Support Worker - Dorchester - Weekends

Regroup Mass Notification; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Freedom Care Group in Dorchester is seeking a weekend Support Worker to form a stable, trusting relationship with a single child and family. You will learn routines and communicate effectively to provide thoughtful, consistent care.

Role includes medication training, transporting a child in your own car, and attending full training with shadow shifts. Sessions are staffed 2:1, and travel payments apply beyond the first 30 minutes each way.

Qualifications

• Reliable availability at least one weekend in two.
• 2+ years' experience supporting children with neurodiverse needs.
• Experience with autism, ADHD, PDA or learning disabilities.
• Experience with complex needs and behaviours of concern.
• Patient approach and interpreting behaviour as communication.
• Experience providing personal care and medication support or willingness to train.
• Caring, reliable and resilient with strong relationship skills.
• Good communication and accurate record-keeping.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Willingness to complete mandatory training and Enhanced DBS check.

Responsibilities

• Provide weekend 2:1 support to the same child and family.
• Learn the child’s personality, routines and needs.
• Transport sessions and accompany to activities in your own car.
• Attend full training and shadow shifts.

Skills

Reliable availability

Experience with neurodiverse needs

Experience with autism/ADHD/PDA

Experience with complex needs

Patient and communicative

Personal care/medication support

Driving licence/own vehicle

Willingness to complete DBS check/trng

Record-keeping skills

Education

Level 3 Health and Social Care or equivalent

Job description

Support Worker – Dorchester - Weekends

Location: Dorchester
Hours: At least one weekend in two, on a Saturday, Sunday or both; school holiday sessions may also be available
Pay: £20 per hour on Saturdays and Sundays; £18 per hour for weekday sessions

About Freedom Care Group

Freedom Care Group provides childcare and specialist support for children, young people and families. We take a relationship-first approach, giving workers time to get to know each young person and build trust with them and their family. Freedom Care Group is CQC registered and is committed to high standards of support, supervision, training and governance.

About the role

You’ll be assigned to the same young person and family over time. You’ll learn their personality, routines, needs and individual ways of communicating so you can provide consistent, thoughtful support.

This role requires medication training, which we will provide. The role includes community activities and transporting a child in your own car.

Every session is staffed 2:1. You’ll always work alongside another support worker and never work alone with the child. Full training and shadow shifts will be provided.

Requirements

• Reliable availability at least one weekend in two, on a Saturday, Sunday or both.
• At least 2 years’ experience supporting children and young people with neurodiverse needs, including experience relevant to autism, ADHD, PDA or learning disabilities.
• Experience supporting children with complex needs and behaviours of concern.
• A patient approach that recognises behaviour as communication, including the different ways pre-verbal or non-verbal children may express their needs.
• Experience providing personal care and supporting with medication, or willingness to complete relevant training before undertaking these tasks.
• A caring, reliable and resilient approach, with the ability to build a positive, consistent relationship with the child and family.
• Good communication skills and the ability to maintain accurate records.
• A full UK driving licence, access to a suitable vehicle and appropriate insurance for transporting a child.
• Willingness to complete mandatory training, the appropriate Enhanced DBS check and registration with the DBS Update Service.

A Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent is preferred but not essential. Experience in a special school, or using PECS or Makaton, would also be welcome.

Travel payments

Travel time beyond the first 30 minutes each way to and from support sessions is paid at £14.25 per hour. Mileage beyond the first 15 miles each way to and from sessions is paid at 45p per mile. Any journey with a child in your vehicle is paid at 45p per mile.