Grade Information

Effective: 1st January 2018

Pay Scale: Grade 1 is split into two rates:

Grade 1: £8.54 hour, £17,319.12 annually (excluding any sleep shifts).
All support workers will be expected to work sleep shifts, which are paid at £70 per sleep shift. All overtime is voluntary.

Previous experience

This grade is for people with no or very little experience of working with learning disabilities. The Grade 1 will be issued by a mentor (who may be the Service Manager), who will support and guide the support worker through their probation which consists of:

• The successful completion of the induction booklet.
• The successful completion of the Care Certificate.
• Shadowing various established members of the existing team.
• Transition from shadowing to working on a 1 – 1 basis with supported people.
• The completion of the MAPA Physical Intervention Training Programme.

The probationary period will normally last 24 weeks and its completion is dependent on satisfying the conditions described above. Confirmation of the successful completion of the probationary period will be delivered by means of an appraisal conducted by the Service Manager at the 24 week point (or before if all elements have been completed). When this confirmation is received the support worker will be provided with the opportunity to enrol on the next available and logistically acceptable Diploma 2 / Diploma 3 course.
Additionally, the support worker will be expected to complete the further e-learning and classroom based training courses during their employment. These are currently under review but will include:

• Epilepsy
• Autism
• Challenging Behaviour
• First Aid
• Food Hygiene
• Safeguarding
• Medication Handling
• Equality and Diversity

Other in-house and external training courses will also be provided by Zeno if considered necessary.

Previous experience

• The applicant is required to have experience working for an employer or academic experience in any capacity.
• The position covers those with no experience and basic experience or knowledge of working with adults or children with learning disabilities, managing complex or challenging behaviour or working with adults who have mental health problems.

Effective: 1st January 2018

Pay Scale:

• An NVQ/Diploma 2 qualification in care/ or equivalent qualification and a certificate or other proof of the qualification is desirable at Grade 2.
• The post requires the applicant to have at least 12 months experience working with adults with learning disabilities with or without challenging or complex behaviour, adults with mental health problems or children with learning disabilities with or without challenging or complex behaviours.
• This experience does not have to apply to working at Zeno exclusively, but continuous base experience will need to be evidenced by the applicant.

Existing Staff

For those Grade 1 support workers completing a full 12 months at Zeno, the Service Manager, during the annual appraisal, will decide whether or not a promotion to the next grade, Grade 2 is applicable. Promotion will be awarded on a performance based assessment, objectively assessed using variables such as punctuality, attendance, flexibility, work ethic, training completed, completion of a successful PDF and appraisal document etc.

The Grade 2 support workers can be used by the Service Manager as a Mentor to other members of staff.

Service Managers can reward support worker staff before the completion of 12 months if they feel the person is working at a high level and should be a Grade 2.

New Staff

For people recruited directly to this grade. The Grade 2 will be issued with a mentor who will support and guide the support worker through their probation which consists of:

• The successful completion of the induction booklet.
• The successful completion of the Care Certificate.
• Challenging Behaviour.
• Completion of e-learning modules provided on start within designated time limit.
• Shadowing various established members of the existing team.
• Transition from shadowing to working on a 1 – 1 basis with supported people.
• The completion of the MAPA Physical Intervention Training Programme.

The probationary period will normally last 12 weeks and its completion is dependent on satisfying the conditions described above.

Confirmation of the successful completion of the probationary period will be delivered by means of an appraisal conducted by the Service Manager at the 12 week point. When this confirmation is received the support worker will be provided with the opportunity to enrol on the next available and logistically acceptable Diploma 2 / Diploma 3 course.

Additionally, the support worker will be expected to complete further e-learning and classroom based training courses during their employment. These are currently under review but will include:

• Epilepsy
• Autism
• Challenging Behaviour
• First Aid
• Food Hygiene
• Safeguarding
• Medication Handling
• Equality and Diversity

Other in-house and external training courses will also be provided by Zeno if considered necessary.