Support Worker

To provide high-quality learning, personal and wellbeing support to adults with learning disabilities and additional needs. The post holder will support service users to access education, community activities and life-skills programmes, promoting independence, dignity, inclusion, and positive outcomes in line with the Centre’s ethos, vision, and values.

Ethos, Vision, and Values:

• Demonstrate and promote the Centre’s ethos, vision, and values.
• Maintain a strong belief that students can and do achieve.
• Respect service users as individual adults with rights, dignity, and autonomy.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.
• Act as a positive role model at all times.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Teaching and Learning Support:

• Engage with service users during lessons and break times, promoting independence and communication.
• Follow guidance from the Class Lecturer and Senior Teaching Aide to reinforce learning and support individual targets and destinations.
• Prepare learning environments for internal and external activities, ensuring resources are available and cleared appropriately.
• Create learning resources under guidance using Microsoft Office 365 and specialist software following training.
• Encourage progression towards employment, community participation and independent living.
• Promote self-reliance, self-regulation, and increased self-esteem.
• Support a wide range of curriculum activities, including community-based learning, swimming, sports, and trampolining.
• Promote the use of ICT in learning, including tablets (iPads) and internal systems.
• Following training, support the consistent use of hi-tech communication aids and assistive technology.
• Record service users progress using written observations, photographs, and videos, contributing to ongoing and end-of-term evaluations.
• Support basic skills programmes for individuals and small groups, including in community settings.
• Provide physical support where required, including mobility, wheelchair use, personal and intimate care and responding to emergencies.

Positive Behaviour Support:

• Support service users with a range of needs, including behaviours of concern.
• Understand, implement, and contribute to Personal Support Plans (PSPs).
• Collect, record, and share relevant data as requested.
• Support participation in meaningful activities by ensuring at least one activity is always available; encouraging participation in essential but less preferred tasks using motivation and rewards; introducing new activities to broaden choice; supporting skill development for increased independence; maintaining a balanced and varied programme of activities.

Safe, Consistent and Predictable Environments:

• Use strategies such as visual timetables and social stories.
• Support structured routines and informed choices.
• Identify and reduce environmental factors that may contribute to challenging behaviour.
• Support service users to cope with unfamiliar or challenging environments.

Nursing, Medical and Personal Care:

• Support service users’ health and wellbeing by following individual care and medical plans.
• Undertake basic first aid and administer PRN medication (e.g., EpiPen) following training.
• Provide personal and intimate care with dignity, respect, and sensitivity.

Therapy and Physical Support:

• Support manual handling needs in line with individual guidelines, including walking support, wheelchair use and hoists.
• Implement individual programmes under guidance from the Integrated Services Team, including communication guidelines, eating and drinking plans (following training and sign-off), physiotherapy programmes.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary discussions regarding service users progress and provision.

Safeguarding, Compliance and Professional Responsibilities:

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of all service users and report concerns in line with safeguarding procedures.
• Follow key documentation including Risk Assessments, Care Plans, PSPs, and Behaviour Support Plans.
• Adhere to Health and Safety policies at all times.
• Participate in training and professional development.
• Promote and follow all Centre policies, including Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity and Health & Safety.
• Work flexibly.
• Undertake other duties of a similar nature as required by the principal.

Experience: Not required

Employment: Full-time

Schedule: Monday - Friday

Salary: up to £12.21 hourly

Starting time: Immediate start!

About Joyful Living Centre: It is a way to give back to the community, your journey with that starts here.