Direct Worker

The job itself

About the recipient

The individual is male, 12 years old and resides in Preston, a village near Hedon in East Yorkshire. They require a dedicated and suitable person to support them due to having Autism. They can sometimes find new places and busy environments difficult. They can feel nervous meeting new people, but once they get to know you, they feel more comfortable.

They need someone patient who can help them to feel calm and confident when trying new things. They sometimes need things explaining to them in a way that they can understand and remember them.

They like/enjoy football, Lego, Hot Wheels cars, playing on his Switch, and spending time outdoors. He would love to join a football group and some fun clubs with other young people but needs a bit of help to get there.

They would like someone who can take them out into the community to give opportunities to engage in activities to enable them to make friends and have fun. They need someone who will encourage them when things feel hard and help them to keep trying and be kind and understanding if they get worried or need a break. They would like to develop their interests and build their self-esteem.

It would be great if the candidate has experience with autism or SEND and can drive to help them get to places. The candidate will need to be reliable and enjoy spending time with children.

The times can be flexible, such as after school, weekends, and school holidays, and the support will be around Hedon and nearby areas.

About the role

The successful candidate will be responsible for

• Encouraging the recipient to engage in activities.
• Helping to improve their social skills.
• Settling and supporting the individual.
• Keeping them safe in the community.
• Helping to fulfil their potential and aspirations.
• Attending/transporting the individual to social activities and appointments.
• Encouraging social interaction and inclusion and providing emotional support.

About the candidate

The suitable candidate must:

• Be conscientious and committed to providing support as necessary for the child.
• Be patient, caring and understanding.
• Be able to build a positive relationship with the child to both encourage and support them.
• Be flexible to meet the needs of the family.
• Have knowledge of working with or supporting a child with special needs.

DBS/Reference checks will be required for this post – Cost to be met by the local authority.

PLEASE NOTE – SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO THIS ROLE WOULD NOT BE EMPLOYED BY EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE COUNCIL