support worker

team leader

autism support worker

supported living manager

assistant manager

The-Kent-Autistic-Trust

Good working relationship with most other Staff, Who even though they were stressed And (some) depressed, welcomed me. There is a high turn over of staff. 
Some Junior Managers treat staff very badly, Taking Credit for their Ideas, but blaming everyone else when It goes wrong and distancing themselves from the errors that they had a hand in. Senior managers seem to have no idea (or care) how some junior managers behave. 
Service Users were very Interesting and friendly. 
Food (while on shift) Provided In some Locations. 
I Gained A Knowledge Of Autism And Challenging Behaviour.

Poor Wages (just above minimum wage) and very hard to live on. 
There was a lack Of Support From The Management or The Behaviour Support Team, Lack Of Appreciation from The Management (you're just a payroll number to them), Challenging (violent) Behaviour from some Service Users. Limited Options For Promotions; If Your Face Fits Then You May Get Promoted, If It Doesn't, They Do Nothing To Keep You.
Very limited pay rises for their ground level staff.

Advice to Management:

Look after all your staff better, not just managers, as they may have some valid points, and care about the service users. Long term staff are treated with no better respect, than a newer staff like me. It should not be about how much money a new service user comes in with, but whether they fit in and don't make the existing service users miserable. 
Ask staff and actually listen to why they are leaving, don't just let them go without caring. 
Junior Managers that take the credit for other staffs good ideas and then when it does go wrong, blame their staff, should be ringing alarm bells at your Head Office, but instead, you praise them. 
Treat the Casual Staff much better (those, that have proven that they work hard), as so many leave, because they were unappreciated and not recognised (for staff benefits) for the many hours that they put in, often at short notice and unsociable hours. 
Some establishments are run massively on casuals, so don't forget that!.

Working as a Head of HR and IT in a care-focused charity is both purpose-driven and professionally rewarding. You play a pivotal role in shaping the culture, systems, and workforce that deliver life-changing support to vulnerable individuals—particularly in complex environments supporting autistic adults.

Human Impact: Every recruitment decision and every system improvement directly contributes to better care outcomes and improved quality of life for the people supported.
Values-Led Leadership: You operate in a mission-driven organisation where compassion, dignity, and inclusion are at the heart of everything.
Strategic Influence: You lead two critical functions—HR and IT—ensuring the charity recruits resilient, fit-and-proper staff while also enabling efficient, secure, and innovative digital infrastructure.
Regulatory Excellence: You uphold high standards through compliant, robust processes that protect both staff and service users.
Collaborative Culture: You work alongside passionate teams who are committed to making a difference, fostering a workplace that’s supportive, agile, and responsive.
Continuous Improvement: You have the opportunity to innovate, streamline systems, and enhance employee experience while supporting frontline care delivery.

In short, it’s a role that blends heart and strategy, offering the chance to lead with purpose while driving meaningful change.

Cross-functional collaboration is embedded in the culture. Whether it’s working with PBS teams, service managers, or recruitment, you’re part of a tight-knit, multidisciplinary team that values transparency, empathy, and shared success.

Despite being a charity, the Trust is forward-thinking and agile. From digital transformation to wellbeing initiatives, HR is encouraged to lead on projects that make a real difference. You’re supported to innovate, challenge the status quo, and continuously improve how people are supported—both staff and service users.

There’s a deep sense of pride in knowing your work contributes to something bigger. You’re helping to build a workplace where people feel valued, safe, and inspired—and that’s reflected in the long service of many team members and the positive feedback from staff surveys.

Working in HR at The Kent Autistic Trust is more than a job—it’s a deeply fulfilling experience rooted in purpose, compassion, and people-first values. As someone supporting the workforce behind life-changing care, you’re not just managing policies—you’re shaping a culture that empowers both staff and the individuals we support.

The Trust fosters a genuinely supportive and inclusive environment. There’s a strong sense of family and belonging, where everyone—from frontline staff to senior leadership—is committed to the same mission: improving lives. HR is seen as a strategic partner, not just an administrative function, and your voice truly matters.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Absolutely disgraceful company to work for. Do not look after their staff, expected to work for minimum wage and try and find free places to take the clients out.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
you have to do personal care, expected to find cheap or free places to take the clients on a budget of roughly £20 a week including your own drinks, which does not go far at all in these times. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
you are expected to clean toilets, communal areas, mini buses, clear up outside areas of weeds and waste such as litter and still look after your client. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Absolutely shocking! All that is expected of you. Take the client out on a budget of £20 a week roughly so £4 a day. Your constantly looking for free places that may or may not be of interest to the client. To prepare sandwiches daily for them. Clean the communal areas, toilets, provide personal care, clear litter outside areas and weeds. If you are a driver of the minibuses, now that's another story!

I have now worked for the company for 5 years in total, however have recently changed to a Casual Support Worker due to wanting my weekends off. I’m based in Faversham but can now work anywhere within the company which is great. It can be quite challenging at times however staff are always available to support you. Staff are amazing throughout the company, everyone is so supportive and you can actually have a laugh. Free training is provided to all staff and opportunity to complete NVQ Level 3+ qualifications in Health&Social Care. I completed mine June 2018. Weekends are 14.5 hour shifts but the plus side is that you always get to go out which makes the day go quicker. And you get fed well!😋 You’ll work a Saturday one week, then a Sunday the week after etc. During the week is split shifts 7:30am-10:00am. Then come back for 15:45-22:00. It is nice to have that break in between to go home, go to the gym, have lunch, see friends or if you’re like me..have a nap! Overall KAT is an excellent place to work and I would definitely recommend.

I can't fault many of the staff as they were working under a lot of pressure in difficult circumstances.  Some staff were lazy and apathetic, though, and often didn't give enough attention to the service users.  Sometimes, it seemed more like they were babysitting rather than being actively involved with the service users.  Cleaning often wasn't done properly, paperwork often wasn't completed.  Maybe morale was low because the previous manager had left and hadn't been replaced, so there was a lack of focus and discipline.  Staff often spent a lot of time using their personal phones.  Some of the senior management team certainly didn't always seem very helpful or understanding.  

The best part of the job was working with the service users.  

The worst part?  Some lazy and apathetic staff, and frustration about jobs not being done properly.

I rated the CEO positively, but never actually met her so I don't really know how good she was.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I love working with autistic people and find it incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. It’s a privilege to have the trust and confidence of the people I support. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part is knowing head office won’t back you up, and sometimes day staff don’t understand the pressure the night staff are under so there can be bickering.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is homely, the company is pro autism support & understanding. The shifts can be long so may not suit everyone.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I work nights. I clean communal areas & iron. In between I’ll prompt PWS to go to bed, settle anyone who wakes, administer medication if needed, then handover to the day shift

I worked in 3 different services , day service, and 2 supported living services.
I was surprised at the unprofessionalism of managers and their lack of knowledge in team management, this company breeds a culture of bad feeling amongst staff, ive never been so miserable in a job as I was here!
I genuinely wanted to enrich the lives of the people we support, however in each service I worked in I became so disillusioned with the culture of bullying and tick boxing, as long as it looked like the right things were being done, this company cares little for its staff! Easy to praise on a Facebook page but their actions or lack of speak louder than words
Things won’t change here until upper management change, bad management starts from the top and trickles down! 


a typical day at work: always working with challenging behaviours 
what I learnt; a few things, how much befriending clients can benefit not only the clients themselves but the support worker and how those working with clients with mental health etc learn not to judge people from the outside but see whats on the inside.
management: I found the management fine, supportive.
the hardest part of the job: the paperwork during incidents with the clients if and when challenging behaviour occurred 
The most enjoyable part was knowing you was supporting and helping clients with their day to day lives and going home knowing you made a difference.

A typical day at work is busy and varied, I am always learning new things. I feel that the management in the services and senior management are open and transparent. I feel that KAT is the most authentic and genuinely caring organisation I have worked for, and I hear other staff saying this too. I remember feeling like this when I first started and more than 10 years later, I still feel that KAT is different from other care providers. I consistently see staff working with people we support in an amazing way.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Support worker 53 salaries reported	£27,317 per year
Team leader 4 salaries reported	£28,125 per year
Autism support worker 7 salaries reported	£27,954 per year
Supported living manager 8 salaries reported	£35,813 per year
Assistant manager 1 salary reported	£31,000 per year

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