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National Autistic Society
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The National Autistic Society is seeking a dedicated Support Worker for Merlewood House in Great Harwood, Lancashire. This full-time role (37 hours per week) involves following individual support plans, daily routines, and helping residents live their best lives with autistic adults and others with complex needs.
We value a caring, reliable approach; driving licence is preferred and evening/weekend flexibility is required. Benefits include pension, generous leave, training, and discount schemes.
Qualifications
- Inspire others with a positive attitude towards supporting vulnerable people.
- Experience with autistic people is helpful but not essential.
- Personal experience or a passion for helping others is welcome.
Responsibilities
- Assist with personal care (bathing, dressing, eating).
- Encourage activities they enjoy (swimming, hiking, arts & crafts).
- Support life skills and independence (budgeting, shopping, meal preparation).
Skills
Tools
Job description
The National Autistic Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks.
Join Us as a Support WorkerThe National Autistic Society helps create a world that works for autistic people, and we have a rewarding opportunity for a Support Worker at
Merlewood House. If you share our values and want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.Visit our website to find out more about who we are:
https://www.autism.org.uk/
About the ServiceMerlewood House in Great Harwood Lancashire, is a specialist residential service for autistic adults and additional learning disabilities or other complex needs.The people who live here receive expert support from our staff to enable them to live happy and fulfilled lives, to develop the skills that are most important to them and to access what they most enjoy in their local community.
About the RoleWe are looking for caring and reliable Support Workers. Your role is to help people live their best lives by following their support plans and daily routines.
What You’ll Do- Assist with personal care (bathing, dressing, eating)
- Encourage activities they enjoy (swimming, hiking, arts & crafts)
- For you to inspire others with a positive attitude towards supporting vulnerable people
- Experience with autistic people is helpful but not essential
- Personal experience or a passion for helping others is welcome
This advert is for a full-time position at 37 hours per week.
Your working pattern in this role will require flexibility to meet the needs of the people supported and their families and will include evening and weekend working.
Possession of a driving licence (minimum one year) ispreferred.
What we can offer you- Pension– Auto-enrolled pension scheme.
- Annual Leave– 33 days (including public holidays). You can buy or sell leave each year.
- Training– Great induction and training, including autism training.
- Discounts– Online staff discount scheme for shopping, cycling, tech, and more (e.g., Asda, Tesco, Nike, Apple).
- Healthcare– Cash plan for permanent staff.
- Flexible Benefits– Options like private health, dental insurance, holiday trading, enhanced pension.
- Support– 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme and counselling.
- Mindfulness– Free Headspace app for you and up to 3 family/friends.
- Blue Light Card– Eligibility for discounts.
- Extra Pay– Enhanced overtime, plus payments for sleep-in and on-call(if applicable to the role).
- Refer a Friend– Get £200 when you refer someone.
We might close this job advert early if we get lots of suitable applications.
For questions about this vacancy, please contact Penny McCormick, hiring manager, at
Penny.McCormick@nas.org.uk
To protect our autistic adults at the National Autistic Society, all staff are required to have a criminal background check. Possession of an Enhanced DBS Check either on the Update Service or conducted within the last 12 months would be preferable but not essential.Applications for this job are sought from anyone who is suitably qualified and experienced for the role but particularly welcome from autistic people.
We are an equal opportunities employer and part of the Disability Confident Employer scheme.
Agencies need not apply.
Please note the National Autistic Society are unable to provide sponsorship for Visas.
The National Autistic Society may use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist our recruitment team with reviewing applications for this role. All application decisions are made by people and are not determined automatically by AI.Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Company: National Autistic Society Salary: Not specified Hours: Full-time Location: Great Harwood, BB6 7RF Job type: Permanent Posting date: 21 Aug 2026 Closing date: 20 Sept 2026
Package Description:
The National Autistic Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks.
Join Us as a Support WorkerThe National Autistic Society helps create a world that works for autistic people, and we have a rewarding opportunity for a Support Worker at
Merlewood House. If you share our values and want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.Visit our website to find out more about who we are:
https://www.autism.org.uk/
About the ServiceMerlewood House in Great Harwood Lancashire, is a specialist residential service for autistic adults and additional learning disabilities or other complex needs.The people who live here receive expert support from our staff to enable them to live happy and fulfilled lives, to develop the skills that are most important to them and to access what they most enjoy in their local community.
About the RoleWe are looking for caring and reliable Support Workers. Your role is to help people live their best lives by following their support plans and daily routines.
What You’ll Do- Assist with personal care (bathing, dressing, eating)
- Encourage activities they enjoy (swimming, hiking, arts & crafts)
- Support life skills& independence(budgeting, shopping, meal preparation)
- For you to inspire others with a positive attitude towards supporting vulnerable people
- Experience with autistic people is helpful but not essential
- Personal experience or a passion for helping others is welcome
This advert is for a full-time position at 37 hours per week.
Your working pattern in this role will require flexibility to meet the needs of the people supported and their families and will include evening and weekend working.
Possession of a driving licence (minimum one year) ispreferred.
What we can offer you- Pension– Auto-enrolled pension scheme.
- Annual Leave– 33 days (including public holidays). You can buy or sell leave each year.
- Training– Great induction and training, including autism training.
- Discounts– Online staff discount scheme for shopping, cycling, tech, and more (e.g., Asda, Tesco, Nike, Apple).
- Healthcare– Cash plan for permanent staff.
- Flexible Benefits– Options like private health, dental insurance, holiday trading, enhanced pension.
- Support– 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme and counselling.
- Mindfulness– Free Headspace app for you and up to 3 family/friends.
- Blue Light Card– Eligibility for discounts.
- Extra Pay– Enhanced overtime, plus payments for sleep-in and on-call(if applicable to the role)
- Refer a Friend– Get £200 when you refer someone.
- Life Assurance– 2x your base salary.
We might close this job advert early if we get lots of suitable applications.
For questions about this vacancy, please contact Penny McCormick, hiring manager, at
Penny.McCormick@nas.org.uk
To protect our autistic adults at the National Autistic Society, all staff are required to have a criminal background check. Possession of an Enhanced DBS Check either on the Update Service or conducted within the last 12 months would be preferable but not essential.Applications for this job are sought from anyone who is suitably qualified and experienced for the role but particularly welcome from autistic people.
We are an equal opportunities employer and part of the Disability Confident Employer scheme.
Important InformationAgencies need not apply.
Please note the National Autistic Society are unable to provide sponsorship for Visas.
The National Autistic Society may use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist our recruitment team with reviewing applications for this role. All application decisions are made by people and are not determined automatically by AI.Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
About Disability Confident
Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
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