Specialist Behavioural Support Worker

We’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Behavioural Support Worker to join our Birchall Wood Service in Hertfordshire.

£27,352.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression. 

Want to feel like you’re making a difference? You’ll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Specialist Behaviour Support Workers are responsible for supporting people with learning disabilities and behavioural needs to live full lives, develop skills and maintain their wellbeing. 

We are looking for a specialist behavioural support worker of skilled, creative and experienced support workers to support one customer in her own home in Welwyn Garden City. Specialist Support Workers within Look Ahead are required to have either an extra dimension of experience or a higher qualification level as determined relevant for the particular post. Specialist Support Workers provide information, social inclusion and vocational opportunities to support people to recover and stay well; exercise choice and control in their care and lives; and participate on an equal footing in the community. Support is also provided to develop a model of re-enablement towards self-advocacy, self-management and empowerment, incorporating the principles and practice of recovery, co-production and peer support. This role must have an excellent value base to support the customer to build their life and develop their skills and passions as an independent person. 

A full driving licence is required for this position.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you’ll do: 

Supporting the customer to lead a full and active life and do things they enjoy, sensitively and persistently trying to new things to open new opportunities for the customer.

Developing the customer’s independent living skills and involving them in aspects of maintaining and developing their home, including cooking, shopping, cleaning, and decorating.

Supporting the customer in their sensory routine, trialling and testing new sensory experiences.

Supporting the customer to communicate their wants and needs and develop new ways of doing this, communicating with them in a person-centred way.

Supporting the customer to manage their anxieties, using Positive Behaviour Support and Autism-specific approaches.

Collating a range of behavioural data and essential paperwork to be analysed within our local management structure.

Driving the customer’s (manual) vehicle to support them to go about their daily life.

Communicating with a range of other key stakeholders including social work, psychology, and commissioning teams. 

Acting in accordance with the policies and procedures of Look Ahead Care & Support plus those specific to the service including any statutory requirements.

Consistently reviewing the customer’s life goals and their progress towards achieving them, in partnership with them and those important to them.

Supporting the customer with personal care. 

Reporting any observations relating to customer welfare.

Maintaining records as required at the project.

Participating in team meetings/reviews, support planning, risk management and the general development of the service.

Undertaking any other duties as requested by management.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead 

About you:

Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in with the hobbies and interests of the customer and can facilitate connections with new people and places.

Has a reasonable level of physical fitness and is able / likes to participate in active pursuits such as running and swimming. 

Is confident enough to try new things and take positive risks on a regular basis.

Exudes a warm friendly and fun presence.

Prefers working as part of a group or team.

Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.

Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised.

Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.

Is persistent and determined in adverse circumstances.

Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication.

Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can-do attitude.

Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour.

What you’ll bring:

Essential:

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent

Minimum 2 years of experience working with customers with Autism/Challenging Behaviour/learning disabilities

Driving licence and a willingness to drive as part of support duties

Desirable:

Experience of engaging vulnerable people with complex needs in meaningful activities. 

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
 
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.