Specialist Support Worker (Mental Health)

Look Ahead Care Support and Housing; Ayot Green; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Free DBS

Discounts & Blue Light Card

Induction & training

ILM courses & Apprenticeship Program

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Online wellbeing resources

Pension contributions & life cover

Staff recognition

Job summary

Look Ahead Care Support and Housing is seeking Specialist Behaviour Support Workers to help people with learning disabilities live fuller lives in London and the South East. The role includes weekend shifts and sleep-in duties at the service, with a focus on person-centred support and skill development.

You will assist with independent living activities, sensory experiences, communication, and anxiety management using Positive Behaviour Support, while documenting data for ongoing review and

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years of experience with Autism/Challenging Behaviour/learning disabilities
• Driving licence and willingness to drive as part of duties

Responsibilities

• Develop customer independence in daily living activities (cooking, shopping, cleaning, decorating)
• Support sensory routines and trial new experiences
• Assist communication of wants/needs in a person-centred way
• Support anxiety management using Positive Behaviour Support and autism-specific approaches
• Collect behavioural data and essential paperwork for local management review
• Be proactive in trying new things and taking positive risks

Skills

Communication

Person-centred

Behaviour support

Education

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent

Job description

Specialist Behaviour Support Workers are responsible for supporting people with learning disabilities and behavioural needs to live full lives, develop skills and maintain their wellbeing. This role includes weekend work and will involve shift-based scheduling during weekends. This role requires sleep-in shifts at the service. Supporting the customer to lead a full and active life and do things they enjoy, sensitively and persistently trying to new things to open up new opportunities for the customer;

• Developing the customer's independent living skills and involving them in aspects of maintaining and developing their home, including cooking, shopping, cleaning and decorating;
• Supporting the customer in their sensory routine, trialling and testing new sensory experiences;
• Supporting the customer to communicate their wants and needs and develop new ways of doing this, communicating with them in a person-centred way;
• Supporting the customer to manage their anxieties, using Positive Behaviour Support and Autism-specific approaches;
• Collating a range of behavioural data and essential paperwork to be analysed within our local management structure;
• Is confident enough to try new things and take positive risks on a regular basis
• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with customers with Autism/Challenging Behaviour/learning disabilities
• Driving licence and a willingness to drive as part of support duties

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co‑design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&​Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution