Residential Assistant (Support Worker)

Essex County Council; Basildon; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Support for unpaid carers

Job summary

Essex County Council is seeking a part‑time care worker to join the Longwood Place short break service, supporting adults with learning and physical disabilities across all aspects of daily life. You will work a rota to meet home needs and provide a high‑quality, person‑centred service in residential and community settings.

The role requires GCSE (or equivalent) and experience in social care, with strong communication, teamwork and a commitment to dignity and privacy.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE (or equivalent) with willingness to achieve the award within 24 months.
• Experience within a social care setting and working within a team environment.
• Good communication skills and an ability to develop rapport with diverse groups.
• Some experience working with adults with disabilities or a desire to work in this field.
• Awareness of person-centred approach and respect for dignity and privacy, promoting choice.
• Knowledge of needs of individuals and related legislation (Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity).
• Willing to undertake training: Manual Handling, First Aid Awareness, Food Hygiene, Risk and Conflict Management, Data Protection and Health and Safety

Responsibilities

• Provides support to individuals to reach optimum independence and exert control in daily lives.
• Supports individuals to access social and leisure activities.
• Monitors emotional wellbeing and protects adults from abuse, reporting concerns.
• Helps individuals make choices with dignity and privacy.
• Maintains respectful, patient, and courteous interactions with adults, families, visitors and colleagues.
• Work as part of a team at Longwood Place short break service to deliver high-quality care to adults with learning and physical disabilities.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Dignity and privacy

Education

GCSE or equivalent

Job description

• Provides support to individuals to ensure they are able to reach their optimum independence and can exert control in their everyday lives, in accordance with the care plan.
• Supports individuals/groups to access social and leisure activities which may include college classes, resource centres, community access and other activities.
• Monitoring individual emotional and general wellbeing on a daily basis and ensure the protection of adults from abuse, reporting any concerns to senior managers.
• Support individuals to make choices in a way that always respects their dignity and privacy and promotes their choice in accordance with the care plan and any other key documents.
• Ensure respectful, patient and courteous approaches are undertaken with adults, their families, visitors and colleagues whether within the home or out in the community., As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in

• Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) or equivalent by experience with a willingness to achieve the award within 24 months of starting the role.
• Experience within a social care setting and working within a team environment.
• Good communication skills and an ability to develop a rapport and engage with diverse groups of individuals.
• Some experience working with adults with disability or the desire to working in this field.
• Awareness of a person entered approach and respect for dignity and privacy, promoting choice.
• Understanding of and the ability to develop knowledge of the needs of individuals and legislation in respect of Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity and other such relevant legislation policy and procedure as appropriate.
• Willing to undertake training in the following if not already completed: Manual Handling, First Aid Awareness, Food Hygiene, Risk and Conflict Management, Data Protection and Health and Safety

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in

Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you. In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader.

We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job.

Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

You will work as part Team at Longwood Place short break service supporting adult with a learning and physical disability within all aspects of their lives, you will work a rota pattern to meet the needs of the home and the post Holder. You must have experience in care or a passion to learn and be able to work in a person-centred manner, that is flexible and reliable. Some experience in this field would be desirable. Full training is provided, and induction is paid. This role will be focused on being a committed, flexible and passionate member of a team working within a residential/short break service to ensure the provision of a high-quality service for adults.

Please note this is a part time position working 32 hours per week with a pro rata salary of £22,451 per annum.