Specialist Support Worker (Male Only)

Positive Futures; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

Positive Futures is seeking a Specialist Support Worker at The McSweeney Centre in Belfast. You will build a trusting relationship with the person supported, develop and evaluate their Person Centred Portfolio, and respond to risks with prompt, policy-aligned action.

The role emphasizes promoting independence, safeguarding, and community involvement, with a focus on Positive Behaviour Support and structured supervision from day one.

Qualifications

• QCF Level 2/3, Psychology Degree, Psychology Masters Degree or 3 Years' Experience in a health and social care setting
• 1-2 Years' Experience in a health and social care setting, alongside one of the above qualifications
• At least 1 year's experience of working with people with a learning disability OR autism
• At least 1 year's experience in managing behaviours of concern through Positive Behaviour Support
• Be registered, or be eligible for registration on appointment, on the appropriate part of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) or other relevant professional body
• Full, Valid UK/EU/EEA Driving Licence to fulfil the needs of the role

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate the Person Centred Portfolio and attend reviews with the person and their representatives
• Respond promptly to risks and escalate in line with Risk Management Policy
• Promote healthy choices and provide personal care with dignity and respect
• Identify and assess risk, applying controls and escalating as needed
• Help the person build independence, social connections and community involvement
• Maintain accurate records, write short reports and contribute to handovers and health and safety checks

Education

QCF Level 2/3

Psychology Degree

Psychology Masters Degree

3 Years Experience in health and social care setting

Job description

Job Description

Location: The McSweeney Centre, 31 Henry Place, Belfast,

Getting to know someone properly is where good support starts.

Positive Futures supports people with a learning disability, acquired brain injury or autism to live the life they choose, and as a Specialist Support Worker, you'll be one of the people who makes that real, day in and day out. This role is about more than presence. It's for someone ready to build the specialist skills that help a person feel genuinely understood, especially in the moments that are hardest to get right.

• Specialist skills that count: you'll receive training in Positive Behaviour Support and use it to help manage behaviours of concern with real understanding, not guesswork.
• Relationships that go somewhere: this isn't task-based support. You'll get the time and structure to properly know the person you're working with, and to help them live life on their terms.
• Support to grow: a full paid induction, specialist training, and regular supervision from day one, with real opportunities to build your career from there.

About The Role

Specialist training means being ready when someone needs you most.

At the centre of this role is one relationship: yours, with the person you're supporting. You'll work to understand their wishes and communication style, help develop and evaluate their Person Centred Portfolio, and attend reviews with them and the people who matter to them. Where risks come up, you'll respond to them promptly and elevate in line with our Risk Management Policy, and you'll help the person you support make informed choices about their own life.

Keeping people safe and healthy runs through everything. You'll promote healthy choices, provide personal care where it's needed while treating people with dignity and respect at all times, and act on any safeguarding concern in line with our policies. You'll also help identify and assess risk, applying the right controls and escalating where needed.

Beyond the one-to-one relationship, you'll support the person you work with to build independence, social connections and communication skills, including getting involved in their local community and, where it's part of their life, planning and going on holiday. You'll act as a role model for other staff and volunteers, get involved in the induction, coaching and mentoring of colleagues, and challenge poor practice where you see it. There's an administrative side too: keeping accurate records, writing short reports, contributing to handovers, and carrying out health and safety checks.

About The Company

Founded in 1995, Positive Futures has spent 30 years supporting people with learning disabilities, acquired brain injury and autism to live full, meaningful lives as valued members of their communities across Northern Ireland.

At Positive Futures, we foster a culture of respect, innovation and empowerment. We believe in putting people first—both those we support and our staff. We create environments where colleagues feel valued, where ideas for improvement are welcomed, and where continuous learning is encouraged. We support staff to grow professionally and personally, and we emphasise collaboration, listening and trust. Working with us means being part of a team that genuinely cares, is proactive in shaping futures and embraces the possibility in every situation.

With services and teams located across Northern Ireland, we continue to work alongside individuals, families and communities to create opportunities, break down barriers and transform lives.

Company Culture

Our Values

• People First -Our people are at the heart of everything we do
• Opportunities - We seek out opportunities that enrich lives and empower people
• Sustainability - We strive for positive social, economic and environmental benefits for now and in the future
• Innovation - We embrace creativity and continuous learning to reimagine and refine our unique person-centred support.
• Tenacious - We don't give up - we believe in making the impossible, possible
• Inclusion - Our staff and people we support are our strength, we listen and learn together
• Value for Money - Delivering impactful, life changing results with efficiency and integrity
• Expertise - We look beyond limitations in our pursuit of excellence

Required Criteria

• QCF Level 2 / 3, Psychology Degree, Psychology Masters Degree or 3 Year's Experience in a health and social care setting
• 1-2 Year's Experience in a health and social care setting, alongside one of the above qualifications
• At least 1 years' experience of working with people with a learning disability OR autism
• At least 1 years' experience in managing behaviours of concern through the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support.
• Be registered, or be eligible for registration on appointment, on the appropriate part of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) or other relevant professional body
• Full, Valid UK/EU/EEA Driving Licence to fulfil the needs of the role

Closing Date Thursday 1st October, 2026

Contract Type fulltime

Salary From £26,500.00 Yearly to £28,500.00 Yearly