Residential Support Worker – Specialist Single-Occupancy Placement
About the Role
We're on the lookout for dedicated and caring residential support workers to be part of a brand-new single-occupancy specialist home. Here, you'll provide focused support to a young person with complex needs. This is a truly fulfilling opportunity for those who have a heartfelt understanding of autism, sensory regulation, and low-arousal approaches and who want to make a meaningful impact during a crucial transition period. You'll be part of a small, tailored team that delivers consistent, therapeutic, and person-centered support. Collaborating closely with education, health, and behavior support professionals, your role will be to help the young person feel safe, understood, and at home.
About the Young Person You Will Support
The young individual has autism spectrum disorder, along with a significant learning disability and global developmental delay. They primarily communicate in non-verbal ways, using gestures like pointing, smiling, and clapping, as well as visual aids such as PECS or Widgit-style symbols. Additionally, they face challenges with epilepsy and PICA and have considerable sensory and emotional regulation needs. This can lead to behaviors that may be difficult to manage, such as biting, scratching, spitting, throwing things, and self-injury, especially when they feel overwhelmed by increased demands, reduced personal space, changes in routine, or when their needs aren’t quickly recognized or addressed. They thrive in the presence of familiar adults and in calm, predictable settings. Low-pressure interactions, short, structured activities, and sensory experiences like trampolining, swinging, water play, and outdoor time are particularly beneficial for them. It's important to note that they have a limited understanding of danger, so they need constant supervision to ensure their safety.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide minimum 2:1 staffing at all times, ensuring continuous supervision and close attention to safety
- Apply Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies consistently, using autism-informed, low-arousal communication.
- Use visual communication tools confidently, including PECS and Widgit-style symbols.
- Support with personal care, medication administration, and daily routines, in line with the current MAR chart and clinical guidance
- Safely manage epilepsy- and PICA-related risks, recognising and responding promptly to changes in presentation
- Use physical intervention only as a last resort, in accordance with PMVA (Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression) training, ensuring it is always the least restrictive option, properly assessed and recorded.
- Support structured daytime activity and educational engagement, working alongside tutors and the wider professional network
- Provide careful, gradual support with travel and community access, recognizing that car journeys and new environments can be distressing.
- Facilitate and prepare for family time using familiar routines, photographs, social stories, and visual prompts
- Accurately record incidents, triggers, effective strategies, and progress to support multi-agency reviews
Essential Skills and Experience
- Extensive experience supporting children or young people with autism, learning disabilities, and complex care needs
- Extensive experience managing epilepsy, including recognizing seizure activity and following protocols safely
- Experience applying Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approaches and proactive, low-arousal strategies
- PMVA (Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression) trained
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, or equivalent, or working towards this qualification
- Confident use of visual communication systems such as PECS or Widget
- Enhanced DBS check, or willingness to undergo one, and up-to-date safeguarding training
- Pediatric first aid, or willingness to complete this upon appointment
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience of PICA-related risk management
- Experience working alongside Speech and Language Therapy (SALT), Occupational Therapy (OT), or wider clinical teams
- Experience supporting young people through transition, including transition to adulthood
- Makaton or wider Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) training
- Full, clean driving license
- Experience supporting Looked After young people, with awareness of the Court of Protection or inherent jurisdiction processes
What We Offer
- A small, highly individualized placement rather than a large group setting
- A genuinely supportive team culture with regular reflective practice and supervision
- Full induction and access to ongoing specialist training
- Competitive pay, reflecting the skill and commitment this role requires
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