Support Assistant

Estuary Housing Association; Leigh on Sea; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A community support organization in Leigh-On-Sea is seeking a dedicated Support Assistant to provide person-centred care for individuals with learning disabilities. This full-time role includes shift work with excellent training and benefits. Key responsibilities involve assisting with daily living, maintaining records, and fostering strong relationships with residents. The position offers a variety of shifts and requires commitment to the organization's values of respect and accountability. Ideal candidates will have a strong understanding of the needs of people with disabilities.

Benefits

Cash health plan

31 days holiday

Pension scheme

Paid training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Ability to provide person-centered support.
• Understanding of the needs and rights of individuals with disabilities.
• Experience in a caring environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centred support for daily living.
• Maintain accurate records of support.
• Participate in team activities and meetings.
• Develop relationships with residents and stakeholders.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Understanding of learning disabilities

Respect for equality and diversity

Education

Qualification in care or related field

Job description

We are currently recruiting a Support Assistant to join our team in Leigh‑On‑Sea, to work on a full‑time basis (37.5 hours per week).

The team deliver a supported living care service and the home supports 5 individuals with learning disabilities. This is a 24‑hour service with a mixture of day, early and late shifts (these are currently 12.5‑hour shifts but subject to change with customer needs) with optional sleep‑in shifts available.

The home offers a private garden area that the residents enjoy, and private off‑road parking is available.

For the successful applicant, there will be variety in your day‑to‑day role, alongside excellent training. You will support the residents by offering person‑centred support and a choice of daily activities to provide a fulfilled and meaningful quality of life. You will maintain and develop their independence within the home, as well as accessing the community to new and established activities therefore empowering each person to their own level in a 24‑hour care setting.

Responsibilities

• To provide person‑centred support to people with all aspects of their daily living including but not limited to personal care and involvement in the community.
• To maintain records of support provided and to actively contribute to support planning and periodic reviews.
• To positively contribute to the corporate core values of Respect, One Estuary, Accountable and Responsible.
• To be able to actively participate and contribute to providing a 24‑hour service that is Caring, Safe and Responsive to the needs of the people we support in an Effective and Well‑Led manner.
• To develop and maintain effective professional relationships with residents and other key stakeholders such as family, friends, and advocates.
• To take responsibility for shift leading as per the rota in operation.
• To actively participate in regular team meetings, supervisions, and other meetings.
• Basic understanding and promoting of the needs, rights equality, and diversity of the people we support of people with disabilities.
• Basic knowledge of the regulators and legislation that govern our services and an understanding of where to find this information.
• The ability to communicate effectively orally, in writing, electronically with colleagues, interested other professionals and the people we support.
• The ability to work effectively both alone and as part of a team.
• An understanding of Learning Disabilities is desirable.

If you are keen to make a difference and able to work amongst a team to deliver excellent care this could be the job for you.

Full training will be provided, someone new to the sector can fulfil this role following a successful interview, we will then support the successful applicant to complete the Care Certificate within their probation.

Our services do require 24‑hour support and staff are expected to work bank holidays and weekends to meet the needs of the people we support. In return for your commitment, we offer an excellent benefits package, including a cash health plan which supports your everyday wellbeing, making some treatments more affordable alongside 31 days holiday (inclusive of bank holiday allowance), an additional day for Birthday leave and our competitive pension scheme. We offer a range of benefits including an excellent pension scheme, healthcare cash plan, Cyclescheme and season ticket loans. Further to this you can expect generous holiday and paid leave allowances, tailored induction programme and fantastic ongoing training and development opportunities.

Values‑Based Recruitment

Estuary has a value‑based recruitment policy which means our selection process is aligned with our core values of Respect, One Estuary, Accountable and Responsible.

Safeguarding & Recruitment

Estuary is committed to safeguarding and practices safer recruitment standards and expects all staff to share the commitment to safeguarding children and people with care and support needs.

The successful applicants will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK. Please note that at this time, we’re unable to accept applications from candidates who require visa/work permit sponsorship. We appreciate your understanding and we welcome applications from all candidates who are eligible to work in the UK without sponsorship.

If applicable: This post is also subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

Estuary is Inclusive

At Estuary, we’re committed to embedding equality and diversity at the heart of our work. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, where individual differences are respected, where staff, people who use services, as well as their families and carers, are treated with dignity and on the basis of their merits, abilities and needs, and where everyone has a fair opportunity to fulfil their potential without suffering discrimination or disadvantage.

We always strive to recruit the person most suited to the job, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Anonymous Shortlisting

To further support our aim to be an inclusive employer, we use specific software to remove all person‑identifiable information from CVs, including name and dates of employment/education, also date of birth, age and gender where a candidate has included these details in their CV. Your personal details will only be made available to hiring managers if you are selected for interview.

Estuary is Disability Confident

We’re also a certified Disability Confident Employer, which means we are committed to employing people with disabilities, and that we will:

• Actively seek to attract and recruit people with disabilities
• Provide a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process
• Offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy
• Be flexible with our assessment process to ensure applicants with disabilities have the best opportunity to demonstrate their ability to do the job
• Make reasonable adjustments to support people with disabilities as needed.

Accessibility