At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young adults with complex needs during waking nights, ensuring their safety and wellbeing.
- Company: Dimensions, a recognised Great Place to Work, prioritising your growth and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, 30 days annual leave, career pathways, and high street discounts.
- Other info: Full training provided, including support for complex health needs.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing valuable skills.
- Qualifications: Compassionate, proactive, and reliable individuals; experience preferred but not essential.
The predicted salary is between 12.85 - 12.85 £ per hour.
Full Time - 37.5 hours per week (Waking Nights) £12.85 per hour
About Dimensions
At Dimensions, you'll find more than a job - you'll find purpose, belonging, and the support to thrive. Your voice matters, your wellbeing is prioritised, and your growth is celebrated. Together, we make a real difference - for the people we support and for you.
About the role
We're looking for compassionate, proactive and reliable Waking Night Support Workers to join our dedicated team in WR9, supporting six young adults (aged 19-31) with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and complex needs. Each person lives in their own self-contained apartment, all located on one floor, with shared communal spaces. Nights are busy, purposeful and person-centred making this a vital role in maintaining safety, comfort and wellbeing. This role is ideal for someone calm, observant and confident working independently overnight while being part of a strong, supportive team.
Who you will be supporting
You'll support two ladies and four gents, all with PMLD and complex health needs who require 1:1 care and support. Support needs include:
- Personal care: Required for all individuals
- Hoist use: Yes
- Wheelchairs: 4 people use wheelchairs/hoists
- Eating support: One person requires PEG feeding
- Dysphagia support (training provided)
- Medication administration: Two people have epilepsy (Buccal training provided)
- Communication: One person uses Makaton and non-verbal communication
- Family involvement: Families are highly involved, so accurate night-time recording, consistency and professionalism are essential.
What you will be doing (Waking Nights)
As a Waking Night Support Worker, you will remain awake and alert throughout the shift, providing essential care and reassurance. Your responsibilities include:
- Providing personal care and repositioning overnight
- Monitoring health and wellbeing
- Administering medication (including epilepsy support where trained)
- PEG feeding and dysphagia-safe support (training provided)
- Using hoists and supporting wheelchair users
- Completing night-time routines and checks
- Responding calmly to seizures or health needs
- Accurate record-keeping and handovers for day staff
- Supporting comfort, dignity and safety throughout the night
This role plays a crucial part in enabling people we support to enjoy full, active lives during the day.
Shift patterns (Waking Nights)
This is a full-time waking night role, with shifts including:
- 10:00pm - 7:00am
- 10:00pm - 8:30am
- 10:00pm - 9:30am
Rotas are shared in advance to support work-life balance.
About you
You'll be a great fit if you are:
- Calm, patient and observant
- A strong team player who supports colleagues
- Proactive and willing to get involved
- Confident working independently overnight
- Positive, reliable and hardworking
- Flexible and supportive of service needs
- Someone who takes pride in providing high-quality care
- Interested in developing skills around complex needs
Experience is preferred but not essential; full training is provided, including PEG, epilepsy, hoist use and communication support.
Rewards that make a difference
- Competitive hourly pay
- 30 days' paid annual leave (including public holidays - pro rata)
- Buy and sell holiday options
- Career pathways via Aspire & Dimensions Academy
- Salary advance scheme - access up to 50% earned pay before payday
- High Street discounts (shopping, entertainment, gyms, dining)
- £200 refer-a-friend bonus
- Life Assurance and Company Pension
- Comprehensive wellbeing strategy and staff listening network
An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this role, the cost of which will be incurred by Dimensions. We welcome applications from everyone who has the right to work in the UK, and value diversity in our workforce. If a driving licence becomes required for progression, you will need to produce a copy at onboarding. As Disability Confident Leaders, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. As part of our commitment to making reasonable adjustments, we can offer support to complete your application.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Waking Night Support Worker
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Dimensions.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Dimensions!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Dimensions, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Dimensions or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Waking Night Support Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Dimensions:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Dimensions! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dimensions
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
