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Support Worker - Briars

Location: Briars, Cornford Lane, Pembury, Kent, TN2 4QU (https://www.aspens.org.uk/pembury-residences)

Hours of Work: Full-Time 37.5 hours a week, Mon- Sun 7.30am-22.00 2 weekly rota pattern, received at least 6 weeks in advance.

Salary: £12.21 per hour Good public transport routes – close to train and bus stations / We also provide a staff transport service

Equal Opportunity/Accessibility and Accommodations Statement:
As a Disability Confident employer, Aspens Charities is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities. We actively promote the recruitment, retention, and career development of people with disabilities, recognising the invaluable contributions they make to our organisation. We are dedicated to ensuring an accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Aspens’ mission is to provide high-quality care and support to individuals on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities; meeting their needs and aspirations and empowering them to learn and grow through an integrated network of services across the South-East.

We provide support and care to children, families and adults across Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Surrey and the London Borough of Bexley. Our services include registered care homes; supported living; community outreach; day services, including pathways to employment; children and young people’s groups and support; specialist support; and free online support for families and carers across the South-East.

About the Role:

At Aspens, we have over 100 years of experience in supporting people with learning disabilities and on the autism spectrum as well as children, young people and adults with a range of disabilities or complex needs. We are here to provide practical and emotional support at all levels of independence, in everyday environments and in the community so that each member of our extended family is empowered to live the way they choose. In fact, our most powerful advances come from the people we support, because they tell us how it should be.

Briars is the first of its kind, accredited service delivering care and support to individuals with learning disabilities that have gone on to receive a diagnosis of dementia. Creating a functional but homely environment, Briars works to deliver a range of activities and experiences, whilst supporting to maintain autonomy and independence, with support and guidance. Due to the variety within our services and the different support needs of the individuals we work with; the role of a Support Worker is one with great diversity and challenges for employees at any stage of their career. The role of a Support Worker can range from team based or lone working care roles. As a support worker the day-to-day tasks that you will be required to complete can include

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supporting service users with administration of medication
• Supporting with personal care needs and nutritional needs
• To support with making and attending medical appointments, ensuring accurate comprehensive

records are kept.

• Supporting food shopping and individual’s personal shopping needs
• Supporting with laundry duties and cooking and cleaning
• Supporting with finances and other administrative tasks
• Supporting with moving and handling requirements and using hoists
• Supporting with social activities and accessing community-based services including those

required to promote health and wellbeing.

• Offering emotional support to service users and acting as a positive role model enabling the

service user to lead a fulfilling positive lifestyle.

• Writing daily notes and completing relevant forms such as accident/incident forms

Completing daily observation sheets, ensuring a smooth flow of information to facilitate good communication within the staffing team, as well as professionals who require viewing of these.

• Fully implementing policies and procedures of the organisation and that all recording systems are completed accurately on a regular basis. To sign to say that all policies and procedures have been read.
• Working under the supervision of the line manager to enable the implementation of individual service user’s care plans.
• Working under the supervision of a line manager, to prepare individual assessments on service users, liaising with family members (as appropriate), care managers and other relevant professionals.
• Keeping service users safe and reporting any changes or health concerns
• Attending training, participating in supervision sessions with nominated manager and attending staff meetings as required by your line manager.

General Responsibilities:

• Adhere to safeguarding rules and regulations, respecting the Charity’s duty to protect its service users and staff in equal measure.
• Monitor and maintain a safe working environment and working practices at all times, reporting any health and safety issues or risks to the Charity’s health & safety point of contact.
• Work as a positive team member, devoting full time and attention at work to the duties of your role and adhering to the Charity’s policies and procedures at all times.
• Behave in a professional manner at all times, reflecting and maintaining the Charity’s core values, charitable aims and objectives, generating a positive image of the Charity to all stakeholders.
• Observe and uphold the promotion of equality of opportunity, dignity and due respect for all employees and people who access our service, consistent with Aspens’ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
• Undertake appropriate professional development, maintain and develop skills and knowledge, in agreement with your line manager (subject to the availability of resources).
• Undertake any additional responsibilities as relevant to the role.

About You:

We are looking for friendly, hard-working people with a fun spirit and a good sense of humour to join our team of support staff. As a charity we are looking for caring, hardworking and understanding people to join us to promote the values that Aspens champions.

Ideal candidates are those who are able and willing to work toward their own personal progression for self-development and to be able to better support the people we work with. Knowledge or experience of working with adults with learning disabilities or dementia is preferred but not essential. We have an incredible internal training team who support staff from day one to not only benefit your career going forwards but to offer you that first step in a new career if this is what you’re looking for. Briars are able to deliver additional service specific training.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive Paid Trainingand opportunities for career progression, including recognised qualifications in health and social care
• Paid DBS Check(we will recover the cost should your employment terminate for any reason, other than redundancy, before passing your probation)
• Flexible Work Arrangementswith the option to take on additional bank shifts
• Annual Leave(including Bank Holidays) pro-rated based on your hours, with additional leave accrued with length of service
• Nest PensionandDeath in Service Benefit
• Access to a Dedicated Employee Assistance ProgrammeandMental Health First Aiders
• 20% Discountat Aspens High Street Stores for all staff
• Discounted Menuat the Bluebell Café (Pembury) for employees
• Refer a Friend Scheme– earn up to £250 for every successful referral
• Employee recognition programmes, including ‘Employee of the Month’

We’re looking for passionate individuals to help us ensure that every person we support lives a fulfilling life with dignity and independence.
Apply now and one of our team members will reach out to discuss the role further.
If shortlisted, we will contact you directly to schedule an interview. We strive to respond to all applicants; however, if you have not received a response within a reasonable timeframe, please feel free to contact us for a status update or feedback (where available). After the interview, you will be notified of the outcome. If successful, you’ll receive a formal offer in writing. Upon acceptance, we’ll guide you through the onboarding process, providing you with all the details you need.

Please note, any offer of employment will be subject to Disclosure and Barring checks (which we will arrange on your behalf if you don’t already have one) and satisfactory employment references.

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