Support Worker

Kent Autistic Trust; Ashford; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Pension

DBS Check

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts

Job summary

Kent Autistic Trust in Ashford is seeking a dedicated Support Worker to empower autistic adults to achieve goals and live independently. You'll work as part of a passionate team, providing person-centred care, building confidence, and supporting daily living skills.

The role includes shift patterns on a 3-week rolling rota, with early and late shifts, and opportunities to grow through training. 28 days holiday and pension benefits accompany a commitment to dignity and choice.

Qualifications

• Drive a mobility car or service vehicle (manual license required).
• Support individuals with autism in the community and activities.
• Promote independence, dignity and choice for residents.

Responsibilities

• Drive a mobility car or service vehicle.
• Support individuals who may display stressed behaviours.
• Assist in activities such as bike rides, walks and shopping.
• Administer medication as required.
• Assist with personal care and hygiene.
• Be confident and experienced in lone working.
• Sleep-in shifts with an NLW-top-up allowance where applicable.
• Household tasks including cooking and cleaning.
• Maintain privacy, confidentiality and dignity.
• Handle money for shopping and banking tasks.
• Build good relationships with staff across services.
• Maintain written records accurately.

Skills

Mobility car driving

Manual driving license

Compassionate approach

Independent working

Job description

Location

Ashford

Working Hours

Job Reference

02/10/26JR

28 days per annum

Closing Date

30-Oct-26

Support Worker

Make a Difference Every Day

Are you looking for a genuinely rewarding role where your work has a real impact? Join Kent Autistic Trust, an organisation with services rated Good and Outstanding, and become part of a team dedicated to promoting choice, independence, and dignity.

As a Support Worker, you'll do more than provide support. You'll empower autistic adults to achieve their goals, develop life skills, build confidence, and live fulfilling lives within their communities.

Working as part of a supportive and passionate team, you'll help create safe, person-centred environments where people are encouraged to make their own choices, maintain their independence, and thrive.

If you're compassionate, committed, and motivated by making a positive difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Meet the Team:

Our Jemmett Road site offers superb residential accommodation for 5 adults with Autism. Everyone has their own room which they have decorated and chosen the furnishings themselves with help from their staff team. There are shared communal areas which include a lovely large garden and a sensory room for all to enjoy. Our residents are really active and love to go on lots of different adventures visiting a variety of locations to explore. Participate in a wide range of activities such as visiting theme parks and going on rides, going to the pub, eating out, shopping, baking, listening to music, and socialising with other people.

Shift Pattern:

You will work on a 3-week rolling rota, so you can plan your life around your shifts!

Early shifts: 7:00am 4:00pm

Late shifts: 4:00pm 10:00pm

Tasks / Responsibilities of a Support Worker (may include but not limited to):

• Drive a mobility car or service vehicle. Manual License required (ESSENTIAL)
• Working with individuals who can display stressed behaviours, mental health issues, hurting self or others, running away, throwing things, swearing, shouting and damaging property.
• Support individuals within the community in activities such as bike rides, long walks & shopping.
• Administering medication
• Assisting individuals with personal care and hygiene
• Be confident & experienced in lone working.
• Staff in CQC Registered and Supported Living services are required to undertake sleep-in shifts and receive an allowance, topped up to NLW
• Household management tasks including cooking, cleaning etc.
• Uphold their privacy, confidentially and dignity.
• Handle money to shop, going to the bank etc.
• Working with and supporting individuals with additional needs, such as epilepsy, pica, learning disabilities.
• To form good working relationships with other members of staff across different services.
• Ensuring written records are correctly maintained.
• Staff in CQC Registered and Supported Living services are required to undertake sleep-in shifts and receive an allowance, topped up to NLW where appropriate.

Qualities of a Support Worker:

• An ability to think on your feet and problem solve.
• Understanding everyone's abilities and support needs.
• Promoting independence and choice
• Promoting equality, diversity & inclusion
• Form good working relationships with other members of staff.
• A commitment to continuous personal development and learning.

Benefits We Offer you as a Support Worker:

We offer many benefits, which include some salary sacrifice arrangements, although some benefits are dependent on a minimum earnings threshold:

• Paid DBS Check
• 28 days holiday, plus option to buy 5 extra days pa (Pro Rata for Part Time Positions)
• Company Sick Pay after 12 months service
• Some meals provided, depending on shifts
• Long Service and Contribution Recognition Awards
• Pension (after 3 months)
• Employee Assistance Programme, with counselling services
• Significant Retail and Leisure Discount Scheme that could save staff an average of £1,000 pa
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Financial Well-being Scheme (loans and savings)
• Additional Sleep In Shifts may be available
• Opportunities to pick up additional voluntary casual shifts at enhanced rates
• Superb paid training

About the Trust:

Supporting over 80 people in Medway and across Kent, The Kent Autistic Trust provides a wide range of services designed to meet diverse needs of autistic people and people with Associated Neuro developmental conditions. We provide residential homes, supported living accommodation, day resource services, respite, and outreach services. Ensuring the voice of those we support is actively listened to, working for us often means that no two days are the same, but the care and support we give is of consistently high quality, with CQC rating all our services good, and many outstanding.

Our Values and Commitment:

KAT is committed to providing high quality supports designed around individual abilities, needs and choices. KAT is committed to promoting independence and inclusion within communities. KAT believes everyone is able to make their own individual contribution. KAT seeks to work in partnership with all relevant parties but in particular with the individual themselves.

We seek Support Workers who really value every person, whether it's the people we support, their families, carers, or other staff by respecting their priorities, needs, abilities and limits.

We hope you are one of them!

We do not accept applications made via agencies for Support Workers.

Please find attached a copy of our Privacy Notice. Or a copy can be found on our website.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found or experiencing a high volume of applications.