Support Worker

Role Responsibility

Hedgerow’s short breaks residential service is looking for motivated people to work in our service to support adults with learning disabilities, to empower individuals to make informed choices about their support, activities in house and out in the community.

Hedgerows is located in Staplehurst, close to Maidstone.

Hedgerows offers short break stays for up to four people giving them and their caregiver a break. It’s a really rewarding role and due to the service offering short breaks you get to know lots of different people who come at stay at Hedgerows, every stay is different. You will be assisting with all aspects of personal care while observing dignity and respect and encouraging independence skills.

The posts are part time and will follow a four-week rolling rota system, consisting of early/late/some nights, weekends and bank holidays. There is a requirement for our team members to be flexible. There is frequent opportunity to work extra hours and a requirement for flexibility to meet the business needs.

The yearly salary is between £25,127 and £26,383 pro rota, that’s 13.05- £13.71 an hour and with enhancements for bank holidays, an allowance of £40.76 for sleep in duties and the potential to work overtime for enhanced money, it does increase the basic salary. Just adding a sleep-in duty once a week to your basic salary could give you an extra £2k+ a year.

We also have other financial benefits to offer for example,

- Kent Rewards (including Childcare Vouchers, Cycle 2 Work and high street shops discounts),

- 10% discount at Adult Education

- A great annual leave entitlement of 27 day pro rota plus bank holidays

- The ability to apply for the bluelight scheme for further day to day purchase discounts.

Once you have completed a thorough induction you will provide support and respond to each person to ensure their safety whilst providing them with the comfort, stimulation, and reassurance to make each visit and enjoyable stay.

You will need to hold a Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care (or equivalent) or be willing to work towards achieving this within two years of employment. You will also be expected to complete your Care Certificate if you do not already hold this. You will have experience of supporting people with learning disabilities and/or Autism. You will possess knowledge of safeguarding.

You must be able to take personal and professional responsibility for your actions and performance. You must be able to work on your own and as part of a team. You must have the ability to record, report and monitor daily.

In return, you will be provided with an ongoing programme of training and development and be provided with regular supervision support to enable you to confidently progress your career.

This post is subject to a genuine occupational requirement for the worker to be female, ‘Permitted under Schedule 9, part 1 of the Equality Act 2010’.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

To be considered for this role, please use the reasons for applying section within the job application to demonstrate your skills and experience relevant to the job description and person specification for the post; applications will be assessed against this.

Interviews to be confirmed once candidates have been shortlisted.

Contact Details

For further information on this role email Tony or Tara at hedgerows.adultsshortbreaks@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 422633

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let’s talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county’s working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.