Peripatetic Home Care and Support Worker

Durham County Council; North East; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council is seeking Home Care and Support Workers to provide vital care and support in their Extra Care services. The role includes personal care tasks and encourages independence in service users. Applicants need good communication skills and a willingness to undertake personal care. NVQ qualification in Care is preferred. This position offers varied shifts across multiple locations and provides extensive training and support.

Benefits

Competitive salaries

Career development opportunities

Pension scheme

Employee assistance program

Generous holiday allowance

Discounted gym membership

Qualifications

• Good communication skills and common-sense approach.
• Willing to undertake personal care.
• NVQ Level 2/3 in Care or willingness to achieve.

Responsibilities

• Deliver person-centered care to promote independence.
• Provide personal care including bathing, dressing, and mobility support.
• Administer medication and meet service users' needs.

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Extra Care services which are located at seven sites across the county: Ouston, Consett, Seaham, Barnard Castle, Spennymoor, Crook and Brandon.

If you have elderly friends and relatives, you will understand the value they place on independence. This role will give you the opportunity to work in social care and contribute to a vital and valuable 24 hour community service in your local area, by providing care and support to service users within our Extra Care Schemes.

We currently have 2 x 37 hour and 1 x 18.5 hour vacancies within the South and North of the County.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

Home Care and Support Workers follow an individual\'s support plan to deliver person centred care to promote and encourage independence and to support their health and wellbeing.

As a Peripatetic Home Care and Support Worker you will travel between schemes as the need for cover arises. The North of the County includes Harbour Lodge in Seaham, Chester View in Ouston and Maple Court in Consett. The South of the County covers Southfield Lodge in Crook, Charles Dickens Lodge in Barnard Castle, Sycamore Lodge in Spennymoor and The Orchards in Brandon.

The role is varied and includes personal care; bathing, dressing, continence care, mobility support, nutrition and dietary needs, administering medication and ensuring that their medical, physical and emotional needs are met.

The post requires successful candidates to arrive at the scheme by 6:45am for early shifts; late shifts and night shifts will also be part of the cover required. The duration of shifts varies from 3 hours to 9.5 hours. The rota will be devised by the Operations Supervisors on a monthly basis.

Please note you will not work exactly 37 or 18.5 hours each week. The rota is designed to meet the needs of service users, and hours worked per week will vary depending on the number of weeks on the rota, but equates to 37 hours or 18.5 hours per week over the rota period. There will be a variety of shifts covering days, evenings, nights and weekends.

Benefits include:

• Induction into the service and the role
• Working as part of a team within a building
• Support from the senior team and Supervisor on site
• Structured career path including professional development
• Guaranteed hours with the opportunity of working extra hours
• Full training, equipment and uniform provided

We encourage you to contact Vicky Braithwaite via email – [e-mail] – to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

WHAT WILL I NEED?

You will require good communication skills, be able to demonstrate a common-sense approach, work on your own initiative after completion of an extensive induction, along with the ability to build positive relationships with service users and colleagues.

No previous experience is required; however applicants should be willing to undertake personal care.

Qualifications: NVQ Level 2/3 in Care or willingness to achieve within a set timescale.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.

REWARDS AND BENEFITS

We offer generous rewards and benefits that are designed to help you perform at your best:

• Competitive salaries and 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service.
• Option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
• Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS.
• Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
• Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers).
• Discounted DCC gym membership.
• Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT+, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause.
• Trade Union membership.
• A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

Take a closer look at our Rewards and Benefits here.

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EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services. We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all. We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job. As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process. Take a closer look at our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews scheduled for week beginning 29 September 2025. 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 child or care leaver or a veteran.

HOW TO APPLY

In line with the County Council\'s Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate essential and where possible desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.

If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27 or the Recruitment Team via email at [e-mail]. Anyone currently listed on the Redeployment Register who is interested in being considered for this vacancy should contact Payroll and Employee Services on [e-mail]. We collect personal information from you when you register with North East Jobs and make an application. Details on how we process your personal data is available in our Privacy Notice. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS POST WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH NORTH EAST JOBS, INCLUDING YOUR INVITE TO INTERVIEW IF YOU ARE SHORTLISTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOTIFICATION, AS YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL.

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