Support Worker

Papworth Trust; Great Shelford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A community-focused support organization is seeking a part-time Support Worker to provide essential support to adults with profound disabilities in Great Shelford. The successful candidate will assist with personal care, promote independence, and engage individuals in daily activities. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and preferably have experience with Makaton. The role offers competitive salary and generous holiday entitlements, aiming to empower individuals to lead meaningful lives.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

33 days holiday including bank holidays

Occupational sick pay

Enhanced pension contribution

Employee assistance helpline

Qualifications

• Experience supporting adults with profound learning disabilities and/or additional health care needs.
• Ability to create and tailor activities for engagement.
• Competence in using effective communication techniques.

Responsibilities

• Provide essential support to adults with disabilities.
• Assist with personal care and mobility needs.
• Empower customers to develop independence.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Experience with profound learning disabilities

Ability to use Makaton

Job description

Support Worker - Papworth Trust is seeking a part-time, permanent Support Worker to join our Supported Living Service Team in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, supporting adults with profound and multiple disabilities to live full, meaningful, and independent lives.

Why Papworth Trust

At Papworth Trust, we are committed to empowering disabled individuals and promoting their independence through tailored care services. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our high ratings from the Care Quality Commission, with many of our services achieving “Outstanding” and “Good” ratings. We operate across Suffolk, providing a range of services including housing support, employment assistance, and day opportunities aimed at nurturing individual potential and enhancing community involvement.

Fantastic company benefits include

• Competitive Salary: on offer is a salary of £13,759.40 per annum (£24,570 FTE).
• Holiday: 33 days holiday including bank holidays (pro rata for part‑timers).
• Occupational sick pay – 6 weeks full / 6 weeks half pay after probation.
• Pension: choice of two schemes with an enhanced employer contribution.
• Employee extras: health cashback plan, employee assistance helpline, online wellbeing apps, mental health first aid and wellbeing discussions, and access to ongoing training and development opportunities.

About the role

As a Support Worker, you will provide essential support to adults with profound and multiple disabilities, enabling independence, choice, and participation in daily activities. You will assist with personal care, mobility and engagement, adapting your approach to suit each individual. Working hours for this role are 21 per week, from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Empower customers to make choices, develop independence, and build meaningful relationships with peers.
• Support individuals with complex needs to engage in group activities or 1:1 sessions.
• Assist with personal care and mobility needs in line with Care and Support plans.
• Use effective communication techniques to enhance inclusion, understanding and engagement.
• Embrace Papworth Trust’s values in everything you do.

About you

As a Support Worker, you should be experienced and confident in supporting adults with profound learning disabilities and/or additional health‑care needs, adapting your approach to meet individual requirements. You should be able to create and tailor activities that enable engagement for people with complex sensory needs. Strong communication skills are essential, including the use of picture exchange, objects of reference, social stories, schedules and Makaton (experience preferred but not essential). You will be compassionate, patient and committed to delivering high‑quality, person‑centred support.

Additional information

The post is subject to an Enhanced DBS with Adults Barred List check. Papworth Trust is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome applications from disabled candidates and guarantee interviews to those who meet the minimum criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments or alternative formats, please let us know as early as possible. Candidates must be authorised to work in the UK.

If you are passionate about empowering individuals, promoting independence and delivering inclusive, high‑quality care, we would love to hear from you. To apply for the Support Worker role, please submit your CV today to apply and join our supportive and dynamic team.

Please check your email inbox and spam/junk mail folder for any email correspondence for this vacancy. No recruitment agencies please.

Additional Keywords

• Support Worker
• Disability Support Worker
• PMLD Support Worker
• Care Assistant
• Personal Care Assistant
• Community Support Worker
• Residential Support Worker
• Day Opportunities Support Worker
• Learning Disabilities Support Worker
• 1:1 Support Worker
• Makaton

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