Day Support Worker – Autism & Complex Care
Dunstable
£12.71 per hour during probation, increasing to £14.00 per hour after successful completion of probation
Day Shifts |
FULL UK DRIVING LICENCE AND CAR DRIVER REQUIRED
Cura Vita Complex Care Group is recruiting confident, calm and engaging Support Workers to join an established complex-care package in Dunstable.
We are specifically looking to strengthen the day team, with shifts operating across a seven-day service.
This opportunity requires a car driver. Applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and be confident driving as part of the requirements of the care package.
ABOUT THE PERSON YOU'LL SUPPORT
This is a higher-intensity support environment where the person we support receives 3:1 staffing during the day, increasing to 4:1 when accessing the community.
We're therefore looking for people who are genuinely comfortable working as part of a close support team, can remain calm when situations become challenging and understand the importance of everyone following a consistent approach.
Just as importantly, this is about supporting a young man with his own personality, interests and ways of communicating.
He has a great sense of humour and enjoys music, going for drives, visiting parks and community places, cycling, swimming, dancing, gardening, trampolining and sensory activities. He also enjoys his iPad, photographs and spending time with people he knows and trusts.
Good support means helping him remain safe and regulated while enabling him to make choices, access activities he enjoys and live a meaningful life.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD MATCH?
The person we support responds best to staff who are calm, positive and patient and who take the time to understand his individual communication style.
Communication may include a combination of speech, Makaton, photographs, symbols, gestures, facial expressions and communication technology.
Changes to routine, waiting, unfamiliar people, busy environments or difficulties communicating what he needs can sometimes cause anxiety or overwhelm.
We therefore need Support Workers who can:
- Remain calm, patient and emotionally measured when situations become challenging.
- Follow established approaches consistently as part of a wider support team.
- Take time to learn and understand individual communication methods.
- Provide reassurance and consistency during periods of anxiety or overwhelm.
- Understand the importance of routine and preparing someone appropriately for change.
- Maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries.
- Be alert to safety and risk while still promoting choice and independence.
- Work collaboratively within a high-support staffing environment.
- Engage positively in activities rather than simply being present for the shift.
- Build trust gradually and consistently.
THE ROLE
As a Day Support Worker, you will provide person-centred support in accordance with the individual's care plan, risk assessments and agreed ways of working.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Building a consistent and trusting professional relationship.
- Supporting established routines and meaningful activities.
- Supporting access to the community as part of the wider staff team.
- Using agreed communication tools and approaches.
- Promoting meaningful choice, independence, dignity and wellbeing.
- Providing calm and consistent support during periods of anxiety or overwhelm.
- Supporting sensory and emotional regulation in accordance with agreed approaches.
- Following care plans, risk assessments and established safety procedures.
- Working effectively and consistently alongside other members of the support team.
- Maintaining clear and accurate care records.
- Communicating effectively with colleagues and the wider care team.
- Recognising concerns or changes and escalating them appropriately.
- Completing all required package-specific training and competency assessments before working independently.
ABOUT YOU
Previous professional experience supporting autistic people or people with learning disabilities would be particularly valuable.
Experience within complex care, behaviour support, mental health or another higher-intensity care environment would also be beneficial.
We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:
- Confidence working within a complex and potentially challenging support environment.
- A calm, patient and consistent approach.
- Emotional resilience and the ability to remain composed under pressure.
- Strong teamwork and the ability to follow agreed approaches consistently.
- Good observational and communication skills.
- Reliability and commitment to agreed shifts.
- An engaging approach to support and willingness to participate in activities.
- Respect for individual communication styles, routines and choices.
- A willingness to learn and complete all required training and competency assessments.
This isn't a passive support role.
The person we support requires a high level of staffing and consistency. There may be challenging situations, and you will need to remain calm, follow established support approaches and work closely with your colleagues to maintain safe and consistent support.
At the same time, we want staff who see the person rather than just the complexity of the package – people who will get involved, build trust, share interests and help create positive experiences.
DRIVING REQUIREMENT
A full UK driving licence and the ability to drive confidently are essential requirements for this position.
Please do not apply if you do not meet the driving requirement, as we are unable to progress non-drivers for this particular care package.
HOURS AND AVAILABILITY
Current recruitment is specifically focused on day staff.
Day shifts operate across a seven-day service.
We are interested in hearing from suitable candidates with weekday and/or weekend day availability. Your availability will be discussed during screening and considered against the current requirements of the package.
PAY
£12.71 per hour during probation.
Following successful completion of probation, the day rate increases to £14.00 per hour.
RIGHT TO WORK
Please note: Cura Vita Complex Care Group does not offer employment visa sponsorship.
Applicants must already have the unrestricted Right to Work in the UK at the time of application.
SAFER RECRUITMENT
All appointments are subject to satisfactory safer recruitment checks, including identity and Right to Work verification, full employment history, satisfactory references, DBS checks and completion of any training or competency requirements relevant to the service.
If you're an experienced, resilient and engaging Support Worker who is comfortable working within a higher-intensity autism and complex-care environment and meets the driving requirement, we'd like to hear from you.
Apply today to join Cura Vita Complex Care Group as a Day Support Worker in Dunstable.
Pay: £12.71-£14.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Do you hold a full UK driving licence and a car driver
- Which days are you generally available to work day shifts?
- Do you have previous professional experience supporting autistic people or people with learning disabilities?
- Do you have previous experience within complex care, behaviour support, mental health or another higher-intensity care environment?
- Are you confident supporting someone who may become anxious, overwhelmed or present with behaviours that can be challenging, while remaining calm and following agreed support approaches?
- Do you currently have unrestricted Right to Work in the UK?
- Will you now or in the future require employment visa sponsorship to work in the UK?
Work Location: In person
