Support worker

National Autistic Society; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Auto-enrolled pension

33 days annual leave

Autism training

Staff discounts

Cash plan health care

Life assurance 2x salary

Flexible benefits

24-hour Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

The National Autistic Society seeks a caring and reliable Support Worker for Merlewood House in Great Harwood, Lancashire. You will help residents live their best lives by following personalised support plans and daily routines.

This full-time role (37 hours per week) includes evening and weekend flexibility. DBS checks are encouraged and a driving licence is preferred. Training and exceptional benefits accompany a rewarding opportunity to support autistic adults.

Qualifications

• We are looking for caring and reliable Support Workers.
• Experience with autistic people is helpful but not essential.
• Personal experience or a passion for helping others is welcome.

Responsibilities

• Assist with personal care as needed (bathing, dressing, eating).
• Encourage activities residents enjoy (swimming, hiking, arts & crafts).
• Support life skills and independence (budgeting, shopping, meal preparation).

Skills

Caring nature

Reliability

Strong communication

Job description

The National Autistic Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks.

Support Worker

Company: National Autistic Society
Salary: Not specified
Hours: Full-time
Location: Lancashire, BB6 7RF
Job type: Permanent
Posting date: 3 Nov 2026
Closing date: 3 Dec 2026

Join us as a Support Worker at Merlewood House.

The National Autistic Society helps create a world that works for autistic people, and we have a rewarding opportunity for a Support Worker at Merlewood House. If you share our values and want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Visit our website to find out more about who we are: https://www.autism.org.uk/

About the Service

Merlewood House in Great Harwood Lancashire, is a specialist residential service for autistic adults and additional learning disabilities or other complex needs. The people who live here receive expert support from our staff to enable them to live happy and fulfilled lives, to develop the skills that are most important to them and to access what they most enjoy in their local community.

About the Role

We are looking for caring and reliable Support Workers. Your role is to help people live their best lives by following their support plans and daily routines.

What You’ll Do

• Assist with personal care (bathing, dressing, eating)
• Encourage activities they enjoy (swimming, hiking, arts & crafts)
• Support life skills & independence (budgeting, shopping, meal preparation)

What We’re Looking For

• For you to inspire others with a positive attitude towards supporting vulnerable people
• Experience with autistic people is helpful but not essential
• Personal experience or a passion for helping others is welcome

This advert is for a full-time position at 37 hours per week.

Your working pattern in this role will require flexibility to meet the needs of the people supported and their families and will include evening and weekend working.

Possession of a driving licence (minimum one year) is preferred.

What we can offer you

Pension

• Auto-enrolled pension scheme.

Annual Leave

• 33 days (including public holidays). You can buy or sell leave each year.

Training

• Great induction and training, including autism training.

Discounts

• Online staff discount scheme for shopping, cycling, tech, and more (e.g., Asda, Tesco, Nike, Apple).

Healthcare

• Cash plan for permanent staff.

Life Assurance

• 2x your base salary.

Flexible Benefits

• Options like private health, dental insurance, holiday trading, enhanced pension.

Support

• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme and counselling.

Mindfulness

• Free Headspace app for you and up to 3 family/friends.

Blue Light Card

• Eligibility for discounts.

Extra Pay

• Enhanced overtime, plus payments for sleep-in and on-call (if applicable to the role).

Refer a Friend

• Get £200 when you refer someone.

About our application process

When you write your supporting statement:

• Look at the job description and person specification.
• Tell us how your skills and experience match the role.
• Give examples if you can.

We might close this job advert early if we get lots of suitable applications.

For questions about this vacancy, please contact Penny McCormick, hiring manager, at [e-mail]

To protect our autistic adults at the National Autistic Society, all staff are required to have a criminal background check. Possession of an Enhanced DBS Check either on the Update Service or conducted within the last 12 months would be preferable but not essential.

Applications for this job are sought from anyone who is suitably qualified and experienced for the role but particularly welcome from autistic people.

We are an equal opportunities employer and part of the Disability Confident Employer scheme.

Note: the National Autistic Society are unable to provide sponsorship for Visas.

The National Autistic Society may use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist our recruitment team with reviewing applications for this role. All application decisions are made by people and are not determined automatically by AI.

Important Information