Fairfield Trust Job Description and Person Specification

Job title: Residential Support Worker

Work base:  Fairfield Trust, Dilton Marsh

Team:   Pathways

Hours of work: 36.5 hours per week (to include some weekend
and evening shifts)

Salary:  £23,649.08 per annum
(based on 52-week contract)

Safeguarding

Fairfield Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and all
staff are expected to share this commitment. You will be expected to report any concerns relating
to the safeguarding of young people in accordance with agreed procedures. If your own
conduct in relation to the safeguarding of young people gives cause for concern, Fairfield Trust
agreed child and adult protection procedures will be followed.

All posts involving direct contact with young people, children and vulnerable groups are exempt
from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exception Order 1975
(2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’.  These are not
subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.  Guidance and criteria on
the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website:

This role involves regulated activity, a DBS check will be required before appointment is confirmed.

Job context and purpose

Fairfield  Trust  is  a  local  independent  Charity,  the  core  business  areas  are:  an  independent
specialist  college  for  young  people  with  learning  difficulties  and  disabilities;  residential  and  care
services and a series of commercial ventures including; a pub and an animal park.

The Trust’s mission is: To enable young people to live and work without barriers

Our 5 agreed values are:
Teamwork: We hold ourselves and each other to account, and are better when we work together
Compassion: We act with trust, honesty and kindness in everything we do
Inclusion: We treat each other fairly and with respect
Innovation: We encourage thoughtful, creative and aspirational ideas
Pride: We encourage each other to be proud of who we are and what we do

Fairfield Trust’s Residential Care and Support services operate in Dilton Marsh, offering placements
for students attending Fairfield College and for those requiring further support post-college.

The Pathways team operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, providing caring
and compassionate support to all our young people, empowering them to live their best lives
without barriers, and enabling them to access college, learn new skills and live fulfilling lives.

Do you know what drives you as a person? Are you looking to make a real impact on people’s
lives? We are looking for team players who are professional, take responsibility and will go the extra
mile to make someone’s day.

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You may have worked in care and support before, or you may be looking for a change in
direction and a new opportunity. We offer all the training and support necessary to enable you to
offer safe and compassionate support.

This role is for 36.5 hours per week worked over a variable rota and this will include weekend and
evening  working.    We  are  open  to  considering  52-week  or  term-time  only  contracts,  this  can  be
discussed further at interview.

 Main duties

  To live the values of Fairfield Trust, providing a safe, caring, supportive environment for young

people within the residential houses

  Provide person-centred  support to individuals,  offering  choice and control and enabling  our

young people to develop their skills for life, both practical and social

  Deliver and support aspects of personal care with both dignity and respect at all times
  Support each individual in accordance with their EHC and care plans, contributing to reviews

and updates of plans where necessary

  Monitor  young  people’s  health  and  wellbeing.  To  include  reporting  and  administering

medication in line with procedures, policies and risk assessments

  Ensure that all individuals receive appropriate support to manage their personal finances
  Work  as  part  of  the  staff  team,  attending  meetings  and  working  with  colleagues,  sharing

information and ideas, enabling our young people to have fulfilling lives

  Keep the required written and computer records for each young person’s progress, behaviour

and support

If required, fulfil a key worker role, providing guidance and support to a named individual
  Work at all times within the framework provided by Fairfield Trust policies and procedures
  Attend  regular  staff  meetings,  undertake  training  and  participate  in  activities  to  ensure  that

the Trust continues to maintain the standards required by its funding bodies and CQC

  Participate in observations, 1:1’s and annual appraisals to promote good practice and inform

professional development

  Pathways operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, employees work on a shift
system basis and your days and times of work are variable, the rota will be shared with you 1
month in advance.

  Any other duties that may reasonably be requested

 Support & Guidance

Support individuals in line with the care plans, without discrimination.

Contacts and relationships

The post holder will:

  Report to a Pathways Team Leader



Form  productive  working  relationships  with  Pathways  Managers  and  Team  Leaders,
colleagues and employees across the Trust

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Benefits

We offer a generous holiday entitlement of 7 weeks per annum for full time employees, pro-rata for
part time, to be taken in negotiation with the team. Bank holiday entitlement is included in this
amount and you may be required to work any public/bank holidays, which fall on a normal
working day.
There is a pension scheme available for eligible staff and mileage reimburse policy.

We also offer:

Free entry to Fairfield Animal Centre for 2 adults & 2 children


  10% discount at The Weavers pub
  Discounted staff lunches in the Student Canteen (College Site)



Specsavers Eyecare Vouchers
Training & Development opportunities

 Information technology

We use apps on mobile phones and computer software that require good IT skills and attention
to detail.

 Financial responsibility

Always ensure effective use of resources and value for money is secured for the Trust.

 Health and Safety

To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of anyone else who may be affected
by  your  acts  or  omissions.  You  will  be  responsible  for  risk  assessing,  reviewing  and  monitoring  all
aspects of your work.

 Equality and Diversity

You are required neither to discriminate against  nor harass or victimise:   colleagues, suppliers or
third parties at work.  You are further required to report incidents of discrimination at work, either
to the Principal or anonymously to the Chair of Trustees.

 Records management

You are responsible for ensuring that all information sources for which you have responsibility are
maintained in-line with guidance.  This applies to all electronic and hard copy information.

You  should  also  ensure  that  access  permissions  are  maintained  to  limit  access  to  sensitive
information.   You  are  responsible  for  maintaining  the  confidentiality  of  sensitive  data,  whether
held electronically or in hard copy and promptly reporting all breaches, or potential breaches of
security to the Head of HR.

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 Other duties

You  may  be  required  to  perform  duties  other  than  those  given  in  the  job  description.    The
particular  duties  and  responsibilities  attached  to  jobs  may  vary  from  time  to  time  without
changing  the  general  character  of  the  duties,  or  the  level  of  responsibility  entailed.    Such
variations are a common occurrence and would not  in themselves justify the  re-evaluation of a
job.    In  cases,  however,  where  a  permanent  and  substantial  change  in  the  duties  and
responsibilities of a job occurs, consistent with a higher level of responsibility, then the job would
be eligible for re-evaluation.

 Authority to work in the UK

You  must  have  the  legal  authority  to  work  in  the  UK.   You  must  have  the  relevant  approval  to
work in the UK from the UK Border Agency or relevant documentation.  Copies of all documents
provided  by  you as proof of identity  are  retained  for  our records,  by  providing these proofs  the
Trust will treat this as your consent for this to happen.

 Person Specification

The person specification details the essential and desirable personal criteria which the job holder
should possess in order to be able to successfully perform the job.

Alignment
with our
values

Commitment to demonstrating the organisations values and behaviours in their
work:
Teamwork: We hold ourselves and each other to account, and are better
when we work together
Compassion: We act with trust, honesty and kindness in everything we do
Inclusion: We treat each other fairly and with respect
Innovation: We encourage thoughtful, creative and aspirational ideas
Pride: We encourage each other to be proud of who we are and what we do
Qualifications    Experience in supporting young adults with learning disabilities is great but not

essential. We offer support & training enabling you to become a confident,
professional member of our team.

 We require a willingness to complete further training

Skills

 To be highly personable with very good communication skills
 To be self-motivated and an enthusiastic self-starter with an entrepreneurial

outlook

 To be numerate and have an ability to use IT including computers and

smartphones

 To show an understanding of the importance of a person-centred approach
 To be a team player

Safeguarding

 Display a commitment to the protection and safeguarding of young people
 A commitment to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation
and guidance, in relation to safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
 Forms appropriate relationships and maintains professional boundaries at work
 Works within organisational policies, procedures and guidance at all times

Driving

 A full driving licence and willingness to drive Trust vehicles

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Suitability of shortlisted candidates will be assessed at interview or workshop using a combination of
values-based recruitment techniques, a formal interview and/or a supervised observation or
practical session where applicable.

The closing date to apply for this post is Wednesday 21st January 2026 at 9.00am

Interviews will be held on Thursday 29th January 2026

We would welcome applications made via the Trust Application Form, available on our website;
https://fairfieldtrust.org.uk/jobs/

Please note that we will not accept CVs.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process, please speak to a
member of the HR team.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if sufficient applications have been received.

Fairfield Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer
A charity for the advancement of education for young people with learning disabilities

This job description and person specification updated November 2025

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