support worker

team leader

outreach worker

play worker

it assistant

Ldn-London

Being a support worker at LDN is the most amazing, fulfilling job I have ever had. I'd wanted to be a support worker for a while and when COVID hit and I was furloughed from my job at a fast food place which was killing me physically and mentally, I applied to this. I am so grateful that I did.

The work that LDN do is just beyond anything I've seen. It is so detailed, thought-through and honest. Compared to a lot of care homes I've seen, this place is a dream come true.

When I tell people what I do, their first reaction is "that's a hard job" but it's not at all. Because I love and care about the people I support. As long as you do this job with empathy, patience and kindness, you won't have a problem. Yes sometimes it can be stressful but to me, the stress is things like trying to get someone's wheelchair repaired when the repair company is giving you the run around and you're having to keep that person indoors, and besides calling the company over and over you can't help. But, you learn those skills on the job. I used to just accept doctors and whoever telling me no, but now, I know how to talk to them and insist on the things I need, because I have to do that for others. 

Before this I used to despise making phone calls, it made me really nervous. But now I don't have a problem, I spend that much time calling doctors and hospitals and dentists etc, it's become more of a minimal thing. This job will give you a lot of new skills and knowledge and it will surprise you what you can do. 

Before signing up I was a little nervous about things like giving personal care, giving medication etc, as I think it is for most people, but it didn't take long at all to become a normal thing and not a big deal. 

When we think of care we primarily think of elderly people being plonked infront of the TV whilst staff run around in uniform making tea and helping them with personal care, old carpets, worn furniture and equipment all over the place. LDN isn't like this. They have a range of different places but I work in a flat. We support the service users to clean every day and always keep things neat and tidy, they have two activities every day, plus outings now and then to places like the zoo, the cinema, concerts, day trips to the seaside, holidays abroad if they like etc. We support them with every aspect of their lives; from going to the park, to buying new clothes, to making and attending appointments, following doctors advice, diet, health, blood pressure, everything. The level of support of course depends on the needs of the service users. Record keeping is very good and detailed.

The management and support you get from the company is brilliant. If you're having problems they will help you out. If you make a mistake the approach is support-based instead of discipline-based which I think is really important. As long as you're honest, that is the most important thing- not to say "you can get away with anything here", it's just that if you made an honest mistake and you own up, because we all will as we aren't robots, that is appriciated and respected. You'll find staff tend to be very loyal to the organisation and have long-term employments. If you want to move up the chain, it's really easy to do so and if you have potential they will really encourage you.

I really couldn't recommend working here any more than I do. I just love it to pieces.

The Westminster Society are a charity providing quality care for children, young people and adults with learning disabilities. They offer a wide range of services for people of all ages with a wide range of needs.

Working for the Westminster society I have acquired a great deal of skills for supporting children with disabilities. I began work as a sessional worker where I first found my passion for working with children with SEN. This then progressed into two different play leader roles. The first for the societies inclusive play center and most recently running the societies special school and play scheme provisions.

The most difficult part of the job is managing the work load. My current role requires planning sessions at two different special schools in the term time and the play scheme in the holidays. I am required to observe classes during the day, plan fun and engaging activities in line with the schools targets, undertake home visits to assess the childrens needs, and attend a wide variety of meetings with various professionals.

The most enjoyable part of the job is watching the children grow and develop. Over the 5 years that I have been with the society I worked closely with different professionals, schools and parents and have witnessed first hand positive development in the children when a variety of services work together in sync.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Getting to meet the inspirational people we support and seeing them access opportunities with my help. I also work with a really friendly supportive group of people.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Lone working in the community in the evening.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Everyone is very friendly and supportive. I heard that management don't listen but they have always done so with me, particularly if I raise a concern about something.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Very busy spending time with the people I support, helping them to get up, chose what they wear, eat etc. We have to record all our interactions on something called Nourish which can be time consuming. We often go out shopping or to the cinema with those we support. Sometimes we support them to medical appointments or things like that.

Was great working with the service users and much fun was had, even when there was challenges.

No support from managers and no confidentiality because of the conflict of interest that was happening between management and one staff member. Everyone would find out your business and it would be discussed amongst other team members.
Management had no interest in helping  with progression in a higher level of nvq nor in developing staff members to become ATM's. 

Having to ask if you can have a break if you're working a long day otherwise, no one will come to see if you're OK or to swap around, due to there being a shortage in staff and the on duty staff member being selective with their job role.

Not a nice environment so everyone left. Such a shame cause it was once a great place to work 




Service users  fantastic, people within teams   great .
Higher management  and management  do not treat support  workers fairly  . 

Support workers are not valued,  concerns  raised by support workers regarding  management  or leadership ,will end up with the support  worker being at fault an this is based on experience  and also witnessed  over many years . 
I have remained with the company  due to the relationships I have built  with service  users  but sadly now have to leave as watching how support  workers are treated has become to much .
The list below  is just a short insight  into how issues are dealt with  when concerns  are raised  regarding  any form  of management or leadership 
 1 Not addressed  
2 Dismissed 
3 Turned around and put on the support  worker
4 Support  worker transferred  service 
5 Support worker let go .

The westminster society used to be a great organisation to work for, unfortunately with a new HR management team this once lovely charity has become a more a business..The values of this charity no longer exist and the wonderful staff especially the sessional workers are overworked..privlidges such as paid lunch breaks have been taken away and HR management have very little people managment skills. 
A new structure meant long serving managers/staff had to take redundancies whilst the HR team expanded. If you like working with children with learing disabilities then you will learn alot however the stress from this job can take it out on you especially from the HR department.

Team Managers are not trusted by senior management to carry out their role effectively and are not permitted access to staff files which is ludicrous! Not allowed to make decisions about their Service without seeking approval from SMT and are told HR must be involved in all meetings with staff, ridiculous and a total waste of HR’s time, communication from SMT is non existent, Team Managers are undermined constantly which is noticed by the team who then lose all confidence in their Manager. If you strive to be a good leader and to learn all of the knowledge and skills required to be a competent Manager this is not the organisation for you. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Supporting the vulnerable adults and children 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Stress is manageable but short staffed can be stressful 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Environment is accommodating and culture is implemented accordingly 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Everyday is different depending on SU’s needs/requirements 
A typical day is to get the SU ready for their day activities, appointments and spending valuable time to sort any issues pending or arises, Including administration of medication, personal care, dressing clean clothes, meal prep or eating out.

The management were super organised and supportive. There is a wonderful atmosphere there and it was a pleasure to work there!
The hardest part of the job was giving medication as it requires attention to detail and is a really important to get right! The poeple I worked with  were all really lovely caring people as the recruitment process ensures the right people are selected rather than the best "qualified". I learned so much from working there, the most enjoyable thing was the smiles and laughs of the service users! :D

Its taken me a while to review the Society as I have seen people come and go. Now I realise that the Society has values that management believe in and, not unreasonably, they expect staff to share those values. If you want to make the lives of people with learning disabilities better, then this is the company to work for. If you don't share its values then don't bother. I was impressed how managers support new staff and deal with those who are lazy or don't really care about the people we support. Training has been very detailed and I now have my Care Certificate

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Support worker 13 salaries reported	£15.15 per hour
Team leader 6 salaries reported	£30,633 per year
Outreach worker 3 salaries reported	£20,549 per year
Play worker 4 salaries reported	£14.93 per hour
It assistant 7 salaries reported	£25,571 per year

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