Resource Management Responsibilities
The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

• Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.
• Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.
• Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.
• Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.
• Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

Raising Concerns – Responsibilities

• 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 the Trust's 'Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)' policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

General Management Responsibilities

• 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 the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust's Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

General Requirements
The post holder will be required to:

• Ensure the Trust's policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his / her own actions and those of any staff for whom he / she has responsibility.
• Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents / incidents / equipment defects to his / her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients / clients, members of the public and staff.
• Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example: Smoke Free Policy, IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct, Standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour.
• Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.
• Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.
• Take responsibility to minimise the Trust's environmental impact wherever possible. This will include recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use. Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel.
• All employees of the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust including patients / clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the South Eastern Trust policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.
• Take responsibility for his / her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his / her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.
• Represent the Trust's commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients / clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he / she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth
The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and / or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)
Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community where relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust's ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).
Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

Personnel Specification
Job Title and Band: Senior Care Assistant (Band 5)
Department / Directorate: Primary Care and Older People
Salary: Band 5
Hours: 37.5
Ref No: 55983976 October 2026

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria, using the information provided on your application form. Proof of qualifications and / or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made. As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for The Organisation to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed. The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust is an equal opportunities employer. Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment and are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times.