Female Support Worker

Homecare Direct; Burgh Le Marsh; On-site; GBP 7,500 - 8,500; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid training

Pension

Wellbeing support

Career development

Bank holiday enhanced pay

Job summary

Homecare Direct seeks a compassionate Support Worker to assist a young adult with complex needs in Suffolk. You will help with personal care, medication, and daily routines, enabling independence in daily activities and community involvement.

Role requires patience, strong communication, and the ability to follow a detailed care plan. Training will be provided; flexibility for occasional trips and overnight stays is needed.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting someone with learning disabilities/autism.
• Ability to follow care plans and training provided.
• Eligible to work in the UK; no sponsorship offered.

Responsibilities

• Support client to maintain independence, choice and dignity at home and in the community.
• Assist with personal care, medication and daily routines.
• Support with bladder care and self-catheterisation per the care plan.
• Recognise and respond to client pain or health needs promptly.
• Provide a calm, patient approach during routine changes.
• Encourage participation in meaningful activities and community outings.
• Assist with meals and everyday tasks at home.
• Build a trusting relationship and work with the PA/family team.
• Be flexible for occasional day trips, respite and overnight stays.

Skills

Compassionate care

Learning disabilities

Autism support

Medication assistance

Clear communication

Patience

Job description

Support Worker

Location: Suffolk, CO10

Hours: 10 hours per week

Flexibility: Some flexibility is required to bank contracted hours for occasional day trips. There may also be opportunities for additional hours to support respite and overnight stays.

Typical shift pattern may include:

• Half a day at the weekend or on a Friday
• One weekday evening
• Occasional day trips using banked contracted hours

Pay Rates

• Monday to Sunday – 07:00 to 22:00 – £14.50 per hour
• Bank Holidays – 07:00 to 22:00 – £21.75 per hour
• Christmas – 07:00 to 22:00 – £29.00 per hour
• Monday to Sunday sleep-in – 22:00 to 07:00 – £12.71 per hour
• Bank Holiday sleep-in – 22:00 to 07:00 – £19.07 per hour
• Christmas sleep-in – 22:00 to 07:00 – £25.42 per hour

Be the Difference in Someone’s Day

If you’re a compassionate, patient and proactive Personal Assistant (PA) or Health Care Assistant (HCA) who is confident supporting someone with complex health needs while promoting their independence, this could be the role for you.

Meet Our Client

The client is a friendly and sociable young man who lives independently in his own maisonette next to his family home in the Suffolk countryside. He values his privacy and independence and enjoys spending time with family, going for walks and coffee, making meals, attending church and meetings, travelling by train and getting out into the community.

He has mild cerebral palsy, autism, a learning disability, complex bladder and renal needs, severe neuropathic pain and asymptomatic congenital heart disease, which is regularly monitored by his medical team.

The client requires support with personal care, medication, daily routines and bladder care, including assistance with self-catheterisation and following a structured bladder-care routine. He has a detailed care plan in place, and full training and guidance will be provided.

Due to his autism, the client has strong routines and preferences and may require reassurance, repetition and preparation when plans or routines change. He can also experience significant pain which he may communicate in less obvious ways, so it is important that his PAs take the time to get to know him and understand his individual presentation.

His PAs also play an important role in helping him initiate activities, access the community and maintain his independence. He is supported by a small PA team alongside his family, who live close by.

About the Role

• Support the client to maintain his independence, choice and dignity within his own home and the community.
• Provide support with personal care, medication and daily routines.
• Assist with bladder care and self-catheterisation, following the client’s structured care plan.
• Support the client with his complex health needs, including recognising and responding appropriately when he is experiencing pain.
• Provide a calm, patient and reassuring approach, particularly around changes to routines or plans.
• Encourage and support the client to initiate and take part in activities that are meaningful to him.
• Support with community activities, walks, coffee outings, family visits, church, meetings and train travel.
• Help with meal preparation and everyday tasks within his home.
• Take the time to understand his individual communication, routines and preferences and build a positive, trusting relationship.
• Work alongside his family and existing PA team to provide consistent, person‑centred support.
• Be flexible to support occasional day trips, respite and overnight stays where required.
• Follow the client’s detailed care plan, with full training and guidance provided.

About You

• Kind, reliable, patient and respectful in your approach
• Eligible to work in the UK. Home Care Direct does not offer sponsorship or work visas
• Full UK driving licence is desirable
• Experience with learning disabilities/autism
• Be prepared to support personal care and receive training for catheter support and bladder washouts
• Medication /first aid/food hygiene
• Calm and reassuring, particularly when the client is anxious or needs repetition and reassurance.
• Observant and able to recognise when the client may be experiencing pain or becoming unwell.
• Respectful of the client's privacy, dignity, independence and choices.
• A good communicator who is willing to work as part of a close-knit PA and family team.
• Prepared to undertake relevant training and follow the client's individual care plans.

Why Join Us?

• Paid training including Safeguarding, hoisting, and more
• 24/7 support from Regional Care Leads and Nurses
• Pension and recognition for long service
• Wellbeing support including Blue Light Card and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities for career development
• Enhanced pay for Bank Holidays
• Enhanced sickness benefit

Every shift you work makes a genuine difference. You will be supported, valued, and part of a team that recognises your contribution.