Senior Support Workers

Senior Support Worker | West Sussex | Full-Time | £30,316.99 per annum

Job title: Senior support worker Location: West Sussex Contract: Full-time (including weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis) Salary: £30,316.99 per annum Responsible to: Registered manager

This isn't just a job. It's a chance to be someone's constant; the steady, caring presence that helps a young person feel safe, valued and ready to take on the world.

Teaching Personnel is proud to be recruiting on behalf of a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people in West Sussex. We're looking for a senior support worker who is ready to step up, lead with confidence and bring real warmth and professionalism to every shift.

This is a role for someone who genuinely believes that every young person, regardless of their needs or challenges, deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and the highest standard of personalised care. The young people in this home can present with complex and challenging behaviours, and the right candidate will approach those moments not with frustration, but with understanding, skill and calm — knowing that behaviour is always communication.

What you'll be doing

• Leading shifts in the absence of the team leader, acting as a reliable, positive and professional point of contact for the whole team.
• Administering medication in line with the medication policy and each individual's care plan.
• Supporting young people with decision making and lifestyle choices, helping them build confidence, independence and a real sense of control over their own lives.
• Carrying out personal care tasks in line with each person's individual needs, wishes and preferences, always following their care plan.
• Supporting young people to take an active role in their community, accessing local facilities and wider resources in the spirit of genuine social inclusion.
• Contributing to person centred planning, making sure each individual's plan has goals that are meaningful, achievable and regularly reviewed.
• Helping young people to develop and grow their social networks, friendships and connections.
• Supporting individuals through transitions, attending reviews and contributing to multi-disciplinary meetings.
• Adapting quickly and positively when new young people join the home, building trust from scratch and adjusting the team's approach to reflect each individual's needs, history and personality.
• Working in partnership with care managers, families, carers and other professionals to maximise the quality of life of every person in your care.
• Upholding safeguarding, child protection and whistleblowing policies at all times, keeping the people in your care safe.
• Completing all relevant documentation accurately and in line with data protection requirements.

Who we're looking for

• Genuine experience working with vulnerable children or young people in a care, support or educational setting.
• Confidence in leading or supporting a shift, with the ability to guide and motivate a team around you.
• Comfortable and confident supporting young people who present with complex, challenging or unpredictable behaviours — responding with consistency, empathy and professional skill rather than reaction.
• The resilience and adaptability to welcome new young people into the home, quickly building rapport and adjusting your approach to meet their individual needs from day one.
• A strong understanding of the needs of young people with learning disabilities and how to support them in a person centred way.
• Good working knowledge of health and safety, equal opportunities and current legislation relating to young people in care.
• Flexible, positive and creative — someone who brings energy and calm in equal measure.
• Good communication and literacy skills, with the ability to maintain accurate records.
• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care is desirable, though equivalent experience will be equally considered.
• Willingness to work flexibly on a rota basis, including weekends and bank holidays.

What's in it for you

• £30,316.99 per annum.
• A genuinely rewarding role where your leadership makes a real difference every single day.
• A supportive team environment built on shared values of respect, inclusion and person centred care.
• Regular supervision, appraisal and ongoing training and development opportunities.
• The chance to grow your career within a specialist provider that invests in its people.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
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