Practitioner Role - Bangor, NI

Royal Mencap Society; Bangor (ME); On-site; USD 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24 days paid holiday (pro rata)

Discounts at high-street retailers

Health cash plans

Interest-free loans

Job summary

Mencap is seeking compassionate Practitioners to join our Bangor teams, delivering person-centred support to individuals with learning disabilities and autism. A full UK driving licence is essential and you will work with families and a multidisciplinary team to implement PBS plans and promote independence.

You will adapt communication using tools like Makaton/PECS and contribute to safeguarding, risk assessments, and crisis management with a focus on least-restrictive approaches.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities, including when behaviour communicates distress.
• Full, clean UK driving licence (essential).
• Willingness and confidence to drive the vehicle owned by the person we support.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-led, high-quality support to autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities.
• Implement Positive Behaviour Support plans in a consistent, compassionate, and practical way.
• Understand the individual’s environment and identify early signs of distress.
• Work with families and multidisciplinary teams to ensure joined-up support.
• Promote independence in daily living and community participation.

Skills

Driving licence

Person-centred support

Team collaboration

Makaton/PECS communication

Education

Care qualification or equivalent

Tools

Makaton

TEACCH

PECS

Job description

We are seeking passionate Practitioners to join one of our incredible teams in Bangor. As a Practitioner at Mencap, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day, supporting individuals with learning disabilities and autism to live fulfilling, independent lives.

Please note a full UK driving licence is essential for this role.

About the Role

You will deliver high-quality, person-centred support, turning Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) plans into everyday actions. Working closely with families, Specialist Practitioners, and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will help create safe, supportive environments that promote choice, dignity, and independence.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide person-led, high-quality support to autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities, including when behaviour communicates distress
• Implement Positive Behaviour Support plans in a consistent, compassionate, and practical way
• Understand the individual’s environment, identify early signs of distress, and adjust routines or sensory input to prevent escalation
• Work collaboratively with families and the multidisciplinary team (e.g. psychology, PBS, social work, occupational therapy) to ensure joined-up support
• Promote independence in daily living and community participation, replacing restrictions with safe, meaningful alternatives
• Make clear, time-critical decisions in the moment and maintain accurate ABC charts and data records to inform reviews and improve outcomes
• Monitor and report changes in behaviour, health, or wellbeing, escalating concerns promptly in line with policy
• Participate in post-incident debriefs and reflective practice, using learning to strengthen support
• Contribute to safeguarding, proportionate risk assessments, and crisis responses using least-restrictive approaches
• Proven experience supporting autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities, including when behaviour communicates distress.
• Full, clean UK driving licence (essential)
• Willingness and confidence to drive the vehicle owned by the person we support, which is a key part of promoting independence and community access
• Skilled at adapting communication and using tools such as Makaton, TEACCH or PECS so people are heard and understood.
• Current training or strong willingness to train in accredited physical intervention and crisis management, with prevention as the priority.
• We have 1 Full-time contract available at 36 hours per week and relief practitioner roles available
• 12-hour shifts :
  • Day shifts: 9am – 9pm
  • Night shifts: 9pm – 9am (applicants who don’t hold a UK driving licence may be considered for this shift)

Additional Information

Mencap holds a Home Office sponsorship licence; however, due to current restrictions on our allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Applicants must therefore have the right to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated. Our benefits package offers 24 days of paid holiday (excluding bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest‑free loans, and many more exciting offerings. For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document and below link with all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carer’s . We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

£24,785 per annum, pro‑rata + excellent benefits

£26,228 per annum, pro‑rata + excellent benefits

£12.85 per hour + excellent training and benefits