Home Support Worker

Durham County Council; North East; Hybrid; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working (home and office) where

Generous annual leave 27 days rising

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Competitive rewards package

Job summary

Durham County Council is expanding its Home Support Worker team at Hawthorn House to deliver step up/step down care for people with complex learning disabilities and/or autism. You will work as part of a dedicated team, applying Positive Behaviour Support to address challenging behaviours.

Shifts include early mornings, days, evenings, nights and weekends on a rota; qualifications include GCSEs and/or a care qualification. DBS Enhanced Disclosure is required before appointment.

Qualifications

• Experience in care environment or with learning disabilities.
• Ability to build positive relationships with service users and colleagues.
• Naturally caring and sensitive to people’s needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist care interventions using Positive Behaviour Support.
• Stabilise and address complex behaviours in service users.
• Participate in induction and ongoing training including moving and handling and medication support.

Job description

We are excited to be expanding our team of Home Support Workers within Hawthorn House, a dual scheme comprising of respite / short break care, and in two specialist flats, delivering a ‘step up / step down’ approach of care to young people and adults with complex learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum diagnosis and present with behaviours that challenge.

This is a great opportunity for individuals who are enthusiastic and passionate about delivering exceptional care and support to service users and making a real difference to a person’s quality of life.

The posts require successful applicants to be able to arrive at Hawthorn House by 7 am for some shifts and be able to work in a flexible manner on a rota of shifts over a 7 day period. There will be a variety of shifts covering days, evenings, nights, and weekends. Enhancements will be paid for evenings, nights and weekends.

Please note the rota is designed to meet the needs of the service users, and hours worked will vary depending on the number of weeks on the rota but equates to contractual hours per week over the rota period.

Successful applicants will be working in a Care Quality Commission (CQC) Outstanding service as a member of a dedicated and caring team who strive to provide the very highest of standards of care and support to people with complex learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum diagnosis and present with behaviours that challenge.

You will provide specialist care interventions using Positive Behaviour Support and other therapeutic ways of working to stabilise and address the person’s complex behaviours.

All staff are supported with a comprehensive induction and training package that includes Positive Behaviour Support, administering medication, and moving and handling and you will receive regular supervisions.

WHAT WILL I NEED?

Applicants will have experience of working in a care environment / working with people with a learning disability / complex needs or behaviours that may challenge, and have the key attributes required such as being naturally caring and sensitive to people’s needs and the ability to build positive relationships with service users and colleagues.

Required Qualifications:

• 4 GCSEs (9-4/A-C grades) or equivalent relevant qualification and /or a relevant Care qualification. Applicants who do not hold a relevant care qualification will be supported to achieve the ‘Care Certificate’ within a set timescale.

The successful applicants for these posts will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore if successful in your application, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought inclusive of a check of ther Adults Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity. Applicants should be aware that the DBS check will disclose both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, in line with current legislation and will confirm whether an individual is barred from working with adults.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held Week Commencing 26th October 2026.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable.

• attractive salaries
• a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service)
• membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme
• a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.