Support Worker (Fixed Term Maternity Cover)

The National Autistic Society; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A charity supporting autistic individuals is seeking a Support Worker for a full-time role requiring dedication and flexibility. Candidates with experience supporting vulnerable individuals are highly valued, and a driving license is desirable. The position offers £23,166 per annum and includes various employee benefits such as a pension scheme and extensive training opportunities. Applications are encouraged from individuals with autism diagnoses.

Benefits

Auto-enrolled Pension Scheme

33 days annual leave

Excellent training and development programme

Online staff discount scheme

Healthcare Cash Plan

Life Assurance

Flexible benefits including private health

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Enhanced overtime

Referral bonus

Qualifications

• Ideally, a background in supporting autistic people, but training is provided.
• Must share values and a desire to make a difference.
• Experience in a residential setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Help individuals achieve independence and personal goals.
• Support and transport individuals to integrate into their community.
• Develop individuals' home-making skills and personal chores.
• Transform lives and achieve results for autistic adults.

Skills

Experience supporting vulnerable people

Passion for working with autistic individuals

Flexibility in working hours

Tools

Driving licence

Job description

We support people to understand their diagnosis and how this may impact on their life and the lives of those around them. Our residential services provide accommodation and support for autistic adults 52 weeks a year, 24 hours a day in urban and rural settings. We also provide supported living services for autistic adults who need extra help to live in their own homes or within our accommodation, whether as tenants or owner occupiers, living alone, or with others.

We have come a long way but there is still so much to do to increase opportunities, reduce social isolation and build a brighter future for people on the spectrum. With your help, we can make it happen.

The National Autistic Society is here to transform lives, challenge perceptions and build a society that works for autistic people.

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

Who we are looking for

We are looking for Support Workers with the passion to work with our fantastic teams. Ideally, you will have a background in supporting autistic people but if not, we have a fantastic training programme that will get you on your way to achieving a fulfilling job that will beat most out there. You may have a personal connection, a desire to work with or real-life experiences working with autistic people. You will have experience supporting vulnerable people in a residential setting and if you share our values and are willing to make a difference to the lives of autistic people, we’d love to hear from you.

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.

This advert is for a fixed term maternity cover role, until May 2026. It is a full-time role, 33 hours per week. The salary for this position is £23,166 per annum.

Role includes

• Helping individuals achieve independence and personal goals
• Supporting and transporting individuals to integrate into their community
• Develop individuals home making skills and personal chores
• Transforming lives and achieving results for autistic adults
• Possession of a driving licence (minimum one year) is desirable for this role.

What we can offer you

• Auto-enrolled Pension Scheme
• 33 days annual leave (incl. Public Holidays) with the option to buy or sell annual leave every year
• Excellent induction, training and development programme including training about autism
• Online staff discount scheme for a range of benefits such as cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan & shopping discounts for places such as Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Halfords, Nike, Apple and loads more!
• Healthcare Cash Plan (for permanent staff members)
• Life Assurance at 2 x base salary
• A portfolio of fantastic new salary sacrifices benefits and other flexible benefits private health, dental insurance, car salary sacrifice scheme, activity pass, holiday trading, enhanced pension & salary deduct loans (eligibility criteria may apply)
• Access to a 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme & counselling programme
• Free access to the Headspace App – a global leader in mindfulness and you can enrol up to three friends or family members for free!
• Eligibility for a Blue Light Card
• Enhanced overtime. Additional payments for sleep-in and on call
• Join the Team Scheme - Refer a friend and receive £200

Where you will be working

Fernery House, Burnham-on-Sea

About our application process

When providing a supporting statement, please refer to the job description and person specification and include any information that shows your suitability for the role.

For more information about this job please contact Donna Rowsell at [e-mail].

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

To protect our autistic adults, 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 those with a diagnosis of autism.

The National Autistic Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks.

We are an equal opportunities employer.