Senior Support Worker

East Sussex County Council; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

East Sussex County Council invites applications for a Senior Support Worker at Grangemead in Hailsham. The role supports adults with learning disabilities in a warm, hospital-style setting, including medication administration, activities, nutrition, and personal care. You will lead a team, manage handovers, and contribute to service improvements.

The post involves a six-week rota with early and late shifts and some weekend work. Interviews are in person; DBS checks are required.

Qualifications

• Ability to promote and monitor good practice.
• Strong organisation and time management for self and others.
• Ability to plan, review and develop packages of support.
• Ability to identify and manage risks.
• Remain calm when demands are conflicting or high-pressure.

Responsibilities

• Administer medications as required and supervise personal care.
• Engage guests in enjoyable activities and social interactions.
• Prepare drinks and snacks as needed during shifts.
• Provide support across a range of needs from low-level to complex including PEG feeding.
• Lead and support a team of support workers and handover to other teams.

Skills

Promote good practice

Organisation

Package planning

Risk management

Calm under pressure

Job description

Job Description

Are you ready for a rewarding career where you can truly make a difference in the lives of others? If so, this could be the job for you!

At Grangemead, a top-tier respite and emergency service for adults with learning disabilities located in Hailsham, we are looking for a passionate Senior Support Worker to join our dedicated team. Our beautifully refurbished facility provides a warm, hotel-style atmosphere complete with en-suite accommodations and interactive sensory equipment to enrich our guests’ experiences. We offer a fun holiday experience for both long and short respite stays, promoting life skills, independence, community presence, and opportunities for guests to forge new friendships. Our emergency services accommodate individuals facing challenging life circumstances such as safeguarding issues, homelessness, illness, bereavement, or the end of placement with caregivers.

The role of Senior is integral at Grangemead, you will form part of the management structure and be available for both staff and guests on a daily basis. As a Senior, you will complete handovers to other teams as well as providing feedback to management and implementing changes to improve the service. This role includes, administering medication, engaging guests in enjoyable activities, preparing drinks and snacks when needed, and assisting with personal care are key responsibilities of the role. It also involves supporting guests with a wide range of needs, from low-level support to high and complex requirements, including PEG feeding, managing challenging behaviours, and providing moving and handling support, as well as managing and leading a team of support workers.

We’re Seeking Candidates Who

• Ability to promote and monitor good practice.
• Organisational skills and time management of self and others.
• Ability to plan, review and develop packages of support.
• Ability to identify and manage risks.
• Ability to remain calm when demands are conflicting and competing.

Our rotas operate on a 6-week rolling schedule, with Senior support workers completing both early shifts from 07:15 to 15:00 and late shifts from 14:00 to 21:45, please note this includes working 2 in every 3 weekends.

See Example Of Rota Below

Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun
OFF 14.00 - 21.45 07:15 - 15.00 OFF 14.00- 21.45 07:15 - 14:30 14.00 - 21.45

Please download the Job Description & Person Specification for more information.

Interviews will be held in person at Grangemead as guest involvement is a crucial part of our recruitment process. Interviews will be scheduled September 2026. If for any reason you can't make the confirmed interview date please let us know and we may be able to offer an alternative.

Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

We value your unique qualities! We believe that your core values matter most. We are committed to providing excellent training opportunities, thorough induction, and ongoing supervision to help you develop the necessary skills for success in this role.

"Support Work is a privilege and offers the chance to turn kindness into a career. How often are you able to support another human being to live life to the full? In this job you can every day."

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page .

For an informal discussion about this opportunity contact Claire Murphy - Team Leader [e-mail] or Kez Hubberstey-Barnes [e-mail] to request a MS teams call or phone call.

Vocational Training through Apprenticeships is now available to our staff, ranging from entry level to degree level qualifications. You can talk to the hiring manager and the apprenticeship team about what qualifications would be relevant to you and this job role, and if it is possible to support you in apprenticeship training .

For a team that supports me, choose East Sussex!

About Us

Additional Information

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record . Please note that we require evidence of an overseas police check if you have lived or worked abroad.

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.