Senior Support Worker

The Bridge Care; Leeds; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bridge Leeds is seeking a dedicated Senior Support Worker to lead day-to-day care for adults with learning disabilities and autism, delivering person-centred support and mentoring the team.

You will develop care plans, supervise staff, and ensure high standards of care align with regulatory requirements, safeguarding, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or supervising staff
• Ability to supervise and support a team effectively
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• A commitment to person-centred care and positive outcomes
• Professional, compassionate, and reliable approach
• Ability to handle confidential information appropriately
• Commitment to ongoing learning and development
• Desirable: Previous experience supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism
• Desirable: Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care, or willingness to work towards it

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, person-centred care to individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs.
• Support individuals with personal care tasks in a way that respects their dignity and preferences.
• Develop and implement support plans tailored to individual needs, ensuring they are up-to-date and reflect the goals of the people supported.
• Monitor individuals' progress towards their goals and adapt care plans as needed.
• Promote independence and encourage individuals to engage in meaningful activities.
• Act as a role model for the team by demonstrating The Bridge's values and promoting a positive, inclusive environment.
• Supervise and support support workers, offering guidance and support with daily tasks and care provision.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to new and less experienced staff, ensuring they understand and follow care protocols and best practices.
• Assist with team inductions and training, ensuring all staff are well-prepared for their roles and responsibilities.
• Assist with the recruitment and onboarding of new staff as required.
• Oversee and contribute to the smooth running of the service, ensuring a high standard of care and service delivery.
• Manage and complete necessary documentation, including care plans, risk assessments, and daily logs.
• Assist in maintaining the service in line with CQC and other regulatory bodies' requirements.
• Take a lead role in ensuring that service users' rights are protected, and that safeguarding procedures are followed appropriately.
• Participate in team meetings, offering feedback and contributing to continuous service improvements.
• Ensure that all team members are adequately trained in safeguarding, person-centred care, and other topics.
• Take a lead role in facilitating training sessions and workshops for staff and ensure ongoing development.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Mentoring

Supervising

Organization

Time management

Person-centred care

Confidentiality

Professionalism

Learning and development

Education

Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care

Job description

Job Description

Support Worker – Make a Real Difference Every Day

Important Information – Please Read Before Applying

We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants must have the unrestricted right to work in the UK.

A full UK driving licence is desirable due to the nature of the role and the needs of the people we support.

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Support Worker will play a crucial role in delivering high-quality, person-centred care for adults with learning disabilities and autism. This role combines frontline support with leadership duties, acting as a role model for the team, assisting with staff development, and ensuring the effective delivery of care. The Senior Support Worker will support individuals to live fulfilling lives, achieve their goals, and maintain their independence in a safe and respectful environment. They will work closely with internal teams, families, and external professionals to ensure that the care provided meets regulatory and organisational standards.

The Senior Support Worker will lead by example, working to create a positive, inclusive environment that encourages personal growth and independence for the people we support. They will be involved in daily care activities, helping to develop and implement individual care plans, and supporting the overall smooth running of the service. This role includes providing leadership within the team, supervising staff, and contributing to the development of new staff and the continuous improvement of service delivery.

What You'll Be Doing

• Supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex support needs.
• Providing person-centred support tailored to each individual's needs, preferences and goals.
• Promoting independence, dignity, choice and personal wellbeing.
• Supporting individuals with daily living tasks and personal care, where required.
• Encouraging and supporting people to access their local community and take part in activities they enjoy.
• Supporting individuals to develop life skills, confidence and independence.
• Following and contributing to individual support plans, risk assessments and agreed support approaches.
• Responding calmly, positively and safely when individuals experience periods of distress or behaviours of concern.
• Building positive, trusting relationships with the people we support, their families and external professionals.
• Working collaboratively as part of a supportive and dedicated team.
• Leading by example, acting as a role model and championing person-centred support across the service.
• Providing day-to-day guidance, coaching and support to Support Workers.
• Assisting with the induction, training and development of new and existing team members.
• Supporting the smooth running of the service, ensuring high standards of care and documentation are maintained.
• Monitoring and reviewing care records, support plans and risk assessments to ensure they remain accurate and up to date.
• Promoting safeguarding, health and safety, medication management and compliance with CQC standards.
• Contributing to service improvement initiatives, team meetings and quality assurance activities.

Shift Patterns – Including Weekends

Flexibility is essential, with a mixture of day, night and weekend shifts:

• Day Shift: 07:30 – 21:30
• Night Shift: 21:15 – 07:45 As a Senior Support Worker it is vital you are flexible with working hours to meet the needs of the people we support and the service, you will also need to participate in on-call duties and taking a lead role during incidents or emergencies when required.

What We're Looking For

Essential

Strong communication and leadership skills

Experience mentoring, coaching, or supervising staff

Ability to supervise and support a team effectively

Excellent organisational and time management skills

A commitment to person-centred care and positive outcomes

Professional, compassionate, and reliable approach

Ability to handle confidential information appropriately

Commitment to ongoing learning and development

Desirable

Previous experience supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism

Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care, or willingness to work towards it

About The Role

Key Responsibilities:

• Person-Centred Care:
  • Deliver high-quality, person-centred care to individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs.
  • Support individuals with personal care tasks in a way that respects their dignity and preferences.
  • Develop and implement support plans tailored to individual needs, ensuring they are up-to-date and reflect the goals of the people supported.
  • Monitor individuals' progress towards their goals and adapt care plans as needed.
  • Promote independence and encourage individuals to engage in meaningful activities.
• Team Leadership and Supervision:
  • Act as a role model for the team by demonstrating The Bridge's values and promoting a positive, inclusive environment.
  • Supervise and support support workers, offering guidance and support with daily tasks and care provision.
  • Provide leadership and mentorship to new and less experienced staff, ensuring they understand and follow care protocols and best practices.
  • Assist with team inductions and training, ensuring all staff are well-prepared for their roles and responsibilities.
  • Assist with the recruitment and onboarding of new staff as required.
• Service Management:
  • Oversee and contribute to the smooth running of the service, ensuring a high standard of care and service delivery.
  • Manage and complete necessary documentation, including care plans, risk assessments, and daily logs.
  • Assist in maintaining the service in line with CQC and other regulatory bodies' requirements.
  • Take a lead role in ensuring that service users' rights are protected, and that safeguarding procedures are followed appropriately.
  • Participate in team meetings, offering feedback and contributing to continuous service improvements.
• Training and Development:
  • Ensure that all team members are adequately trained in key areas such as safeguarding, person-centred care, and any other relevant topics.
  • Take a lead role in facilitating training sessions and workshops for staff and ensure their ongoing development.
  • Support and coach staff to develop their skills and enhance their performance in the workplace.
  • The role of Senior Support Worker requires this position to have or be working towards a Level 3 (Health & Social Care) diploma. This is a crucial part of the role, and all Senior Support Workers need to have or be working towards this qualification while in this position.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  • Communicate effectively with all stakeholders, including families, external professionals, and colleagues.
  • Collaborate with other professionals to ensure the people we support are receiving the best possible care.
  • Attend multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings to provide input on care plans and support needs.
  • Foster positive relationships with the families and carers of the people we support.
• Health and Safety:
  • Ensure that health and safety standards are maintained and promote a safe working environment for all staff.
  • Monitor medication administration, ensuring that all medications are safely stored, administered, and documented.
  • Act as a point of contact for any incidents or emergencies, taking appropriate action when required.
  • Infection control and COSHH rules must be followed as outlined in our safety management booklet available on QCS.
• Regulatory and Quality Assurance:
  • Ensure compliance with internal and external regulations, including the Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
  • Participate in audits and reviews of care practices to ensure the service is continually improving.
  • Report concerns about practice, incidents, or breaches in care standards to the Registered Manager.