Support Worker

Kent Autistic Trust; Chatham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Pension

Enhanced DBS (fully paid)

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Kent Autistic Trust is seeking a Specialist Support Worker to provide practical and emotional support to adults with autism at our Newton Close residential service. You will assist with personal care, medication, daily routines, and help individuals participate in community activities, with a 3-week rota and sleep-in shifts.

The role offers a permanent contract, 35 hours per week, with early and late shifts and a rota.

Qualifications

• Manual UK driving licence is essential.
• Ability to support individuals with autism and other needs.
• Right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship).

Responsibilities

• Provide practical and emotional support tailored to each individual.
• Assist with personal care, medication, and daily routines.
• Encourage and empower people to make choices and participate in activities.

Skills

Manual UK driving licence

Empathy and communication

Job description

You'll need a full UK manual driving licence to drive the people we support in their mobility vehicles.

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 per week (average across a 3-week rota)

Fixed Rota

Earlies: 7am-4pm

Lates:4pm-10pm

Are you looking for a genuinely rewarding role where your work truly matters? Join Kent Autistic Trust, an organisation with services rated Good or Outstanding, and be part of a team that puts people, choice, and dignity first. Our Support Workers don't just support they empower.

Newton Close is our newest residential service, currently supporting 5 male adults with autism. It is a detached building set over two levels with gardens surrounded by woodlands. The individuals participate in a wide range of activities within the community including swimming, bowling and rambles. In the service they love to take part in arts and crafts, cookery, and enjoy arranging special events.

The specialist staff team in situ are looking forward to welcoming a new colleague to their team and has suggested we let you know they love to socialize together at concerts and enjoy the odd panic room experience!

We are looking for a Specialist Support Worker who truly believes that everyone has the right to be involved in all aspects of their own life. In this role, you will provide practical and emotional support tailored to each individual, support with personal care, medication, and daily routines, encourage and empower people to make choices and take an active role in their lives.

You could earn £26,540 per year based on 35 hours per week including one sleep-in.and many experienced Support Workers earn over £30,000 per year through overtime.

You will be joining an experienced and welcoming specialist staff team who value teamwork, mutual support, and strong connections. The team enjoy regular coffee catch-ups to reflect, unwind, and support one another, and are looking forward to welcoming a new colleague.

If you are kind, patient, calm under pressure, and passionate about inclusion, dignity, and choice, and you believe everyone deserves a life full of connection, purpose, and joy, we would love to hear from you.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with overtime opportunities
• 28 days holiday plus the option to buy more
• Pension, sick pay, staff discounts, employee assistance programme
• Friendly, supportive team culture
• Refer a friend scheme
• Fully paid enhanced DBS

Key Requirements

• Manual UK driving licence essential confident driving mobility vehicles/people carriers
• Right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available)
• Ability to confidently and consistently support individuals who may experience emotional distress, heightened anxiety, or difficulty regulating their behaviour
• Clear, calm, and adaptable communication style to meet the needs of individuals with complex communication profiles

Working Pattern

This role includes all shift types as part of a 3-week Rota, including:

• Early shifts: 7:00am 4:00pm
• Late shifts: 4:00pm 10:00pm
• Sleep-ins: Required as part of the Rota (paid at £60 per night)
• Weekend working is also required on a rotational basis

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 the people we support with autism, mental health issues, learning disabilities and related difficulties. 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.

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
• Regulated Care Qualification Sponsorship
• Recruitment Incentive for Staff Introductions

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.