Lead Support Worker

Lead Support Worker

Swindon

Permanent, Full time, 37.5 hpw

Salary up to £24,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience plus Sleep-in and On Call enhancements

Delivering support with a difference. Thats when it hits home.

We have a rewarding opportunity for you to join our Transforming Care team, helping our brilliant customer to live a fulfilling life in their own home within the local community.  Our team support our customers who have complex support needs, including learning disabilities, autism, communication differences, hearing loss, sensory differences and epilepsy. They may also have a forensic background and distressing behaviours. 

The young man you will be supporting (lets call him €œC€), is 18, full of fun, with an energetic lively personality. He loves the outdoors, taking part in activities like walking, cycling, gardening and even zip wiring!  C also loves animals especially visiting farms and sea life centres to meet them. His other interests include listening to music, musical instruments and dancing, he loves a good dance when no one is watching (dont we all!) as well as having a good laugh and mess about; so if you love outdoor activities too, have an eclectic taste in music, and enjoy a good bit of Slapstick comedy, youre perfect for our role!  What C really needs, for you to take the time to get to know him, youre caring, understanding, positive, reassuring and encouraging.  If you also enjoy cars, trains, watching films and YouTube then you will get on perfectly!

C has significant needs relating to his learning disability, autism, communication, hearing loss behaviour, sensory differences and epilepsy. He will be supported 24 hours a day by 5 colleagues. With the help of our clinical team including our Positive Behavioural Support Specialist, Alison, youll help him to participate in his favourite things as well as trying new things through positive risk taking. Youll provide consistent support when he is finding things difficult as well as finding creative ways to help him participate in daily living activities aimed at increasing his independence. If required (and only as a last resort), you may have to use physical intervention to keep C and others safe. Well make sure you have the training and support you need to do this safely.

As our Team Leader (known internally by us as Positive Behavioural Support Team Leader) youll use your experience and brilliant skills to motivate and direct your team.  Youll manage your team to provide support that is person-centred, understands Cs past life experiences and builds on his strengths.  Together, youll support C to enjoy the best quality of life and live as independently as possible. 

About our team

Youll report to Deb our Registered Manager who has worked for Home Group for 5 years.  Deb has loads of experience in working with customers with both mental health and learning disabilities and has a clinical background in nursing. Deb was also an accredited psychotherapist in a previous life before joining Home Group and is perfectly placed to help you settle into your new role! Outside of work youll find her cheering on her local football team, spending quality time with her family and loves cooking for friends.  

Where youll work

C is currently living in Bolton, and we really need your support to help him make the transition to his permanent new home in Swindon. We know this will be an unsettling time for him and he may communicate his distress through an increase in his behaviour. Were planning to get to know him in his current placement in Bolton in the 6 weeks leading up to his move. Youre an important part in this transition, and youll spend time with C in Bolton and this will include overnight stays. Of course, well cover your accommodation, travel costs and expenses!

Working hours

C needs support 24/7 to meet his needs, so youll take your turn with your team working on a rota which could include working days, evenings, weekends, bank holidays and waking nights. You may also be required to do sleep ins or be on call in which an enhancement will be paid.  As were asking you to be flexible for our customer, well also give you the time back that you need to spend time doing the things that matter to you! Deb will help you develop the rotas that provide the support needed in the most flexible way.   

About you

You have an excellent working knowledge and experience in CQC Regulated services. Its important to us that you have worked in a Senior Support Worker role before, with experience of leading support for people with complex needs, including those with significant behaviours that challenge.  You are resilient, confident and willing to roll your sleeves up to guide, coach and support your team to develop the confidence to work with this customer. Youre flexible and creative in your approach to keep support motivating, fun and safe. With a Level 3 Diploma in Adult Health & Social Care or equivalent, you have a great understanding and passion for promoting independence and social inclusion through person centred support.

You provide personal care in a strengths-based way to facilitate greater independence, as well as use creative solutions, and assistive technology where available to support independence. To be brilliant you will have previous experience in supporting people using Positive Behavioural Support, and skills in the use of Makaton would be desirable.   

To be awesome in this job, your key strengths will lie in people management and motivation, bringing colleagues together to share information, best practice, fostering creativity and overall ensuring our customer has a brilliant team!  You wont be left to it! Deb and our clinical team will be regular visitors to provide you with all the support you need!

When you join, youll need to have a valid Enhanced Check under the Disclosure and Barring Service. The great news is that we will pay for that to be done if you dont have a transferrable one.

How well support you

Dont worry, we wont drop you in the deep end, well nurture your talent, help you understand how things work here and youll have a fantastic induction with ongoing learning and support! Youll be trained to support our customers mental and physical wellbeing and to take positive risks to enable his successful journey to have his own home and being part of his community.

We want you to get the right balance and to be and feel always at your best to continue to deliver brilliant outcomes for our customer.  So your wellbeing and taking time back when you need it too is our top priority!

Want to know more?

If youre not reading this advert on our careers pages, press the APPLY NOW button to access lots of useful stuff! You can download the PBS Team Leader Job Description, and find out more about Home Group. Weve also got some short films that show you what its like to work here and how we have supported colleagues during Covid. We know youll want to find out more about our award winning benefits and rewards package!

During Covid

Were continuing to deliver services for our customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and our brilliant colleagues are at the very heart of making that happen. Were doing things a little differently at the moment, so to keep everyone safe, well engage with you digitally where possible. Check out our awesome video to find out more on how our colleagues have felt supported here during the outbreak.

To apply

Dont delay applying for this brilliant job, as we may close it early if we get lots of applications! Just upload your CV and if you have one, your covering letter (this will help us learn more about you!). If you need them, weve also got some great templates to help you.

Youre unique!

Home Group play a big part in tackling prejudice and discrimination, not just for our customers, but colleagues too! You can be yourself here, because we value everything that makes you unique. So whatever your age, race, sexuality, disability, religion, or gender identity, we recognise and celebrate our differences. Together we make Home Group a great place to work!