Direct Payment Worker

East Riding of Yorkshire Council; Willerby; On-site; GBP 2,000 - 4,000; Part time

Job summary

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is seeking a dedicated Direct Payment Worker to support a 16-year-old in Willerby. You will assist with medication, personal care, and accompany him to social activities, ensuring a calm, structured routine.

Role requires patience, clear communication, reliability, and a car for transport. DBS checks are required; training and ongoing support provided. Hours vary: 4 hours/week in term time and 6 hours/week in school holidays.

Qualifications

• Must have patience, caring and understanding.
• Clear communication and the ability to support social interaction.
• Must have use of own car for transport to activities.
• DBS/reference checks required.
• Experience supporting individuals with additional needs is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist with medication and personal care.
• Support access to activities and community involvement.
• Transport to social activities and accompany to events.
• Provide emotional support and encourage social interaction.
• Support with sensory challenges and during long journeys.

Skills

Patience

Clear communication

Independent initiative

Car owner

Flexible hours

Job description

This is an external vacancy and is not employment with East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

4 hours per week during term time and 6 hours per week in the school holiday

About the recipient

The individual is male, 16 years old and resides in Willerby. They require a dedicated and suitable person to support them due to having autism and some support needs. He benefits from clear communication, structure, patient adults, and support around communication, personal care, sensory challenges, and long journeys (he can experience incontinence on long transport routes).

They enjoy learning about languages and listening to people speaking different languages. They have a particular interest in activities involving numbers, counting, patterns, and sequences, as well as science-related topics, especially the periodic table.

They value predictable routines and benefit from knowing what is happening next. They respond well to calm, patient individuals who communicate clearly and give them sufficient time to process information. They also appreciate quiet, low‑stimulation environments where they can relax and engage in familiar activities and routines that help them feel comfortable and secure.

They can find sudden changes, uncertainty, or unclear expectations difficult to manage. Busy, noisy, or overwhelming environments may cause distress, as can being rushed or receiving too much information at once. They may become anxious if they do not understand what is being asked of them. Long journeys can also be challenging and may require appropriate planning and support, including assistance with continence needs where necessary.

They thrive with adults who are calm, patient and respectful. They respond well to reassurance, clear routines and positive encouragement. Their interests in languages, numbers and science are a huge strength and can be used to support his learning, confidence and communication.

About the role

• Assisting the individual with medication.
• Assisting with personal care.
• Assisting the individual with accessing activities and spending time out in the community.
• Attending/transporting the individual to social activities.
• Support the individual in social situations as his social skills are more delayed.
• Encouraging social interaction and inclusion and providing emotional support.
• Giving reassurance during changes, transitions or new situations.
• Supporting with sensory challenges in busy places.
• Monitoring comfort and wellbeing during long journeys.

About the candidate

• Be motivated, proactive and able to work on their own initiative.
• Be patient, caring and understanding.
• Have good communication skills (clear and effective communication).
• Be able to build a positive relationship with the individual to both encourage and support them.
• Have previous experience supporting an individual with additional needs.
• Be flexible to accommodate the hours of work where necessary.
• Must have use of own car, to transport individual to social activities.

DBS/Reference checks will be required for this post – Cost to be met by the local authority.

Travel

Some travel across East Riding of Yorkshire may be required, applicants must be able to transport themselves.

DBS/Medical check

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS clearance check.

Direct Payment Worker