Support Worker

Support Worker Jobs with a difference

Be part of an amazing expanding support team. Immediate interviews available - for new to care and experienced staff in Kent. Supporting autistic adults with their day to day needs and a wide range of activities including visit theme parks, swimming, walking and shopping. Excellent specialist training provided.

On average our starting salary for a support worker in our residential of supported living services is £22,500 per year (based on a 35-hour week and including one sleep in at £60 per night). Just working an additional 6 hours per week i.e., 41 hours will allow you to earn £26,000 per year. Indeed, our Support Workers can earn significantly higher salaries by picking up overtime with many of our experienced workers earning more than £30,000 per year.

We look after our staff and are committed to paying staff 5 days pay if they contract Covid and pay sickness after 1 years service, plus we offer an extensive range of benefits.

Our day service staff work either from 9-4.30 or 10 till 4 pm based on 37.5 hours the annual salary is £19,250, with opportunities for overtime, including sleep ins at nearby services.

Start making a difference and join our KAT family today!

About the Specialist Support Worker Role:

Hours: 35

Shifts:

Early 7.30am to 4pm

Late - 4pm to 10.30pm

Location: Curlew Crescent

Our supported living services have successfully operated with early and late shifts ensuring an effective work/life balance for staff for many years, and we are now rolling out this shift pattern to our residential services to ensure improved working conditions for all.

This is a permanent position working for a very well-established autistic care provider. Very interesting and varied role with a scope for progression.

KAT provide practical and emotional support to ensure the adults we care for enjoy active lives in the community. We support individuals on a 1:1 basis with complex needs, including physical and learning disabilities.

We are an outstanding care employer and very proud of the specialist PBS training, coaching and ongoing support that our practice development team provide to our staff.

Meet the Team:

Curlew Crescent is a residential service, currently supporting 6 male adults with autism. Curlew has a real homely feel with a large, shared area that the guys enjoy socializing together in. They also have their own rooms which are personalized to their own needs.

Our residents participate in a wide range of activities, they enjoy group activities such as visiting theme parks, dinners out and even an evening out at a local nightclub. They also enjoy their own activities such as visiting local garden centers and going on walks in the local area.

The specialist staff team in situ are looking forward to welcoming a new colleague and have suggested we let you know that they are a lovely welcoming bunch of individuals who really enjoy each others company which makes for a great team atmosphere.

If you are a positive, forward-thinking, and compassionate Specialist Support Worker (and want to work with some amazing colleges) then we would love to hear from you.

Training Provided:

• Care Certificate (can accept transferable evidenced certificate)
• Company Induction
• KAT Foundation Training Award
• Specialist Pathway Training
• Health and Safety and Compliance Training
• On the job observation and assessments

Tasks / Responsibilities of a Specialist Support Worker (may include but not limited to):

• Drive a mobility car or service vehicle. Manual License required
• Working with individuals who can display challenging behaviours hurting self or others, running away, throwing things, swearing, shouting and damaging property.
• Support individuals within the community in activities such as bike rides, long walks & shopping.
• Administering medication
• Assisting individuals with personal care and hygiene
• Be confident & experienced in lone working.
• Staff in CQC Registered and Supported Living services are required to undertake sleep-in shifts and receive an allowance, topped up to NLW
• Household management tasks including cooking, cleaning etc.
• Uphold their privacy, confidentially and dignity.
• Handle money to shop, going to the bank etc.
• Working with and supporting individuals with additional needs, such as epilepsy, pica, learning disabilities.
• To form good working relationships with other members of staff across different services.
• Ensuring written records are correctly maintained.
• Staff in CQC Registered and Supported Living services are required to undertake sleep-in shifts and receive an allowance, topped up to NLW where appropriate.

Qualities of a Specialist Support Worker:

• An ability to think on your feet and problem solve.
• Understanding everyone's abilities and support needs.
• Promoting independence and choice
• Promoting equality, diversity & inclusion
• Form good working relationships with other members of staff.
• A commitment to continuous personal development and learning.

Benefits We Offer you as a Specialist Support Worker:

We offer many benefits, which include some salary sacrifice arrangements, although some benefits are dependent on a minimum earnings threshold:

• Paid DBS Check
• 28 days holiday, plus option to buy 5 extra days pa (Pro Rata for Part Time Positions)
• Company Sick Pay after 12 months service
• Death in Service Benefits
• Some meals provided, depending on shifts
• Long Service and Contribution Recognition Awards
• Pension (after 3 months)
• Employee Assistance Programme, with counselling services
• Significant Retail and Leisure Discount Scheme that could save staff an average of £1,000 pa
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Financial Well-being Scheme (loans and savings)
• Additional Sleep In Shifts may be available
• Opportunities to pick up additional voluntary casual shifts at enhanced rates
• Superb paid training
• Regulated Care Qualification Sponsorship
• Refer a Friend Recruitment Bounty (currently £500)

About the Trust:

Supporting over 100 people in Medway and across Kent, The Kent Autistic Trust provides a wide range of services designed to meet diverse needs of the people we support with autism, learning disabilities and related difficulties. We provide residential homes, supported living accommodation, day resource services, respite, and outreach services. Ensuring the voice of those we support is actively listened to, working for us often means that no two days are the same, but the care and support we give is of consistently high quality, with CQC rating all our services good, and many outstanding.

Our Values and Commitment:

KAT is committed to providing high quality supports designed around individual abilities, needs and choices. KAT is committed to promoting independence and inclusion within communities. KAT believes everyone is able to make their own individual contribution. KAT seeks to work in partnership with all relevant parties but in particular with the individual themselves.

We seek Support Workers who really value every person, whether it's the people we support, their families, carers, or other staff by respecting their priorities, needs, abilities and limits.

We hope you are one of them!

We do not accept applications made via agencies for Support Workers.

Please find attached a copy of our Privacy Notice. Or a copy can be found on our website.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found or experiencing a high volume of applications.