Specialist Autism & Mental Health Support Worker

Help Someone Live Life on Their Own Terms. At Unicare Complex Care Specialist, we don't just provide care; we build trusted relationships that empower people to live meaningful, independent lives. We are seeking compassionate, emotionally resilient and highly skilled Specialist Support Workers to join a dedicated team supporting a young adult living independently within the community who presents with complex mental health needs, autism and behaviours of concern. This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who values person-centred care and understands that trust, patience and consistency are fundamental to achieving positive outcomes.

About the Role

You will provide 1:1 specialist support to an individual living in their own home, helping them maintain independence while promoting emotional wellbeing, safety and community participation. This is not a traditional support worker role. It requires someone who can:

• Build a genuine therapeutic relationship
• Remain calm during periods of emotional distress
• Understand neurodiversity
• Work in a trauma-informed way
• Support emotional regulation without judgement
• Respect personal choice and autonomy
• Encourage independence rather than dependency

Every day will be different, and your approach must always be compassionate, flexible and person-led.

What You'll Be Doing

Your responsibilities may include:

• Providing specialist one-to-one community support.
• Building a trusting, consistent and positive relationship.
• Supporting emotional wellbeing using calm and therapeutic approaches.
• Using Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies.
• Supporting emotional regulation through sensory-based and grounding techniques.
• Promoting independence with daily routines and household tasks.
• Supporting meal planning, healthy eating and hydration.
• Assisting with shopping and community access.
• Supporting attendance at appointments and meaningful activities.
• Encouraging hobbies, creativity and community participation.
• Respecting communication preferences and adapting your communication style accordingly.
• Prompting and supporting medication in line with care plans.
• Completing accurate electronic care records.
• Working collaboratively with clinicians, mental health professionals and the wider multidisciplinary team.

We're Looking For Someone Who Is

• Compassionate
• Calm under pressure
• Emotionally intelligent
• Patient and understanding
• Non-judgemental
• Creative and flexible
• Highly observant
• Consistent and reliable
• Passionate about improving lives
• Able to build trust over time
• Comfortable working independently
• Committed to safeguarding and professional practice

Experience We'd Love You To Have

Experience supporting people living with:

• Autism Spectrum Condition
• Complex Mental Health
• Emotional Dysregulation
• Trauma
• Self-injurious behaviours
• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
• Trauma-informed care
• Neurodiversity
• Sensory processing differences
• Anxiety disorders
• Selective or situational mutism
• De-escalation techniques
• Crisis prevention
• Community-based support

Experience with alternative communication methods, including written communication, visual prompts, gestures or technology-assisted communication, would be highly advantageous.

Personal Qualities

The successful applicant will:

• Respect personal boundaries and individual preferences.
• Be comfortable supporting someone who may communicate in different ways depending on their wellbeing.
• Be patient and adaptable when plans need to change.
• Value collaboration over control.
• Understand that consistency and trust are essential.
• Be able to remain professional during challenging situations.
• Demonstrate excellent observational and recording skills.

Desirable Interests

We are particularly interested in applicants who enjoy one or more of the following:

• Nature and outdoor activities
• Arts and crafts
• Creative projects
• Animal welfare
• Environmental sustainability

These interests may help foster meaningful engagement and shared activities.

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly rate
• Induction
• Specialist training
• Ongoing CPD
• Positive Behaviour Support training
• Trauma-informed care training
• Autism specialist training
• Clinical supervision
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Career progression opportunities
• Supportive management team
• Reward and recognition programme
• Company events
• Referral bonus scheme

Shift Patterns

We are recruiting across a variety of shifts including:

• Days
• Evenings
• Sleep-in shifts
• Weekends
• Bank
• Flexible working patterns may be available.

Essential Requirements

• Experience supporting people with complex mental health and/or autism.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm in emotionally challenging situations.
• Commitment to safeguarding and person-centred care.
• Enhanced DBS (or willingness to obtain one).
• Right to work in the UK.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is desirable but not essential.

Why Join Unicare?

At Unicare, you'll become part of a specialist organisation recognised for delivering high-quality, person-centred support to people with complex needs across Sussex. We invest heavily in our staff because exceptional support starts with exceptional people. You'll receive ongoing training, clinical guidance, regular supervision and the opportunity to develop specialist skills while making a genuine difference in someone's life every single day. If you are passionate about empowering people, believe in dignity, respect and person-centred support, and want to be part of an organisation that values quality above quantity, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and become part of the Unicare Complex Care Specialist family.