Support Worker

Sense; Streatley; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free DBS Check

Leadership training

Training opportunities

Flexible working

Health & wellbeing

Pension

Holiday entitlement

Job summary

Sense College Streatley is hiring a Support Worker to help young people and adults with complex disabilities access learning, develop independence and engage in everyday life. The role is permanent, full-time (35 hours/week) with shifts Mon–Fri from 8:45am to 3:45pm and a pay of £13 per hour.

You will provide person-centred support, adapt communication, and assist with mobility and activities while promoting independence and a voice for learners.

Qualifications

• Previous caring or support experience in personal, voluntary or professional capacity.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to learn new communication skills, including signs and symbols.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, person-centred support tailored to each individual's plan.
• Support learners to participate in activities and develop independence.
• Encourage independence and ensure each learner has a voice.
• Develop skills in signs and symbols as needed.

Skills

Caring experience

Teamwork

Communication skills

Initiative

Problem solving

Relationship building

Job description

We’re looking for a reliable and motivated Support Worker to join our professional team at Sense College Streatley, supporting young people and adults with complex disabilities to access learning, develop their independence and get the most out of everyday life.

This is a permanent, full-time role working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday from 8:45am-3:45pm, with a salary of £13 per hour.

As a Support Worker, you’ll provide high-quality, person-centred support tailored to each individual and their support plan. The people we support may have complex support needs, including hearing and/or sight difficulties, learning or physical disabilities, mental health needs or behaviours that challenge.

You’ll support learners to take part in enjoyable and purposeful activities, access their local community, learn new skills and make choices about the things that matter to them. A big part of your role will be encouraging independence and ensuring each learner has a voice in how they are supported.

Communication is at the heart of what we do. You’ll take the time to understand how each person communicates and adapt your approach to meet their individual needs, which may include developing skills in the use of signs and symbols.

The duties are varied and no two days will be the same. You may support learners with their mobility, health and wellbeing and personal care, including continence requirements where needed.

Above all, you’ll help the people we support to build independence, have their voices heard and play an active role in their own lives.

What we’re looking for:

We’re looking for someone who is caring, reliable and committed to providing genuinely person-centred support.

You’ll need:

• Previous caring or support experience gained in a personal, voluntary or professional capacity
• The ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• The ability to adapt your communication style to meet the needs of the people you support
• A willingness to learn new communication skills, including signs and symbols where required
• The ability to support people with their mobility and participate in activities alongside them
• Confidence using your own initiative and good judgement
• A creative, person-centred approach to problem solving
• The ability to build positive working relationships and communicate effectively with learners, colleagues and others

Previous experience supporting people with sensory impairments or using a range of communication methods would be an advantage, but isn’t essential. Full training relevant to the service and your role will be provided.

About Sense College Streatley

At Sense College Streatley, we provide specialist education and support designed around the individual needs, interests and aspirations of our learners.

Our programmes give learners opportunities to develop their communication, independence and everyday living skills while taking part in meaningful activities and accessing their communities. Our aim is to create an inclusive environment where each person is listened to, respected and supported to make choices and maximise their independence.

The role is based at Sense College Streatley, Keech Hospice Care, Great Bramingham Lane, Streatley, LU3 3NT.

Working at Sense gives you a wide range of benefits including:

• 24 days’ holiday + bank holiday entitlement; increasing with length of service
• Free DBS Check
• Free leadership and management development
• Free access to over 100 online and face-to-face training opportunities
• Flexible working and family-friendly policies
• Health and wellbeing support
• Pension Scheme

About Sense

Sense is here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. That’s why we’re committed to increasing the number of disabled people working across our organisation and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

We actively encourage disabled people to apply for our vacancies and believe that a diverse range of perspectives, experiences and talents makes us stronger.

We know there’s always more we can do to become a truly inclusive employer, and we’re working together to achieve that. Join us and help create the change thousands of disabled people with complex needs and families told us they want to see: a world without limits.

If you need us to adjust our recruitment process to help you access our vacancies, then please get in touch with a member of the Talent Acquisition team. We are a Disability Confident Leader and commit to interviewing disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for a role.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, Section 128 check and teacher status check.

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone’s contribution is valued and we ensure they’re given the opportunity to realise their potential.

We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.

No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.