At a Glance
- Tasks: Empower adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs to live fulfilling lives.
- Company: Outward, a respected provider of person-centred support in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days annual leave, and comprehensive training opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Passion for helping others; experience in care is a plus but not essential.
The predicted salary is between 29334 - 29334 £ per year.
Contract: Fixed Full Time, Permanent
Hours: 38 hours per week
Salary: £29,334 per annum
Location: Waltham Forest, East London
About Outward.
For 50 years, Outward has been providing high-quality support and care services to vulnerable people across London, predominantly in North 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.
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.
About the Role
We are looking for proactive and passionate Support Workers to join our dedicated team supporting adults with a range of needs, including learning disabilities, autism and mental health support requirements. We are seeking female Support Workers for this role as a genuine occupational requirement in accordance with Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010. The people we support have needs and preferences relating to personal care, privacy, dignity and emotional wellbeing, and therefore require support to be provided by female staff. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion throughout our recruitment process and workplace.
As a support worker, you will play a key role in empowering the people we support to live independent and fulfilling lives. We are looking for enthusiastic, creative and committed individuals to join the teams. If you feel you can bring a fresh approach, some new ideas and a commitment to supporting vulnerable people to have genuine control over their lives, play an active role in the community and develop as individuals then we want to hear from you. You will work closely with the Support Coordinator, Deputy or Team Manager and play an active role in ensuring our services are person-centred, well-managed, and aligned with Outward’s core values of engage, enable, and empower.
Your Responsibilities
- Main purpose of the Job: To engage, enable and empower our customers to support them to live the life they choose.
- Provide high-quality care and support services to the people we support.
- Key work with the people we support, discussing support needs, identifying risk areas and contributing to support plans and daily notes.
- Advise managers of any concerns related to the people we support care and report any incidents or SOVAs.
- Work in one service or across one floating support team.
- Provide cover for other services within the area team if required.
Putting the People we Support First
- Uphold the rights of the people we support to be involved at all levels of decision making.
- Respect the wishes of the people we support at all times.
Financial and contractual responsibility
- Always follow procedures and policies when purchasing goods to include petty cash.
- Consider value for money when carrying out all work activities.
- Support the people we support to manage their finances appropriately where required.
- Raise any concerns about the safety of the people we support finances to a line manager.
- Provide hours of care and support to individual or groups of the people we support as requested by line manager.
- Report to manager where care or support has not been provided for any reason.
- Support the people we support to participate in recruitment selection as requested.
- Take personal responsibility for ensuring you have the knowledge and skills to carry out any tasks requested.
Service Delivery
- Ensure the delivery of quality services which may include lone working.
- Follow all policies and procedures when carrying out care and support tasks.
- Follow support plans and risk assessment guidance at all times.
- Record all information as directed.
- Accountable in ensuring all information related to the clients you key work is up-to-date and completed to a suitable quality standard.
- Ensure that all day-to-day records are completed and inform manager where you are unable to document actions taken or require a more senior member of staff to amend a risk assessment.
- Provide both direct and in-direct support to the people we support across a team, areas as required.
- Work hours will/may include evenings, weekends and bank holiday working.
- Carry out personal care in a safe and appropriate way following guidelines, policies and procedures.
- Provide advice and guidance to support workers carrying out personal care activity.
Additional Responsibilities
- Provide information, support and buddying to new support workers volunteers and apprentices as appropriate.
- Work in a co-operative way at all times with other departments and external agencies.
- Act as an ambassador for Outward at all times.
- Treat the people we support with dignity and respect at all times putting their needs at the forefront of all decision making.
- Follow the code of conduct at all times.
- Read and follow policies and procedures.
- Take personal responsibility for the safety of self and others at all times.
- Work responsibly and appropriately with due regard to confidentiality, commercially sensitive information.
- Comply with all legal and regulatory responsibilities as may fall to be applicable.
- Appropriately record day to day intervention and observations of the people we support care and support activities.
- Take all reasonable measures to follow all health and safety policies and procedures and appropriate legislation as applicable to the role.
- Responsible for informing line manager where there is a health and safety concern.
- Take all possible measures to keep the people we support safe, respond appropriately to risk and report on safeguarding, accidents and incidents as per policy and procedures.
- Report and log repairs to landlord/Outward housing management, follow up any in-action.
This job description is not an exhaustive list. You are expected to undertake any other duties as may be reasonably requested of you by your line manager.
Essential Criteria
- Good understanding of safeguarding and risk management in a care/support setting.
- Knowledge of health and safety issues within supported housing or care environments.
- Understanding of confidentiality, GDPR, and data protection principles.
- Staff must have access to a smartphone capable of receiving SMS messages and installing authentication apps for secure systems access.
- Right to Work in the UK. Please note: Outward will not provide visa sponsorship.
- Existing knowledge/experience in following the PBS approach would be beneficial but not essential as we do provide extensive training.
Desirable Criteria
- NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
- Additional training in PBS, safeguarding, or housing-related legislation.
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.
Outward is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expects 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 a DBS for successful candidates.
Support Worker - Supported Living Services - Waltham Forest, East London employer: Outward
Outward is an excellent employer that prioritises the wellbeing of its employees and the community. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have opportunities to develop your skills while working in a supportive and collaborative environment. The role of Caretaker not only offers a competitive living wage but also allows you to make a meaningful impact across various locations in London, contributing to the safety and cleanliness of properties for vulnerable individuals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Support Worker - Supported Living Services - Waltham Forest, East London
✨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 Services - Waltham Forest, East London
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.
