At a Glance
- Tasks: Support adults with learning disabilities to regain confidence and independence.
- Company: Join Gloucestershire County Council's caring Adult Social Care team.
- Benefits: Enjoy free parking, employee assistance, and a range of fantastic benefits!
- Other info: Flexible working options available; great career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in people's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 2 or equivalent and experience with learning disabilities required.
The predicted salary is between 26403 - 27694 £ per year.
This is a Gloucestershire County Council job.
Job Location: Oakley A.O.C
Salary: 26,403 - 27,694 per annum pro rata
Benefits: Free onsite parking and a range of benefits!
Hours per Week: 26.00 and 27.00
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 23/08/2026
This post is not open to job share.
Supporting someone to regain their confidence and independence. Making them feel important. This is why we do it. This is why we care. As part of our Adult Social Care team, amazing moments like these will be part of daily life as you support those who need us most. With an array of brilliant benefits including an employee assistance programme, tax-free childcare, cycle to work scheme and staff discounts, you've got a rewarding role in every sense.
About the role:
We have 3 part-time (26 & 27 hours) permanent Day Service Supporter vacancies at Oakley & The Woodlands based in Cheltenham. The Woodlands is an independent service situated in the grounds of Oakley Adult Opportunity Centre in Cheltenham. It is a purpose-built day service for adults with learning disabilities including Autism, complex needs and behaviours that can challenge, individuals who may not integrate as well in your traditional social environments. There are many aims to this service particularly maximising service user choice, independence, and inclusion. In this role, you will be able to demonstrate experience of working with adults with learning disabilities, complex needs, and challenging behaviours.
The Oakley Day Centre is a purpose-built day service for adults with learning disabilities. It is run as a needs-led service, with activities being planned using information gathered through Person Centred Plans. Examples of current activities are swimming, art, relaxation. In this role, you will be able to demonstrate experience of working with adults with learning disabilities.
To find out more about working at Oakley & The Woodlands Team, visit our "Cheltenham day care centres" webpage.
Our Services are continuously evolving, and as such, this role and related responsibilities may be subject to minor change. Please email to arrange an informal discussion.
About you:
As well as an NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent) qualification, you'll have hands-on experience working with people with learning disabilities. Committed to enhancing the lives of people with a range of abilities, you'll be confident helping individuals with personal care. The key is to provide support in a sensitive, flexible way; listening as well as communicating. With every opportunity to learn, you'll be keen to develop and take our service from strength to strength.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do and how we treat each other. They provide essential guiding principles about the way that we work and set the tone for our culture, and identify what we, as an organisation, care about. If you hold the same behaviours and approach, then we want to hear from you! In exchange, we will provide you with full training and support to help you succeed in your role.
About us:
It's a fantastic time to join Gloucestershire County Council, as we transform our Adult Social Care services. Through our team, we're helping people with increasingly complex needs to remain independent and have a say in how they live. To succeed, we need people who'll go the extra mile to see others well and happy and give families peace of mind. People who know that caring is the most rewarding feeling around.
Join us, and you'll have a great opportunity to make a real impact on people's lives. It's a chance to help us take our service to new heights. And we'll say thank you with a range of excellent benefits as well as the training and support to develop your career. We genuinely care about our colleagues and support their wellbeing.
Apply now:
Please write your application with consideration for the essential and desirable criteria in the Job Profile which you will find in the Additional Information section below. This should include examples of why you should be considered; and the experience, skills and knowledge that you would bring to the post. All applications are welcome to visit the Oakley Day Centre please contact to arrange an informal discussion or visit.
This Position is subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The council is not currently able to offer sponsorship in this role. Candidates will need to have right to work that enables them to commit to at least 6 months employment. Right to work is not transferable from a sponsored role held with another employer.
We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire's diverse communities. Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.
It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a customer-facing role must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early due to the volume of applications received and/or due to the needs of the service. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
If you are an Internal applicant and consider yourself to have a disability as per the Equality Act (2010), please declare this in an email, as this is NOT currently covered in the application due to a technical error. By providing this information, you can choose to be considered for a guaranteed interview under our Disability Confident pledge if you meet all essential criteria. It also enables the recruiting manager to arrange any reasonable adjustments you may need during the process.
Applications from any Gloucestershire County Council's employees who are currently on the redeployment register or at risk of redundancy will be considered first at shortlisting stage. Hybrid working arrangements are available for the majority of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.
Day Services Support Worker, Permanent employer: Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the community. With flexible hybrid working options and opportunities for professional growth, staff are encouraged to develop their skills in a collaborative environment dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people in care.
Contact Details:
Gloucestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Day Services Support Worker, Permanent
✨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 Gloucestershire County Council.
✨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 Gloucestershire County Council!
✨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 Gloucestershire County Council, 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 Gloucestershire County Council 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 Day Services Support Worker, Permanent
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 Gloucestershire County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Gloucestershire County Council! 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 Gloucestershire County Council
✨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.
