Equine Support Worker - (Relief)

St. Joseph's Foundation is a voluntary organisation providing comprehensive services for people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968 the Foundation has grown through continuously responding to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

The Foundation provides services to children and adults, through day services, residential, respite care, and home support in the North Cork and South West Limerick region. We have day and residential services in various locations in the North Cork and South Limerick area; such as Charleville, Dromina, Newtownshandrum, Buttevant, Newmarket, Mitchelstown and Mallow, in Limerick; Ballylanders, Ballyagran, Bruree, Bruff Croom Dromcollogher, Granagh Kilmallock, and Liskennett.

St. Joseph's Foundation is a lead agency in Cork Kerry Community Healthcare for the North West Cork and the North East Cork Children's Disability Network Teams. These teams provide services from 0-18 under the National Progressing Disability Services Programme and are based in Mallow and Fermoy.

Applications are invited for the following post :

Equine Support Worker - Relief Contract

The ideal candidate will have :

Experience with intellectual disabilities.

The ability to work as part of a Team & on their own initiative

Be reliable, punctual with a high degree of flexibility

Informal enquiries to David Doyle, Project & Services Development Officer 087-2734150

JOB DESCRIPTION

INITIAL HOURLY : Relief

You will be employed as an Equine Support Worker on a relief basis "If & When" to fill vacancies created due to staff absences.

JOB GOAL : Provide care for Equines in the Centre and maintain administration procedures in use and support service users.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES :

Attend to daily stable management duties, including mucking out, feeding, watering etc

Be responsible for reoccurring tasks relating to the order of feed and bedding, routine farrier visits, tack maintenance, manure disposal etc.

Maintain cleanliness and general upkeep of the yard

Exercise horses in accordance with schedule or as directed and be prepared to assist in the schooling of horses for trial periods

Promptly report to your line manager any issues arising in relation to the operation of the Centre

Be responsible for the care and cleanliness of all horses and their environment including equipment, stable and saddlery

Clean, disinfect and maintain to a standard set by management equine accommodation, yards, exercise areas and paddocks, feed room, tack room, laundry and

storage facilities, staff tack and rugs, including maintenance

Follow instructions as laid down by management, prepare and provide food and water for all horses in the Equine Centre. Undertake grooming and bathing

including foot care.

Following training programmes as appropriate to individuals horses, including earning trust, leading in hand and basic stable manners, lunging and long reining,

breaking, schooling and riding

Carry out health checks on equine, including visual observation and physical inspection of body condition for signs of ill health or abnormalities. Taking temperature,

pulse and respiration rates. and report any abnormalities to your line manager

Administering wormers and other treatments and medications as directed

Assist in the care and recuperation of horses with short term illness

Maintain all records accurately and legibly as required by management, ensuring security of information at all times

Report any faulty lighting, heating, drainage etc to management. Maintain all equipment correctly and report any damage or faults.

Ensure security of buildings and exercise areas.

Maintain good public and work relations, assisting with fundraising / Open Days.

Undertake to the best of his / her ability any duties assigned by line management Care for the day to day needs of the service users :

Instruct, supervise and support service users in daily living, work and leisure programmes as assigned and monitor progress.

Recognise and report problems, physical / social / emotional and assist in the implementation of relevant programmes to counteract same.

To work positively and constructively with service users who may present with challenging behaviour, and be involved in the planning and implementation of specific individualised approaches and programmes designed for these service users.

To contribute to the instruction of new staff and volunteers.

Ensure adequate reports are kept as requested.

Establish and Maintain relationships with the service users that are based on respect and equality and promotes their independence

You may also be required to provide support for a service user in locations outside of St Joseph's eg accompanying service users on holidays / family outings or a

hospital stay.

HEALTH & SAFETY

To ensure the safety of service users at all times adhering to the Foundations Policies & Procedures

To adhere to Foundations Policies & Procedures in relation to best practice on the safe handling of horses

Ensure all Health & Safety measures and procedures are observed and adhered to.

Employ safe methods and use of equipment as necessary, assisting veterinary surgeon and farrier as required

To ensure fire and safety precautions are implemented and maintained.

To ensure adequate knowledge of emergency action and plans.

Make oneself aware of the Foundation's duties and the employee duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at work legislation.

Ensure that all faulty equipment is repaired to your line manager.

Ensure that all accidents / incidents, no matter how small, are reported and documented in the accident / incident book as held in each unit.

ADMINISTRATION

To keep documents, reports and records as required.

To attend meetings and courses as required by the Manager and Assistant Managers of Adult Services.

Contribute to the on-going development of the equestrian centre and farmland.

GENERAL DUTIES

As the above is not an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities, this job description may be revised from time to time to take account of any change in requirements of the position or any other duties as may be assigned by the Manager / Assistant Managers of Adult / Children Services.