At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a supportive team, mentor staff, and ensure high-quality care for residents.
- Company: Join SeeAbility, a pioneering charity with 225 years of experience in disability support.
- Benefits: Enjoy guaranteed hours, paid training, flexible working, and up to 36 days holiday.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for professional growth and recognition.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your career in a rewarding environment.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a commitment to person-centred care; Level 2 QCF preferred.
The predicted salary is between 16.15 - 16.15 £ per hour.
Make Every Day Matter!
Location: Park Avenue, Kent PBS
Salary: £16.15 per hour (£31,492 per annum) plus benefits
Hours: 37.5 hrs per week - Guaranteed, stability you can count on
Driving Licence: Desirable but not essential
Visa Sponsorships: Not available
Whats In It For You?
- Guaranteed hours because your time is valuable
- Paid training & career development - grow with us
- Supportive team vibes - we’ve got your back
- Wagestream - access your earnings instantly, stay in control
What You'll be Doing
As a Senior Support Worker at SeeAbility, you will work closely with management to mentor, supervise, and develop a confident, high-performing team. Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:
Leadership & Culture
- Leading by Example: Act as a role model, championing SeeAbility’s core values to encourage an open, safe, inclusive, and fair working environment.
- Relationship Building: Serve as an ambassador for the organisation, building positive connections with residents, families, healthcare professionals, and the local community.
- Continuous Improvement: Support organisational growth and change by proactively solving problems, sharing key insights, and addressing concerns or risks early.
People Management
- Rota & Shift Management: Oversee efficient staffing rotas to maximise the quality of support while maintaining cost-effectiveness and adapting quickly to unexpected schedule changes.
- Team Development: Coordinate staff inductions, identify training needs, and provide hands-on coaching and competency assessments to help your team grow.
- Performance & Well-being: Support recruitment, champion staff well-being initiatives, deliver positive feedback, and assist management with both formal and informal HR processes using internal systems (Cascade).
Quality, Compliance & Safeguarding
- Person-Centred Support: Empower your team to deliver high-quality, safe care tailored entirely to the priorities and choices of the people we support.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the home remains fully compliant by adhering to social care legislation, data protection rules, and internal policies, while keeping meticulous quality outcome records.
- Safeguarding: Maintain a transparent and empowering culture where safeguarding concerns are proactively identified, reported, and managed.
What You’ll Need
- Strong English communication skills (spoken & written)
- Be a supportive team player who leads by example, professional, calm under pressure, and committed to exceptional support
- Oversee daily tasks, helping the deputy manager with staff performance, development, and appraisals
- Hold a Level 2 QCF in Health & Social Care (or equivalent) and be willing to work toward Level 3, with good understanding of supported/residential care standards
- Take ownership of delivering high-quality, person-centred care
- Help set and achieve meaningful short and long-term goals
- Plan fun, creative activities from trips away to learning, and social opportunities
- Treat the people we support, and their families, with dignity, respect, and fairness
- Live and work in line with SeeAbility’s values
Join Our Support Team - Make a Real Difference!
Our Benefits
- Comprehensive Training: Start with an extensive induction and continue developing your skills with face-to-face training, e-learning, and ongoing support.
- Career Progression: We support your ambitions, offering opportunities to achieve professional qualifications (Care Certificate, QCF levels 2-5).
- Recognition & Rewards: From excellence awards to long service recognition, your hard work won’t go unnoticed.
- Work-Life Balance: Enjoy up to 36 days of holiday with long service, flexible working options, and time off for life events.
- Financial Benefits: Discounts, cashback, pension schemes, and more, to help your money go further.
- Wellbeing Support: Access to a 24/7 employee assistance program, life assurance and sick pay.
- Refer a Friend: Receive £600 (Support Workers and Senior Support Workers only).
About us
Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK. This year we are celebrating our 225th anniversary, having pioneered specialist support across multiple generations since 1799! We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assist people with a disability to find paid employment for the very first time. SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible, we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.
Safer Recruitment
SeeAbility is committed to safe and fair recruitment practices, safeguarding and protecting those who we support. It is a condition of employment that prospective employees will be subject to the following:
- A criminal background check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (where appropriate).
- Documentary evidence to confirm your identity, current address, and the right to work in the UK.
- Health Declaration to ensure that you are medically suitable for the role you have been offered.
- References will be obtained to ensure satisfactory evidence of conduct in current or previous employment concerned with the provision of services relating to (a) health or social care, or (b) children or vulnerable adults.
These checks will be carried out and completed prior to offering a date to start employment at SeeAbility’s expense.
Diversity
SeeAbility is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all identities, including those from underrepresented groups and those who have a disability or neurodivergent condition. We are pleased to confirm we are a Disability Confident employer. We believe a diverse workforce drives innovation, creativity, and success. Everyone’s unique experiences and views are appreciated, and their opinion valued. We are happy to offer any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role itself to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates.
Senior Support Worker - Park Avenue, Kent PBS in Maidstone employer: SeeAbility
At SeeAbility, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture where every team member is valued and encouraged to grow. Located in Park Avenue, Kent, our Senior Support Workers benefit from guaranteed hours, comprehensive training, and numerous opportunities for career progression, all while making a meaningful impact in the lives of those we support. With a strong emphasis on well-being and recognition, we ensure that your hard work is celebrated and rewarded, making SeeAbility a truly fulfilling place to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Support Worker - Park Avenue, Kent PBS in Maidstone
✨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 SeeAbility.
✨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 SeeAbility!
✨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 SeeAbility, 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 SeeAbility 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 Senior Support Worker - Park Avenue, Kent PBS in Maidstone
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 SeeAbility:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to SeeAbility! 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 SeeAbility
✨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.
