Bank SEND Support Worker – Children and Young People
Location: Various locations across Sheffield
Contract: Bank / as-and-when required
Organisation: Inclusive Community Care Ltd
Make a meaningful difference
Inclusive Community Care Ltd is expanding its team of Bank SEND Support Workers to support children and young people across Sheffield.
We are looking for calm, caring and dependable people who can help children enjoy safe, positive experiences while developing their confidence, communication and independence.
The children we support may have autism, learning disabilities, communication differences, sensory needs, physical disabilities or behaviours that require skilled and thoughtful support. Some assignments require 1:1 or 2:1 staffing, depending on the child’s assessed needs.
Experience is welcomed, but attitude matters just as much. If you are patient, observant, willing to learn and genuinely committed to children’s wellbeing, we would like to hear from you.
About the role
Our Bank workers provide additional staffing according to each child’s assessed needs and required support ratio. Assignments may be offered at short notice and can take place across different ICCare locations in Sheffield.
You may support a child for a single session or across a series of agreed sessions. We carefully match workers according to the child’s needs, risks, communication style and support plan.
This is a genuine Bank arrangement. Hours and assignments are not guaranteed, and you are free to accept or decline work when it is offered.
What you will do
Depending on the child and assignment, you may:
- Provide safe, attentive 1:1 or 2:1 support.
- Build a positive and professional relationship with the child.
- Follow the child’s support plan, risk assessment and agreed staffing ratio.
- Support communication using speech, visuals, PECS, gestures or other agreed methods.
- Plan and take part in sensory, creative, play-based, physical and community activities.
- Encourage confidence, choice, independence and the development of everyday skills.
- Support eating, drinking, toileting, hygiene or mobility where required and appropriately trained.
- Recognise signs of distress, anxiety, sensory overload or escalation and respond calmly.
- Use Positive Behaviour Support and approved de-escalation approaches.
- Maintain professional boundaries and protect children’s dignity and privacy.
- Record activities, observations, incidents and outcomes clearly and accurately.
- Communicate appropriately with managers, colleagues, families and relevant professionals.
- Report safeguarding concerns immediately and follow ICCare’s procedures.
Children’s safety always comes first. If a safeguarding concern or incident arises, protecting the child and obtaining appropriate assistance takes priority over routine or end-of-shift tasks.
Who we are looking for
You should be:
- Kind, patient and genuinely interested in supporting children with SEND.
- Calm and able to think clearly when a child is distressed or behaviour becomes challenging.
- Reliable, punctual and able to follow agreed plans and instructions.
- Comfortable working independently while remaining accountable to a manager.
- Able to communicate professionally and write clear, factual records.
- Respectful of different cultures, identities, abilities and family circumstances.
- Willing to undertake required training and apply it consistently.
- Able to travel to different working locations across Sheffield.
You must be willing and able to provide personal care where an individual child’s assessed needs require it. Relevant training and guidance will be provided.
Experience and qualifications
Previous experience supporting children or young people with SEND is desirable. This could come from:
- SEND or special-school settings.
- Short-break or respite services.
- Youth work, play work or community services.
- Social care or family support.
- Teaching-assistant or learning-support work.
- Personal or family experience of SEND.
Relevant Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications are helpful but not essential for every applicant. We will also consider people with strong transferable experience and the right values.
Experience of autism, PECS, sensory support, Positive Behaviour Support, personal care or 1:1 and 2:1 working would be advantageous.
A driving licence and access to transport are desirable but not essential for every assignment.
Training and support
Depending on your existing knowledge and the assignments offered, training may include:
- Safeguarding children and responding to allegations.
- Autism, learning disabilities and SEND awareness.
- Positive Behaviour Support and de-escalation.
- Communication methods, including PECS and visual support.
- Paediatric first aid.
- Moving and handling.
- Food safety and allergen awareness.
- Toileting, personal care and dignity.
- Health and safety, fire safety and infection prevention.
- Confidentiality, data protection and social media.
- Professional boundaries, recording and incident reporting.
Child-specific training will be arranged where an assignment involves additional health, communication, mobility or behavioural needs. You will not be expected to undertake specialist tasks without appropriate assessment, training and authorisation.
Safer recruitment
Inclusive Community Care Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Any appointment will be subject to appropriate safer-recruitment checks, which may include:
- An Enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check where required.
- Identity, address and right-to-work checks.
- Satisfactory employment and character references.
- Verification of employment history, qualifications and training.
- Discussion of any gaps or inconsistencies in employment history.
- A safeguarding-focused interview and suitability assessment.
Right to work and future sponsorship
Applicants must have permission to work in the UK for this Bank position.
For exceptional candidates who demonstrate the required competence and suitability, there may be an opportunity to progress to a contracted role with guaranteed hours. Visa sponsorship may then be considered where the role and applicant meet all Home Office requirements. Progression and sponsorship are not automatic or guaranteed.
Why join ICCare?
- Work that makes a visible difference to children and families.
- Flexible Bank assignments across Sheffield.
- Supportive induction, training and supervision.
- Assignment-specific preparation and guidance.
- Opportunities to develop your SEND knowledge and experience.
- The potential to progress as our services and workforce grow.
We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and welcome applications from disabled candidates and people from all communities.
If you are compassionate, responsible and ready to put children’s safety and needs first, we would be pleased to receive your application.
Pay: £12.71-£15.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
