* Considering a Second Job ? .. Suggestion ..*

Dollie

Hi -

A few of you appear to be considering a second job and are open to ideas. I have a suggestion for you :

My career is a full time rotating shift pattern with two and three days off between shifts. My second job of *9 years* is my passion and more of a hobby to me. The bonus is.. it pays me, I love it and would say the people I work with I have grown up with.

Could you consider working with Adults who have learning disabilities and require support in their own home or in respite care ? If you could, my suggestion is for you to contact your local Social Services and ask about vacanices in Casual Community Support Work. I have supported people changing their beds, making a cup of tea, cooking, finances, shopping, social integration and in some cases they now go to work. How fantastic is that !

I earn circa £7.50 an hour, with addititional circa £31 to sleep in overnight and circa £9.50 an hour to work a waking watch (you stay up all night to support any of the individual needs of that person should they waken).

** I earned just short of £10,000.00 doing this last year .. on top of my Career salary for info **

How my second job works is the Senior Managers telephone you with shift availability and you take what you can do. You clearly need to be reliable, honest and trustworthy with a common sense approach amongst other things. You need Police clearance (CRB - Criminal Records Bureau), which Social Services will apply for on your behalf. This can take some time to apply for so please don't expect to be successful on application and start work straight away, there are strict guidelines to protect the people you would be supporting.

Oh, I could go on and on, but for fear of boring you, I won't. Let me know if I can help you with any other info.

** This is not an advert for S/Services, there are plenty of agencies who are crying out for Support Workers, take your pick, the world's your oyster **

Whilst this work is very rewarding for me, it can be hard work and emotionally challenging as this does include people with challenging behaviour (autism etc). It may not be for you.. but are you willing to give it a go ? Good Luck x

Thanks
Dollie
(Very passionate Dollie about this line of work !)

Additional Info - CRB

Criminal Records Bureau checks can take upto 3 months to process, dependant on the demand on your local police force.

If you don't work a shift for 3 months, your CRB can expire and would have to be renewed. (Hence you need to be sure you wish to continue with this work as am not aware Organisations keep renewing for you if you haven't worked for them continuously.

If you have a criminal record and feel you can disclose this to the organisation you are applying to at the outset, you will save yourself (and them) a lot of hardship, as they will be able to advise you if you meet criteria. You will need to check if some companies allow 'minor' offences (poss the theft of a mars bar when you were 12 !), but please do not rely on this, convictions etc are hard copy data held on any police file against your name - make sure you disclose - they will find you out if you don't and I would hate for you to be embarassed. Convictions from eons ago are also available to the police. You can obtain your own criminal record data prior to applying for any job so you can see what is held against you.

If you are currently in the midst of a court case as an accused and you wish to pursue this line of work, again you can speak with the organisation Management to discuss if worthwhile you applying. (Circumstances dependant etc). Again, honesty is best policy.

If you held a CRB in a job you had last year (or 3 months ago) and it has 'expired' because you have left the job, please expect your new organisation to apply for another one. Am sure you understand that anything could have happened to you in the last year or 3 months and when you are 'responsible' for supporting 'humans' the organisations will not take any risk.

I am sorry, I do not have knowledge on how Scotland operate regarding CRB applications and expiry.

* I hope this update has been of use, my disclaimer : this information is based on my personal knowledge and cannot be relied upon for your area, please ensure you check it out for yourself. *

Thanks
Dollie 1915 hrs 9/11

Getting Started

You can contact your local Social Services via your Town or City Council, either in the phone book, Internet (I don't use Directory Enq's but internet has equivalent if you weren't aware.)

Ask to speak to the department covering Supported Living or respite care for Adults with learning disabilities. (( Please be aware that terminology varies from area to area - Care in the Community is now classed as an old and unused phrase in my area ))

Ask if they can supply you with an info and training pack. You may also wish to ask if you can shadow a member of staff for a couple of hours in a house to see if this is for you.

Thanks
Dollie

psychopathbabble

Hi Dollie

Thanks for the info... how do I go about getting in touch with my local Social Services?

No worries about the name mistake although I wasn't sure if you did mean me :rotfl:

Dollie

Hi P -

Have updated the thread for you - hope it helps.. If I can help further let me know.

TC
Dollie