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Workshop Leader (Woodwork) - L'Arche Highland


ABOUT THE ROLE
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday, 08:30-16:30, but with occasional evenings and weekends as required
Salary: £26,280.80 (Band C))
Place of work: L’Arche Highland Workshops, based in and around Inverness
Contract type: Permanent, full-time
Closing date: Monday, 4th November, 9:30am


Are you an experienced social care leader looking for a rewarding role in a values-driven community? Join L'Arche Highland. Lead a dedicated team supporting adults with learning disabilities in our well-regarded daytime workshops for adults with learning disabilities within our diverse, inclusive community. With a unique spiritual ethos and commitment to high-quality, person-centred care, L'Arche Highland offers an enriching career path where you can make a real difference.


This role is ideal for someone who lives in or near Inverness and is looking for a leadership role in the social care sector.


As well as joining a friendly Community, where you will be well supervised and supported, and benefit from L’Arche’s mentorship programme, these are some other benefits you get by working for us:

• Paid sick pay, up to a maximum of 7wks (depending on length of service)
• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption/Surrogacy, and Paternity Pay (depending on length of service, details available on request)
• Interest free loans and salary advances available
• Free eye tests and a contribution towards the cost of glasses if you need them for work
• Free DBS / PVG checks
• Free SSSC registration
• Free Blue Light Card
• Professional membership fees paid if they are directly relevant to your role
• Free Employee Assistance Programme available to everyone
• Up to 5 days paid compassionate leave
• Up to 6 days paid (pro rata) for time off for emergency dependents leave
• Carer and Childminder costs available in some circumstances to facilitate attendance at residential meetings
• Paid mileage costs at HMRC rate
• Working from Home Allowance for those in office-based roles but for whom no office is provided
• Specialist bereavement counselling for employees and their family members
• Free Life Assurance up to 4 times gross annual salary
• Access to the Bike to Work scheme
• Joining shared meals since cooking and having a meal together is what we are all about

Main purpose of the role:


L’Arche Highland has a rare opportunity for someone to join us as the Workshop Leader of Woodwork in our well-regarded daytime workshops for adults with learning disabilities and autism in Inverness. The workshops offer a structured employment and learning experience via candle making, woodwork, garden and life skills workshops, enabling 50 people per week to experience meaningful work that is not merely occupational. They promote independence, social integration, healthy living and lifelong learning and seek to reduce isolation though relational support that cherishes mutuality.


Working within the joyful and beautiful environment of our workshops, you will lead the provision of the woodwork workshop which provides a work opportunities for people to fabricate wooden items or restore and upcycle furniture for sale. This role requires a knowledge of carpentry or cabinet making and practical experience of using woodwork tools safely.


To be successful in this role you will be well organised, creative and fun, a great communicator, adaptive and flexible. The post manages volunteers and directs assistants. Knowledge of learning disability is essential and alternative communication methods, such as Makaton, Talking Mats and PECS is desirable.


As Workshop Leader you will ensure that our support and care is not only consistent with Care Inspectorate, NHS Highland and SSSC requirements but also with the values and mission of L’Arche. An SVQ 2 0r 3 in Health & Social Care qualification is desirable.


Visits from prospective candidates are welcome. Please call Chris Gehrke, Community Leader/Director, on 01463-239615 for more information.


Key essential criteria

• Knowledge of Care Inspectorate and of SSSC standards;
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in social care working with people with learning disabilities;
• Knowledge of current issues and trends affecting the support of persons with learning disabilities and autism;
• Ability to competently and safely use woodworking tools and machinery and produce high quality finished products;
• Experience of woodwork, cabinet making or joinery;
• Ability to communicate effectively: excellent written communication, listening and verbal communication skills, and presentational skills within the workshop;
• Supportive and enthusiastic about working with an organisation which is both a high-quality service provider and an inclusive faith-inspired community open to all who share L’Arche’s values and mission.

About us


L’Arche Highland is a Community of around 132 people, including folk with and without learning disabilities, Support Assistants, volunteers, friends and neighbours, based in Inverness. We are part of a global network of communities where people with and without learning disabilities live and share in life together, working for a world where we all belong. We have a workshop and four large shared houses. We also support people to live in their own properties.


We provide supported living opportunities in one of our four shared houses, keeping that original community spirit, or to folk in their own homes, depending upon preference and need. This support ranges from 24/7 one-to-one support to 40 hours per week. We also a dynamic workshop that serves 50 people per week to experience meaningful work that is not merely occupational. You will lead a team of workshop leaders and assistants to offer a productive, authentic work experience for attendees.


Visits from prospective candidates are welcome. Please call Chris Gehrke, Community Leader/Director, on 01463-239615 for more information.


You may have experience in the following roles: Supported Living Leader, Learning Disability Team Leader, Autism Support Leader, Care Team Leader, Service Leader, Deputy Care Leader, Learning Disability Service Leader, Community Support Leader, Social Care Team Leader etc.


A full job description and person specification can be found in the Recruitment Pack.


The closing date is 9:30am on Monday 4th November 2024.
Interviews will take place on 11th November 2024.


To apply, please read the full job description and person specification and answer the questions on our online application form.


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