Senior Support Worker

ESPA; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement

Pension & life cover

Meals provided on shift

Sick pay

Job summary

ESPA is seeking a Senior Support Worker to join the Queen Alexandra Road Supported Living Service for autistic adults with complex needs, plus two outreach sites nearby.

You will deputise for the Team Leader, provide senior on-call cover, and help foster a positive, person-centred environment. A proactive, compassionate approach and leadership experience are valued.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ experience as a Support Worker, plus supervisory exposure.
• Experience supporting people with autism or related conditions.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Confident, compassionate, and committed to quality care.
• Willing to work towards a relevant qualification.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Team Leader in their absence.
• Provide senior on-call cover as part of a senior team.
• Lead by example and support colleagues within a team.
• Contribute to all aspects of service delivery.
• Help create a positive, person-centred environment.

Skills

Leadership experience

Autism support

Communication

MS Word

Outlook

Teams

Supervisory skills

Organisational skills

Initiative

Education

Relevant qualification

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

We are excited to recruit a Senior Support Worker to join our friendly team at Queen Alexandra Road Supported Living Service for people on the autism spectrum with complex needs. This would also include working at two outreach services nearby. We’re looking for someone warm, confident, and compassionate, with a genuine commitment to person-centred care. In this role, you will lead by example, support colleagues, and help create a positive environment where everyone can thrive. Experience in leadership is helpful, but most importantly, we’re looking for someone proactive, supportive, and passionate about making a difference. The post requires a high level of commitment and flexibility towards service delivery, and you should be able to contribute to all aspects of the service. You will be required to deputise for the Team Leader in their absence, and you will be part of a senior team providing senior on call cover.

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Have experience supporting people with autism or related conditions
• Have a minimum of two years’ experience as a Support Worker and, preferably, some experience in a senior or supervisory role.
• Are confident, compassionate, and committed to delivering high-quality care
• Can lead by example and support colleagues within a team setting
• Have strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Have a good working knowledge of Microsoft systems (e.g. Word, Outlook, Teams)
• Can manage and respond positively to behaviours that challenge
• Are organised, proactive, and able to take initiative
• Hold a relevant qualification or are willing to work towards one

In return, we can offer you:

• 6 weeks (including bank holidays) paid holiday increasing to 8 weeks
• Company Pension Scheme/Life Assurance
• Meals provided on shift
• Company sick pay scheme up to 3 months full pay