Support Worker, Direct Support Professional​/ Direct Care

A Support Worker helps people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs or physical impairments live independently by providing person‑centred care, daily‑living support, and community inclusion.

Shifts:

Mon‑Fri 9am-5pm

Support Workers provide practical and emotional support across settings such as supported living, residential care, domiciliary care, day services, and community outreach. Their core purpose is to promote independence, dignity, choice, and wellbeing.

• Assist with dressing and undressing (where appropriate, swimming etc) meal preparation, cleaning, shopping, and budgeting.
• Support individuals to maintain a safe, comfortable home environment.
• Promote independence in daily living skills and self‑organisation.

• Prompt or administer medication (as trained) and maintain accurate MAR/eMAR records.
• Escalate health concerns to nurses, GPs, or other professionals.

• Support access to education, work, hobbies, and community activities.
• Encourage development of social skills, friendships, and communication.

• Use Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and de‑escalation strategies when required.
• Promote self‑esteem, emotional wellbeing, and confidence.

• Maintain clear digital notes, handovers, and risk‑assessment compliance.
• Follow safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality, and data‑protection policies.

• Act as a key worker, contributing to personal plans, reviews, and goal tracking.
• Ensure individuals are fully involved in decisions about their care.

• Empathy, patience, communication, and respect for choice.
• Reliability, safeguarding awareness, medication accuracy, infection control.
• Practical competence: moving & handling, lone working, community travel.

• Typical salary: £14,74 per hr.
• Pvg membership check required.
• Training:
  Care Certificate, safeguarding, medication, moving & handling, infection control, first aid/BLS.
• No formal qualifications required for entry‑level “new to care” roles.