Senior Support Worker in Southampton

SENIOR SUPPORT WORKER Apple House | New Milton, Dorset HOURS Up to 39 hours available PAY £13.61 per hour ROLE Senior Support Worker Do you dare to make a difference? The people at Apple House want a senior colleague who is kind, cheerful and trustworthy; someone who listens, respects their choices, notices what matters and helps the whole team provide consistent, person-centred support. At Apple House, being senior is about more than overseeing a shift. It is about leading by example, protecting people's rights, helping colleagues understand each person well and making sure daily support reflects the life each person wants to live. Meet the people you will support Four people live at Apple House. Each person has individual strengths, interests, routines and preferred ways of being supported. Choice and familiar routines One person enjoys community walks, television and calm, consistent support that respects his established routines and choices. Independence and trusted relationships One person enjoys cooking, shopping, helping around the home and making her own choices with support from people she knows and trusts. Friendships, activities and purpose One person enjoys yoga, the gym, music, local trips, seeing friends and contributing to everyday tasks in his home. Personal space and being heard One person enjoys favourite programmes, arranging her belongings and having her room and support provided in the way she prefers. The right Senior Support Worker will help colleagues see the whole person, not just the task, and will make sure people's voices shape every shift. What you will do Lead shifts confidently and make sure support is safe, respectful, organised and person-centred. Build trusting relationships and communicate in ways each person understands. Promote choice, independence, dignity, privacy and involvement in everyday decisions. Guide colleagues to follow support plans, risk guidance, health protocols and agreed routines consistently. Delegate tasks fairly while remaining visible and actively involved in support. Support with personal care, medication, meals, activities, appointments and community access where required and trained. Notice changes in health, wellbeing, behaviour or communication and ensure appropriate action and escalation. Maintain high-quality records that clearly describe choices, support provided, concerns, actions and outcomes. Complete effective handovers and make sure important information reaches the right people promptly. Respond to incidents and safeguarding concerns in line with agreed procedures. Coach colleagues through good role modelling, constructive feedback and day-to-day support. Work collaboratively with managers, families and professionals to achieve positive outcomes. What the people at Apple House need from you Kindness, patience and a genuine interest in each person. A cheerful, positive manner without being controlling or bossy. Excellent listening skills and the confidence to act on what people communicate. Reliability, consistency and the ability to follow through on commitments. Respect for personal space, routines, preferences, relationships and cultural identity. A strengths-based approach that encourages people to do as much as possible for themselves. Calm leadership during difficult or unexpected situations. The confidence to challenge poor practice and reinforce high standards. Fairness and the ability to support colleagues to work as one team. A commitment to making every shift meaningful, not simply task-focused. About you You will understand that seniority brings both practical responsibility and the opportunity to shape a positive culture. You will bring: Experience providing high-quality support within adult social care. The ability to lead or coordinate a shift and support colleagues effectively. A sound understanding of safeguarding, medication safety, risk management and person-centred practice. Clear written and verbal communication skills. Good judgement, organisation and the confidence to escalate concerns. Resilience, accountability and a willingness to ask for guidance when needed. A commitment to learning, recognised qualifications and continuous improvement. What you can expect £500 joining bonus A welcome payment in line with the advertised offer. Refer a Friend Unlimited £300 refer a friend scheme. Career progression Accelerated career paths within National Care Group. Training and qualifications Recognised qualifications with paid specialist training. Flexible working Flexible working patterns where available. Inclusive culture A supportive culture with progressive wellbeing support. Paid DBS Your required DBS check is paid for. Meaningful leadership The opportunity to improve people's experiences every day. “Please lead a team that listens to us, knows what matters to us, keeps its promises and helps us live our lives in the way we choose.” Ready to lead by example? If working in care is more than just a job to you, and you can combine warmth, accountability and confident shift leadership, we would like to hear from you. APPLY TODAY AND BE PART OF THEIR JOURNEY National Care Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults who may be at risk. All colleagues are expected to share this commitment, report concerns and follow agreed safeguarding procedures. We are also committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic organisation. JBRP1_UKTJ