At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals with complex needs in outdoor farm activities and skill development.
- Company: Join United Response, a national charity dedicated to empowering people with learning disabilities.
- Benefits: Earn £14.50 per hour, enjoy flexible hours, and access great training and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Enjoy career progression opportunities and a supportive, inclusive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a beautiful countryside setting.
- Qualifications: Experience with complex SEN and a passion for supporting others is essential.
Location: Lower Sharpham Barton Farm, Ashprington, Totnes, TQ9 7DX
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Rate of pay: £14.50 per hour
Are you kind, caring, and passionate about making a real difference in someone's life? Do you enjoy being outdoors and working in a beautiful countryside setting? If so, we'd love to hear from you. United Response is looking for experienced and compassionate Support Workers to join our friendly team at Lower Sharpham Barton Farm – a unique and lively working farm supporting people with learning disabilities and complex needs.
This is a fantastic opportunity to support someone with very complex Special Educational Needs (SEN). Due to the complexity of support required, experience working with individuals with complex needs and behaviours that challenge is essential.
About United Response: United Response is a national charity committed to enabling people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs to live the life they choose. We provide person-centred support across England and Wales and have been delivering high-quality social care since 1973.
About Lower Sharpham Barton Farm: Located just outside Totnes, our 80-acre farm offers meaningful, hands-on experiences for the people we support. Activities include woodwork, metalwork, horticulture, animal care and more. We focus on enabling independence, building confidence, and developing life skills through engaging, outdoor-based work.
What you'll be doing:
- Supporting a person with complex needs in a variety of outdoor, farm-based activities
- Helping with the day-to-day running of a working farm
- Supporting skill development, independence and access to the wider community
- Encouraging participation and positive routines in a fun and engaging way
- Recording outcomes and progress
- Driving (where applicable) to support access to and from the service
What we're looking for:
- Essential: Experience working with individuals with complex SEN and challenging behaviours
- A calm, supportive, and person-centred approach
- A genuine passion for supporting others to live full and independent lives
- Flexibility to work as part of a rota, including some evenings or weekends
Experience or interest in any of the following is a bonus: woodwork, horticulture, animal care, crafts, or metalwork.
What we offer:
- £14.50 per hour
- Pension contribution
- Cycle to work scheme
- Paid, high-quality training and access to nationally recognised qualifications
- Life assurance (2x basic salary)
- Employee discounts including the Blue Light Card
- Free access to occupational health, counselling and wellbeing services
- Supportive and inclusive working environment
- Opportunities for career progression
- x2 Wellbeing days a year because your health matters
If you've got the right experience and are looking for a truly rewarding role in a beautiful, rural setting, we'd love to hear from you.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early.
Session Leader employer: United Response
United Response is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its staff while making a significant impact in the community. With a supportive work culture, competitive salary, enhanced sick pay, and access to ongoing training, employees are empowered to grow both personally and professionally in the vibrant town of Redruth. Join us to not only build futures for those we support but also to cultivate your own career in a rewarding environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Session Leader
✨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 United Response.
✨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 United Response!
✨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 United Response, 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 United Response 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 Session Leader
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 United Response:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to United Response! 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 United Response
✨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.
