Female support worker in Margate

Help break down barriers and support people to live the lives they choose.

At Sense, we believe everyone should have the power, choice and control to live the life they choose. We work alongside disabled people with complex needs to break down barriers, drive change and create opportunities for everyone to take part in the things that matter to them.

We’re looking for Support Workers to join our CQC Outstanding service in Margate. These are permanent roles paying £25,350 a year (£13.00 per hour) for 37.5 hours a week, with various shift patterns available including full time, part time and weekends only.

A full manual UK driving licence is essential for this role, as the service has a manual company vehicle used to support people to get to appointments, attend activities, enjoy outings and participate in their communities.

About the people you will support

Life here is busy and firmly rooted in the local community. Think relaxed afternoons by the beach, day trips to Canterbury, theme parks and London, swimming sessions, social evenings and nights out at local clubs. The people we support also volunteer at a community church, work in charity shops and get stuck into gardening, and you’ll be right alongside them. Even in the quieter winter months there’s plenty going on, from cooking and baking to hands‑on experiments that get everyone involved.

As a support worker, you'll take the time to get to know each person, understand what matters to them and work alongside them in ways that respect their choices, support their independence and put them in control of their everyday lives.

Whether it's enjoying favourite activities, maintaining relationships, exploring new interests or spending time in the local community, you'll work alongside people to help remove barriers and support them to take part in the things they choose.

What you will be doing

As a support worker, you will:

• Provide person-centred support that reflects each person's individual needs, preferences and aspirations.
• Support people to make informed choices and have greater control over their daily lives.
• Build meaningful relationships, taking time to understand each person's communication preferences, interests and what matters most to them.
• Work alongside people to identify and remove barriers that may prevent them from fully taking part in everyday life.
• Support people to enjoy their interests, maintain relationships, try new experiences and spend time in their communities.
• Support people to get to appointments, take part in activities and enjoy trips and outings of their choice.
• Encourage independence while recognising and respecting each person's individual support needs and decisions.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, families and others involved in each person's support to promote consistency, dignity and wellbeing.

What we are looking for

You don't need previous experience in a support role to join us. What matters most is your values, your willingness to learn and your commitment to treating people with dignity and respect.

Although previous experience is not essential, experience of supporting disabled people with sensory conditions and complex needs would be beneficial.

We are looking for someone who:

• Believes disabled people should have the same opportunities, choices and control over their lives as everyone else.
• Is compassionate, patient, respectful and a good listener.
• Recognises that everyone communicates differently and is willing to adapt their approach.
• Enjoys getting to know people, understanding their interests and supporting them to do the things they love.
• Can work positively as part of a team and build trusting relationships.
• Is committed to promoting inclusion, independence and person-centred support.

When you join Sense, you'll have access to a range of benefits, including:

• 24 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Matched pension contributions up to 5%.
• Free life assurance policy.
• Cashback and discounts on high street brands, including 10% off at Sense charity shops.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Travel season ticket loans.
• Free DBS check if your role requires one.
• Free access to over 100 online and face-to-face training courses, including the Care Certificate.
• Free access to the Wisdom App, supporting mindfulness and wellbeing.

About working at Sense

Sense is a leading disability charity here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. That's why we're committed to increasing the number of disabled people working across our organisation and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

We actively encourage disabled people to apply for our vacancies and believe that a diverse range of perspectives, experiences and talents makes us stronger.

We know there's always more we can do to become a truly inclusive employer, and we're working together to achieve that. Join us and help create the change thousands of disabled people with complex needs and families told us they want to see: a world without limits.

If you need us to adjust our recruitment process to help you access our vacancies, then please get in touch with a member of the talent acquisition team. We are a Disability Confident Leader and commit to interviewing disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for a role.

If you believe that everyone should have the opportunity to make their own choices, be included in their community and live life on their own terms, we'd love to hear from you.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to an enhanced DBS check.

For this role, we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled candidates.

Sense is committed to equality of opportunity and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of our staff, volunteers and the people we work alongside.

We value everyone's contribution and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people are respected, listened to and have opportunities to participate fully.

We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and our belief that every disabled person should be able to take part in life, make choices and be included in their community.

#J-18808-Ljbffr