Support Worker

Salutem Care & Education; Colchester; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Blue Light Card

Wagestream

Pension scheme

Free DBS check

Sovereign Health Care Plan

Canada Life Group Life Assurance

Blue Light App

Job summary

Salutem Care and Education in Colchester is recruiting a Support Worker to provide high‑quality, person‑centred care in our residential homes for adults with learning and physical disabilities. You will promote independence, dignity and wellbeing, supporting people to achieve goals and stay connected with their communities.

Shifts include days, nights, weekends and sleep‑ins; full training and DBS checks are provided.

Responsibilities

• Delivering support in line with individual care plans, risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans.
• Supporting physical and mental wellbeing, including healthcare appointments and healthy lifestyles.
• Assisting with personal care, mobility, nutrition and equipment where required.
• Administering medication safely in accordance with policies, procedures and training.
• Promoting positive behaviour support and responding calmly and appropriately to periods of distress.
• Safeguarding individuals by recognising and reporting concerns and promoting a safe, inclusive environment.
• Supporting daily living tasks, including household duties, meal preparation, shopping and maintaining a welcoming home.
• Maintaining accurate records, including care notes, health information, incidents and financial transactions.
• Supporting individuals with budgeting, finances and accessing benefits where appropriate.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, families, healthcare professionals and external agencies.
• Contributing to service quality, compliance, continuous improvement and regulatory standards.
• Attending training and working flexible shifts, including evenings, weekends, bank holidays, sleep-ins and waking nights as required.

Job description

About The Company

The Newlands family are recruiting!
Newlands is a vibrant residential care home in Colchester supporting adults with learning disabilities and physical disabilities to live their best lives every day!
As part of the Newlands family, every day will be different - you could be organising a surprise birthday party for Elaine, 'bouncing' with excitement as you celebrate Tracy's wins at her trampoline competitions, or going into town with everyone to meet all your favourite movie characters and superheroes! Whatever you get up to, you'll be making lifelong memories with the people you support.
We love the job we do, and we’re looking for new work-family members to share the good times with, so we can offer the best support we can, and keep having lots of fun too!

At Salutem Care and Education, we recognise the value and wisdom that come from all stages of life. Join our team to be a part of a community that truly appreciates the richness of age diversity.

Now we've shared a glimpse of what it's like to work for us, let us introduce ourselves. We’re Salutem and we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of thousands of children and adults in England and Wales across our residential homes, schools and day centres. Our dedicated support teams empower individuals to overcome any obstacles and live the life they choose.

Each day will be different, and the main focus of your role is to provide daily support to adults in our residential services. It’s definitely not a normal 9-5, you can work days, nights, and flexible shifts too. Talking of ‘dream’ jobs, some of our shifts are sleep‑ins!

We want the best for everyone we support and that's what makes us a family. If you have the ability to support someone to feel at home, be their true self, and do what makes their heart happy - we want to hear from you. This is a meaningful role and will suit someone who is looking to make a difference and make memories that'll last a lifetime.

We know our staff put 100% into building brighter futures for the individuals we support. That's why we offer career progression no matter where you start in the organisation. Your progress here will be regularly reviewed and as you gain expertise your rate of pay will increase. We believe in creating a Career from Care and we want the support workers we recruit now to become our managers of the future!

Benefits

• Competency Frameworks and Pay Scales – We have a development and reward initiative in place for all our individual colleagues and teams, showing clear career pathways, progression & promotion opportunities, and pay scales to work towards if desired.
• Blue Light Card – Working in social care, all our staff qualify for thousands of discounts in shops, restaurants, and venues on the high street with a Blue Light Card. You can register to get 2-years access to the Blue Light Card for £4.99 and reclaim this cost via our expenses process.
• Wagestream - Any day can be payday with Wagestream, as you can withdraw some of your wages earned early.*
• Care Friends, Refer-a-Friend Scheme – Instantly earn points and cash rewards for referring people you know for roles at Salutem.
• Sovereign Health Care Plan – Affordable cover to help with your healthcare and private medical costs.
• Canada Life, Group Life Assurance - To protect all our staff from day one of employment, we provide a Death in Service benefit via Canada Life, which is offered at 1 x your annual salary.
• Blink, our internal communications app - Giving you a voice and a sense of community across the organisation.
• Pension scheme - for all qualifying staff
• Free DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service)

As an organisation, we're committed to supporting our teams and offering a range of perks that look after your financial, mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

We have a massive duty of care towards those we support who are often the most vulnerable in society, which is why our staff are encouraged to keep up to date with vaccines and focus on self-care too.

About The Role

Support Worker - Key Responsibilities

Provide high-quality, person-centred support to individuals, promoting independence, choice, dignity, and wellbeing. Support people to achieve their personal goals, develop life skills, participate in their communities, and maintain meaningful relationships.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering support in line with individual care plans, risk assessments, and positive behaviour support plans.
• Supporting physical and mental wellbeing, including healthcare appointments, healthy lifestyles, and emotional support.
• Assisting with personal care, mobility, nutrition, and the use of specialist equipment where required.
• Administering medication safely in accordance with policies, procedures, and training.
• Promoting positive behaviour support and responding calmly and appropriately to periods of distress.
• Safeguarding individuals by recognising and reporting concerns and promoting a safe, inclusive environment.
• Supporting daily living tasks, including household duties, meal preparation, shopping, and maintaining a clean and welcoming home.
• Maintaining accurate records, including care notes, health information, incidents, and financial transactions.
• Supporting individuals with budgeting, finances, and accessing benefits where appropriate.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, families, healthcare professionals, and external agencies.
• Contributing to service quality, compliance, continuous improvement, and regulatory standards.
• Attending training and working flexible shifts, including evenings, weekends, bank holidays, sleep‑ins, and waking nights as required.

This role requires a caring, compassionate, and proactive individual who is committed to delivering outstanding support and achieving positive outcomes for the people they support.

Our Core Values

• Supportive: Helping everyone reach their full potential.
• Ambitious: Striving for the best outcomes.
• Loyal: Prioritising our staff and the people we support.
• Unique: Innovating without compromising quality.
• Transparent: Fostering openness and mutual respect.
• Engaging: Partnering with everyone involved.
• Meaningful: Offering fulfilling opportunities.

Why Choose Us?

• Emotional Support: 24/7 Employee Assistance, mental health resources, meditation apps, and bereavement support.
• Medical Support: Free Online GP access, Health Cash Plan, Cancer Cover, and Menopause support.
• Financial Support: Flexible pay with Wagestream, utility bill savings, Money Helper, and Life Assurance.
• Physical Support: Online workouts, Cycle to Work scheme, gym discounts, and National Trust activities.

Still not convinced?

• Recognised as a Top Employer United Kingdom 2026 by the Top Employers Institute.
• Named among the Top 100 Global Inspiring Workplaces by Inspiring Workplaces.
• Proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer.

Salutem Care and Education is dedicated to protecting and promoting the well-being of children, young adults, and vulnerable individuals. As part of our safer recruitment process, the successful candidate will be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS and, where applicable, overseas criminal record checks.