Support Worker

The Support Worker role is vital in ensuring that our very complex, disabled children and young adults have the opportunity to pursue their full potential and prepare them for life beyond Chailey Heritage Foundation by promoting independence. It is hard work and requires commitment, but it is a hugely fulfilling job and can bring real joy. 

The Role of a Support Worker

Working within a dedicated team, you will be responsible for providing personalised support to children and young adults in our care. As a Support Worker you will help us to provide our children and young adults with everything they need to improve their lives.

The Support Worker role is hugely varied and challenging and no day is the same. From supporting with all aspects of personal care and medical needs to accompanying our children and young people to community activities such as visits to leisure centres, colleges, music gigs and of course the pub if you are working with the young adults!

You will join an established team of support staff who will offer guidance and advice throughout your employment at Chailey Heritage Foundation. To support you further in your role and to offer a real chance to develop your career, you will be trained by nurses, therapists and senior staff to carry out other procedures.

Training and support:

• First class induction and ongoing training from qualified professionals
• Only expected to carry out duties alone once signed of as competent
• Support to achieve a level 3 Diploma as a nationally recognized qualification
• Assigned a ‘buddy’ to guide you on shifts and a mentor to provide support in regular meetings to make sure that you are confident in your new role
• Support and guidance from House Manager and Senior Support Workers

What we offer:

• Competitive Rates of Pay £24,960- £27,289 per annum (depending on shift/hours worked) Enhanced pay for weekends
• ​Hours/shift work: we can offer between 14 hours and 40 hours per week
• Career development – opportunity for funded qualification in Health & Social Care
• Employee benefits – pension, competitive annual leave, onsite parking, café, gym, swimming facilities
• Support and guidance – from a team of dedicated, trained staff

What we’re looking for:

• Basic knowledge of care:
  Basic understanding of the care and support needs of people with physical disabilities and respecting them as individuals.
• Literacy and numeracy skills:
  You’ll need to write observations about the young people – we don’t worry about spelling but we need to be able to read and understand them. You’ll need to be able to read and understand instructions on equipment and medicine bottles, syringes and so on.
• ICT skills:
  You’ll be open to learning the technologies our young people use to communicate. You’ll be using email, our intranet and the wider internet to find information.
• Communication skills:
  You’ll be able to communicate with a variety of people in addition to the young people you’ll be working with, including professionals, parents, families and visitors.
• Common sense
  Once signed off as competent, you’ll need to use your common sense and initiative to negotiate instructions and decisions each day. This is a position of trust - working with young, vulnerable people requires a high level of maturity and responsibility.
• Flexibility
  Our support Workers are required to be flexible to work as part of a rota which will include early and late shifts, weekends and bank holidays.

What Our Staff Say

"It's such a rewarding feeling, thinking that you are making a difference to each person's life every day."

To view our current vacancies, please click here.

Chailey Heritage Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults; as such an enhanced DBS disclosure is required.

Chailey Heritage Foundation is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all its young people and staff.

Meet Kate, a very creative and energetic member of our amazing team of Support Workers. 

Meet Donna, one of our lovely Support Workers who works with the young people in one of our Residential Bungalows.