At a Glance
- Tasks: Support adults with autism and learning disabilities in daily life activities.
- Company: Outward, a respected provider of person-centred support for vulnerable individuals.
- Benefits: 25 days annual leave, health benefits, training opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible working hours, including evenings and weekends, with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Passion for helping others; no prior experience required, just a caring attitude.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About Outward
For 50 years, Outward has been providing high-quality support and care services to vulnerable people across London, predominantly in North and East London. Established by families seeking alternatives to institutional care, we’ve grown into a respected provider of person-centred support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex needs. We support over 1,000 people across nine boroughs, guided by our core values: engage, enable and empower, and we work in partnership with individuals and their families to promote choice, control and inclusion.
Outward is proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer. This means we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage – not just the government minimum or national living wage – to our frontline Support Workers and other eligible staff. We recognise the value of the work our teams do, and we are committed to ensuring fair pay that reflects the true cost of living. The Real Living Wage is updated annually by the Living Wage Foundation, and Outward remains committed to aligning our pay accordingly.
About the Role
We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic and compassionate Support Workers to join our supported living services. You will support adults with autism and learning disabilities who live either independently in their own flats or in shared accommodation. This is a hands-on role where you will spend your time supporting people with everyday life activities, from developing essential life skills and accessing the community, to personal care and wellbeing. No previous professional care experience is required. If you have personal experience of care or simply a strong desire to support others, we’ll provide you with training, including in Positive Behavior Support (PBS). This role includes working evenings, weekends and bank holidays, on a Rota basis.
Your Responsibilities:
- Deliver high-quality care and support to individuals in line with their support plans and risk assessments
- Enable people to access the community, develop independence, and pursue interests and goals
- Support with daily living, including personal care, meal preparation, budgeting and household tasks
- Act as a keyworker, maintaining regular contact and building meaningful relationships
- Encourage participation in planning services, recruitment and feedback opportunities
- Uphold dignity, respect and choice in all support activities
Financial and contractual responsibility
- Follow all financial procedures and policies, including appropriate use of petty cash
- Ensure value for money in all purchases and day-to-day activities
- Support the people we support to manage their finances responsibly and securely
- Promptly report any concerns regarding financial safety or signs of financial abuse to your line manager
- Record support hours accurately and notify your manager if any planned support is not delivered
- Encourage and support participation of the people we support in recruitment and service development
- Take personal responsibility for keeping your knowledge and skills up to date
Service delivery
- Ensure delivery of safe, high-quality, person-centered support—this may include lone working
- Follow support plans, risk assessments, and organisational policies and procedures at all times
- Monitor and report any changes in the needs or wellbeing of the people you support
- Maintain up-to-date, accurate records and complete all documentation to a high standard
- Inform your manager of any concerns, risks, or gaps in care, and escalate where necessary
- Provide both direct and indirect care across multiple services if required
- Be available to work flexibly, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays, as part of a rota
- Carry out personal care tasks safely and appropriately, and guide others in best practice where required
- Develop positive working relationships with families and external professionals
- Attend and complete all essential training and apply learning in your daily practice
Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
- Promote and embed a PBS approach that focuses on improving quality of life, inclusion and participation
- Use proactive strategies to understand and meet the needs of individuals who may display behaviours of concern
- Work in partnership with individuals, families, and professionals to implement PBS plans
- Take part in reflective practice and training to continuously improve your understanding of PBS
- Help create a supportive environment that reduces distress and promotes wellbeing
Teamwork and safeguarding
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, families, and professionals to deliver joined-up care
- Support the induction of new team members, apprentices and volunteers
- Attend team meetings and contribute to service improvements
- Understand and follow all safeguarding procedures and respond appropriately to incidents or concerns
- Promote the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone in the service and report health and safety issues promptly
- Act as an ambassador for Outward and uphold our values in every interaction
This job specification is not an exhaustive list. You are expected to undertake any other duties as may be reasonably requested of you by your line manager.
Requirements
Essential
- Right to Work in the UK. Please note: Outward will not provide visa sponsorship.
- A genuine passion for supporting vulnerable adults to live independently
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to build trusting relationships with the people we support
- Willingness to support people with personal care
- Resilience and emotional maturity, especially when working with behaviours of concern
- Good written and IT skills for maintaining support records
- Willingness to work flexibly including weekends, evenings and bank holidays
- Commitment to safeguarding and following support plans
- Willingness to undertake training and apply learning in practice
- Staff must have access to a smartphone capable of receiving SMS messages and installing authentication apps for secure systems access
- A values-driven approach aligned with Outward’s mission
Desirable
- Experience supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, or complex needs (including unpaid or personal experience)
- Familiarity with Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) or willingness to learn
- NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care (or working towards)
- Understanding of person-centred planning and support planning tools
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expect all staff to share this commitment. If the post you apply for involves working with or having access to adults at risk and/or their records, we will require an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Services. This will be fully subsidised by Outward.
How to Apply
If you think you have the necessary skills and experience for this role please send your CV and a covering letter. In your covering letter, outline your motivation for applying, how your skills align with the role, and highlight relevant achievements. The closing date for all applications is open-ended. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. It would be great to hear from you.
Benefits
We value everything our staff do for the people we support, so we provide a great benefits package:
- 25 days Annual Leave excluding Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time)
- Comprehensive Learning & Development Programme
- Cycle-to-Work Scheme
- Death in Service Benefit
- Health Assured – Employee Assistance Programme
- Eye care Vouchers
- Flu Jab Reimbursement
- Pension Scheme
- Purchase Additional Annual Leave
- Refer-a-Friend Scheme
Diversity and Safeguarding at Outward:
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Outward applies its Equal Opportunities Policy at all stages of recruitment and selection. Shortlisting, interviewing and selection is carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age or trade union membership. As an employer, who aspire to become Disability Confident Committed, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. Please indicate clearly at the beginning of your supporting statement if you have a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010), and you wish to be considered for an Offer Of an Interview (OOI). Please note that the OOI is available to disabled candidates only. Regrettably, any false declaration of disability in order to secure an interview will impact on your overall application.
Support Worker - Supported Living Service - Enfield EN1 employer: Outward
Outward is an exceptional employer dedicated to providing high-quality support services in Enfield, where our core values of engage, enable, and empower guide our work with vulnerable adults. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including 25 days of annual leave, a commitment to the Real Living Wage, and extensive training opportunities to foster personal and professional growth. Our inclusive work culture prioritises teamwork and respect, making it a rewarding environment for those passionate about making a difference in people's lives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Support Worker - Supported Living Service - Enfield EN1
✨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 Outward.
✨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 Outward!
✨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 Outward, 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 Outward 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 Support Worker - Supported Living Service - Enfield EN1
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 Outward:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Outward! 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 Outward
✨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.
