Support Worker - Gravesend

We're looking for a compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities Service located in Gravesend. No personal care or experience required, just the right values.

Salary: £26,227.50 per annum, working 37.5 hours per week.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Support Workers are responsible for supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and behavioural needs to live full lives, develop skills and maintain their wellbeing. The Pelham Road Service will be 5 new self-contained flats for customers with learning disabilities, Autism and Complex needs, and we are looking to build a staff team with an excellent value base to support the customer to build their new life and develop their skills as an independent person. Support Workers will need to be flexible and shifts will require some mornings, afternoons/evenings and weekends.

What you'll do:

• Supporting the customer to undertake a full timetable of preferred activities including sport and leisure activities, attending community groups, visiting local amenities, and introducing them to new activities to expand their horizons and networks;
• Developing the customer's independent living skills and involving them in all aspects of maintaining and developing their home, including cooking, shopping, cleaning and decorating;
• Enabling the customer to keep up with the important people in their life and to meet new people with shared interests;
• Supporting the customer to communicate their wants and needs, and communicating with them in a person-centred way;
• Supporting the customer to manage their anxieties and frustrations, using Positive Behaviour Support and Autism-specific approaches;
• Collating a range of behavioural data and essential paperwork to be analysed within our local management structure;
• Driving the customer to activities using the customer's vehicle, in rotation with the wider team.

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement

What you'll bring:

• Essential: NVQ Level 2 or equivalent; Minimum 2 years of experience working with customers with Autism/Challenging Behaviour/learning disabilities and supporting them in line with a PBS framework
• Desirable: Has some experience in Trauma Informed care; Has some experience in working with people with Mental health; Driving licence and a willingness to drive as part of support duties

About us:

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date. We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.