Care & Support Worker

Camphill Village Trust Vacancy; Watford; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization in Watford is seeking a Support Worker to provide person-centered assistance to adults with learning disabilities and autism. The role emphasizes independence, choice, and inclusion, offering varying shifts, including days and sleep-ins. Candidates should have a supportive, encouraging spirit and a desire to enhance the lives of others. The position promises development opportunities and a commitment to a values-driven approach. Benefits include pension contributions and annual leave.

Benefits

Annual leave entitlement of 25 days plus holidays

Life cover for employees

Employee assistance program with 24/7 helpline

Pension scheme contributions

Free parking at most communities

Qualifications

• Experience supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism is preferred but not essential.
• Good numeracy and literacy skills required.
• Driving license desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centred support aligned with needs assessments.
• Maintain a clean living environment for individuals supported.
• Assist in budgeting and financial planning.

Skills

Supportive and encouraging approach

Desire to promote autonomy

Creativity for community events

Flexibility in working hours

Education

Good general education

Job description

Purpose

Do you want the autonomy and freedom to enhance the lives of the people we support? We have an opening for you to join us as a Support Worker within the Care and Support Team. The purpose of the role is to provide autonomous assistance to the people we support to fulfil their potential for independence, choice, inclusion and control.

You will be responsible for ensuring that care and support is of a high standard focused on person‑centred outcomes and delivered within budget. You will ensure that all needs assessments, support plans and risk assessments are kept up to date. There will also be direct engagement and liaison with social workers, family members and key workers as required.

Location & Travel

Community‑based

This role will be based at our Delrow Community in Watford.

Duties & Responsibilities

Working under the direction of the Team Leader, ensure care and support is provided to the people supported in accordance with their person‑centred needs assessments and support plans to foster their wellbeing and development, and fulfil their potential for independence, choice, inclusion and control by encouraging them to…

• Maintain a clean, tidy and welcoming living environment.
• Use appropriate equipment so they can be enabled to do their laundry and clothing.
• Plan a menu based on their health, individual preferences and diet choices, make a shopping list, prepare and cook the food and consider safe handling and storage.
• Assist them to arrange and attend medical appointments.
• Budget, access benefits, maintain their tenancy, monitor their finances and access services from their landlord.
• Maintain an active and supportive social life considering individual choices and wishes.
• Provide personal care where required and appropriate as part of a support and care plan (e.g. bathing, hair washing, etc.) where the appropriate registration is in place.
• Administer, record, order and check medication.
• Complete related paperwork which includes support plans, daily updates, person profiles, risk assessments, incident reporting, behaviour reports and notes/updates on health appointments.
• Work within the community’s policies and procedures and code of conduct, actively promoting equality, diversity and human rights of people we support.
• Work in close partnership with family members and other professionals involved in the person’s life.
• Undertake training and continuous professional development in accordance with the Care Quality Commission, local authority requirements, the needs of the service and the people we support.
• Undertake personal development to develop an understanding of our philosophy and values and how these inform and guide practice in the key responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Preferably have experience supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism and distressed behaviours/emotions; however this is not essential as training will be given.
• Driving licence is desirable but not essential.
• Sleep‑ins are required for this role.

Personal Attributes

• Desire to support people to achieve a life full of opportunities; experience is not needed but an understanding of the importance of supporting someone to have autonomy in their life is.
• Supportive and encouraging natural approach – the people we support live in their own homes or shared houses and will need support and guidance to maintain their home use laundry equipment, cook, plan shopping and look after their finances.
• Creative spirit and be keen to help arrange local and community‑based events with the people we support (e.g. coffee mornings, film clubs).
• Crave the autonomy and freedom to provide true person‑centred support – the people we support all have differing needs and wants; you are instrumental in making it happen!
• Want to become a real part of someone’s life and be able to support them in all their activities.
• Have a passion for helping others live a fulfilling and interesting life.
• Like being involved in the activities of people you support; many of the people we support have interests such as swimming, crafts, socialising.

Education

• Good general education, good numeracy and literacy skills; its not essential for you to have any qualifications as we will support you in gaining these.
• General knowledge of IT skills.

The position will consist of day shifts, evening shifts, weekend shifts and sleep‑ins on a rota basis.

Camphill Village Trust is an equal opportunity employer.

Camphill Village Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant pre‑employment checks, including a DBS check.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

About the Charity

Established in 1954, Camphill Village Trust is a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health. Our 70th year we honour our past, provide for the present and will lead the future.

Our focus on humanity and nature was inspired by our past and remains as key to the Trust’s ethos today. This is reflected in our focus on social and green care integration, valuing everyone’s contribution, enabling personal pathways to development, celebrating the changing seasons and respecting the rhythm of natural life.

We operate in both rural and urban communities, building on our care (social) farming legacy. Our historical focus on enabling potential for people with support needs through farming, organic horticulture and enterprise centred on nature and traditional skills continues to play to our strengths.

Benefits

• Life cover for all employees so families will receive payment if a colleague dies at work (subject to cover terms and conditions).
• Employees who introduce a friend to work with us receive £150 through payroll (Terms & Conditions apply).
• Employee assistance programme with 24/7 helpline for advice and support. Also available to your immediate family.
• We contribute to a pension scheme along with your personal contributions.
• Annual leave entitlement 25 days per year PLUS statutory bank and national holidays.
• Free parking at most communities.

Key Skills – Arabic Speaking, Marketing & Promotions, Access Control System, Apache Tomcat, BI, Back Office.

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1