Independence Plus Support Worker

Sight Village; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice

Health & wellbeing benefits

Staff dining room facilities

Education support helpline access

Annual flu vaccination

Dell Advantage programme discounts

Job summary

Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham invites applications for an Independent Plus Support Worker to join a dedicated team supporting IP clients in achieving 24 hour curriculum goals. The role encompasses safeguarding, medication administration, and active participation in client leisure activities to promote independence.

You will work onsite at QAC in Harborne, Birmingham, with shift work, sleep ins and weekend duties, reporting to the IP Manager and seniors.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word and email.
• Caring, understanding and nurturing individual.
• Willingness to attend training and complete care certificates.
• Ability to communicate clearly with people with support needs.
• Experience of supporting a team and planning leisure activities.
• Knowledge of CQC Key Lines of Enquiry.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection.
• Flexible approach to job role.
• Experience maintaining clear records.
• Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act.

Responsibilities

• Promote the aims and ethos of the College within teaching and corporate life.
• Respect clients' rights, dignity, privacy and aspirations.
• Comply with CQC Regulations in residential care.
• Administer prescribed medication and remedies per policy.
• Support healthcare needs including diabetes and epilepsy.
• Plan and promote good care practices and contribute to teamwork.
• Monitor daily support using Care Log in Databridge MIS.
• Contribute to support plans, risk assessments, and reviews.
• Liaise with clients' families where appropriate.
• Initiate and participate in clients’ leisure activities.
• Encourage integration into wider social community.
• Maintain records to quality standards and adhere to regulations.
• Attend mandatory training and professional supervision.
• Be flexible with rota requirements as directed by IP Manager.
• Work under IP Manager guidance daily.
• Familiarize with all policies including Health & Safety, Complaints, First Aid, Safeguarding.
• Relate and communicate effectively with young adults with disabilities.
• Commit to completing training and the care certificate.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

IT skills (MS Word & Email)

Caring & nurturing

Training willingness

Communication (verbal & written)

Experience supporting a team

Leisure activities planning

Confidentiality & data protection

Flexible rota approach

Record keeping

Mental Capacity Act understanding

Job description

Independent Plus Support Worker

To be part of a team of care staff supporting IP clients to access the 24 hour curriculum at QAC by working towards set targets to develop client’s independent living skills.

Salary: £25,115 - £25,708 / year

This role involves shift work, sleep ins, and working one day on the weekend.

Application Deadline: August 18, 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Harborne, Birmingham, UK

Workplace type: Onsite

Reporting To: Giles Logan

Key Responsibilities

• Promote the aims and ethos of the College both within the teaching and learning context and within the corporate life of the College.
• Understand and respect individual client’s right, choices, personal dignity, privacy and aspirations.
• Appreciate and comply with CQC Regulations in relation to residential care.
• To administer prescribed Medication and Homely Remedies to clients as required, closely following QAC’s Handling and Administering Medication policy. To immediately act up any medication errors.
• To support clients with healthcare needs including, but not limited to, Diabetes and Epilepsy.
• Help plan, promote and maintain good care practice and contribute positively to teamwork through good communication with other IP support staff and attend team meetings.
• To monitor daily support and achievements via the ‘Care Log’ system on Databridge MIS
• Contribute to the implementation of support plans, risk assessments, clients’ reviews, and targets.
• Liaise with clients’ families, where appropriate.
• Initiate and be involved in clients’ leisure activities.
• Encourage integration and inclusion into the wider social community
• Maintain effective record systems to a quality standard, which complies with internal and external regulations.
• Actively partake in professional supervision and attend mandatory training as required
• To have a flexible approach to rota requirements within the remit of service need as directed by IP Manager and seniors, including sleep ins on a rota basis (for which there is an additional nightly payment).
• To work under the guidance of the IP Manager and seniors on a day to day basis
• Become familiar with all policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Clients Complaints procedures, First Aid and Safeguarding.
• To be able to relate, motivate and communicate with young adults with disabilities.
• To be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Have a willingness to complete training and the care certificate by demonstrating the necessary competencies
• To be able to follow company policies and procedures
• To have previous experience within a care setting (can be paid, voluntary, carer or support worker IP experience)
• To be able to make effective working relations with other members of the IP team.
• To have an understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities.
• To be able to keep calm and follow procedures in stressful situations.
• To be committed to supporting residential clients to develop their independent skills and to support them with transition post college
• To have a proven ability to complete written reports

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Good standard of IT skills, including Microsoft word and email systems
• Caring, understanding and nurturing individual
• An individual keen to develop into the role and attend training
• Have the ability to communicate clearly with people with support needs
• Experience of supporting a team
• Experience with planning leisure activities
• General knowledge of CQC’s Key Lines of Enquiry
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection
• To have a flexible approach to the job role
• Experience of maintaining clear and accurate records
• Understanding of the Mental Capacity act

Why work at Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham

Join our team at Queen Alexandra Charity!

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has just gone through an exciting rebrand, dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.

The newly structured Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high.

Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:

• Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals
• Make a difference to the educational experience of young people
• Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education
• Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self-development and self-confidence
• Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.

Benefits

• Access to on site car parking
• Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours)
• Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF)
• Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff
• QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing
• BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services
• Annual Flu vaccination/voucher
• Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers
• Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off. https://www.dell.com/en-uk/lp/dell-advantage
• Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling)
• Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities
• Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes)
• Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period)
• Reward and Recognition Policy – Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service
• Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Occupational sick pay (based on length of service)
• On site wellbeing activities (e.g. yoga, meditation)
• Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding)
• Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.

As Leaders in Diversity which drives the culture at QAC and we warmly welcome applications from individuals who share our values, from all backgrounds, to add to our committed and diverse team.

Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College's Safeguarding Policies are available here.

As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, and in line with updated guidance published in September 2022, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part of your application we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on, or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further information.