Activities Assistant

Easteden Ltd; Derry/Londonderry; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Rotas you can plan your life around

Thursday breakfast

Perkbox app access

Employee referral bonus

Staff appreciation

Job summary

Easteden is seeking an enthusiastic Activities Assistant to bring energy, creativity and meaningful moments to residents’ daily lives. You’ll help plan and deliver engaging, person-centred activities that reflect individual interests, hobbies and life stories, in a safe, welcoming home.

You’ll work with the care team to promote dignity, independence and wellbeing, supporting reminiscence and social connections while maintaining records and contributing to a warm, inclusive culture at Easteden.

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths at grade C or equivalent
• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent)
• Experience working with vulnerable adults in care/healthcare setting (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Welcome new residents and help them settle into their new home
• Plan and deliver creative, meaningful activities reflecting residents' interests
• Support residents to express individuality and preferences
• Encourage participation and social connections
• Maintain appropriate records and documentation
• Follow safeguarding and health & safety requirements

Skills

Compassionate

Creative

Good listener

Education

NVQ Level 2/3 in Health & Social Care

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Activities Assistant

About Easteden

At Easteden, we believe exceptional care starts with exceptional people.

We're a growing, values-led care organisation providing high-quality, person-centred care across Northern Ireland. Our aim is simple: to create homes where residents feel safe, respected and valued, and workplaces where our colleagues feel supported, appreciated and empowered to thrive.

We're continually investing in our people, services and ways of working as we help shape the future of care. Whether you're beginning your career or bringing years of experience, you'll find opportunities to learn, develop and make a meaningful difference every day.

People at the Centre. Care at the Heart. Home as it Should Be.

Make a Difference Every Day with Easteden

As an Activities Assistant, you'll have the opportunity to bring energy, creativity and meaningful moments into the everyday lives of our residents. From getting to know someone's favourite music, hobbies and life story to supporting group activities, celebrations and community connections, you'll help create experiences built around the people who call Easteden home.

About the Role

You'll support the wellbeing and quality of life of residents by helping to plan and deliver meaningful, engaging and person-centred activities within a safe, welcoming and supportive environment.

You'll encourage residents to express their individuality, maintain interests and connections, try new experiences and participate in daily life in ways that are meaningful to them.

Depending on the service, you may support residents living with dementia, mental health conditions or complex care needs, always promoting dignity, choice, independence and wellbeing.

About the role

What You’ll Get

Your Work-Life & Rewards

• Competitive Pay Rates: Competitive rates of pay with reliable and transparent pay arrangements.

• Rotas You Can Plan Your Life Around: Predictable, fair and forward-planned rotas to help you balance work and life.

• Thursday Breakfast Is On Us: A freshly cooked hot breakfast made just for our staff every Thursday.

• Perkbox App Access: Free membership giving you high street discounts, online shopping deals and weekly treats.

• Employee Referral Bonus: Recommend great people and receive a referral reward when they successfully join the organisation.

• Little Ways We Say Thank You: From surprise ice cream vans on sunny days to seasonal celebrations and other colleague treats, we love finding ways to recognise and appreciate our teams.

Your Support & Well-being

• A Team That Has Your Back: A genuinely friendly, welcoming culture where you’ll be supported by the people around you.

• A Voice That Shifts Things: Your ideas are heard, valued and used to improve how our homes run.

• Real Care for the Carers: Wellbeing support for the people who spend every day caring for others.

• Supportive Leadership: Leaders who value your contribution, listen to your ideas and want to see you succeed.

Your Growth & Impact

• Fully Funded Training: Continuous learning and development to build your knowledge, skills and confidence.

• Career Development Opportunities: Opportunities to develop your skills and progress within a growing organisation.

• Modern, Resident-Focused Care: Be part of an organisation committed to continually improving how we work and putting residents at the heart of what we do.

• Work That Truly Matters: Help create meaningful moments, positive experiences and genuine connections for our residents every day.

What You’ll Be Doing

No two days will be exactly the same. You’ll get to know our residents as individuals and help create activities and experiences based around their interests, preferences, abilities and life stories.

You’ll:

• Welcome new residents and help them settle into their new home.

• Get to know residents, their interests, preferences, abilities and the things that are meaningful to them.

• Help plan and deliver creative, meaningful and resident-led social, recreational and wellbeing activities.

• Support residents to express their individuality, choices and preferences.

• Encourage participation, independence, confidence and social connection.

• Support reminiscence and the development of resident life stories through meaningful conversations and experiences.

• Help create positive daily experiences that promote enjoyment, purpose and wellbeing.

• Build positive relationships with residents, families, visitors, community groups and external activity providers.

• Work collaboratively with nursing, care, catering, housekeeping and wider teams to support a positive resident experience.

• Listen to resident feedback and help identify new ideas and opportunities to enhance activities and wellbeing.

• Observe residents’ participation and wellbeing and share relevant information appropriately with colleagues.

• Maintain appropriate records and documentation.

• Follow safeguarding, confidentiality, infection prevention, health and safety and other organisational requirements.

• Help create a welcoming, inclusive and respectful environment where residents are treated with dignity and respect.

What We’re Looking For

More than anything, we’re looking for someone who genuinely enjoys connecting with people and wants to make everyday life meaningful for our residents.

You’ll be:

• Compassionate, warm and respectful, with a genuine interest in supporting others.

• Creative and enthusiastic, with ideas for bringing people together and creating positive experiences.

• A confident communicator who can build positive relationships with residents, families, colleagues and visitors.

• A good listener who takes the time to understand individual interests, preferences and choices.

• Comfortable encouraging residents with different abilities and support needs to participate in ways that are meaningful to them.

• Organised and able to maintain appropriate records and documentation.

• Positive, flexible and able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Understanding of the importance of dignity, safeguarding, confidentiality, equality, inclusion and professional boundaries.

• Willing to undertake all training required for the role and achieve and maintain NISCC registration where applicable.

• Flexible to work evenings, weekends and public holidays where required.

You don’t necessarily need to have worked as an Activities Assistant before.

Relevant experience can come from employment, volunteering, community involvement, unpaid caring responsibilities or other life experience. If you can demonstrate compassion, creativity, strong people skills and an understanding of meaningful, person-centred engagement, we’d love to hear from you.

It Would Be Great If You Also Have

• An NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Health & Social Care, or equivalent.

• Experience supporting vulnerable adults within a care, healthcare, community or wellbeing setting.

• Experience or skills in areas such as arts and crafts, music, exercise, gardening, games, events or other recreational activities.

• Experience engaging with community groups, external activity providers or wellbeing initiatives.

• Experience using Microsoft Office, electronic care planning systems or digital activity documentation tools.

• A full clean driving licence.

Join Easteden

If you’re looking for a rewarding role where you can bring your personality, creativity and compassion to work and make a genuine difference every day, we’d love to hear from you.

Join Easteden and become part of a team where you’ll be valued, supported and empowered to thrive.

Belong at Easteden

We’re building a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are committed to creating an inclusive, respectful and supportive environment for our colleagues, residents and communities.

Required Criteria

• GCSE Grade C or above in English and Maths (or equivalent qualification); OR demonstrable literacy, numeracy and communication skills appropriate to the role.

Desired Criteria

• NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent).