Support Worker

Work with Walsingham and make a real difference to people's lives

Walsingham Support has been operating across England and Wales since 1986. We enhance the lives of people with learning disabilities, autism and other complex needs. We're different because we pride ourselves in putting the people we support at the centre of everything we do. We do this by delivering specifically tailored support for every individual we work with.

• As a valued member of our team, each Support Worker is there to help deliver the quality-of-life people with disabilities deserve. By doing so, the support worker will be supporting our service users to reach their full potential.
• You will help to ensure that Walsingham Support's care is of high quality and person-centred. As a Support Worker you will help to ensure that care is tailored to the needs of each individual and based on their lifestyle.
• As a Support Worker, it is your duty to ensure a high quality and well maintained environment for those we support.
• Each Support Worker is expected to work from a care plan, providing help with day to day living tasks. This might include personal care, meal preparation, housekeeping, providing emotional support, social interaction and visits to activities in their communities.

We really care about our staff and offer a wide range of benefits to each Support Worker:

• Favourable working hours, including part-time roles and bank positions.
• 28 days annual leave, rising up to 38 days depending on length of service.
• Double pay if you work on bank holidays.
• Pension scheme contributions.
• Life assurance equal to three times your salary.
• Bereavement helpline.
• Walsingham Rewards Scheme with extensive discounts on everyday items.
• Exceptional training and continuing professional development opportunities.
• Long service awards.
• Eyecare vouchers.
• Outstanding work bonus payments.
• Recommend a friend bonus of £250.

This is a wonderfully varied role where you will build genuine relationships with the people you care for. You do not need prior experience to join as a Support Worker with Walsingham Support. We provide all the training required! Read on to find out more

About The Service

Loretto and Briarbank are next door to each other and have an internal door connecting the houses. The houses are situated on a quiet road just a 10 minute walk from Workington town centre and have lovely views. Four gentlemen live in Loretto and two gentlemen and one lady live in Briarbank, they all have good friendships with each other and love spending time together. There are no sleepovers in these services as the individuals need no overnight support and have a care-line in place. The staff team work between both services as they are so close knit but the staff lone work in each house as the individuals need very little support.

Candidate Requirements:

The candidate needs to be person centered, relaxed and easy going. The people in these services are always up for a laugh and good conversation so they need someone to enjoy banter with them. The individuals in these services are very independent and can do most things for themselves, they need someone to provide support with cooking evening meals, administering medication and following their routines. The candidate must use their own initiative in some instances and have good time management skills as these services are lone working

THE BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR A CHARITY

Working for a charity can offer a range of unique benefits compared to working for a commercial business. If it is your first time applying for a job at a charity organisation below are some of the notable differences between us and a commercial, corporate organisation:

• Sense of Purpose: Many people find working for a charity to be more personally fulfilling because they contribute to a cause or mission that aligns with their values. The sense of purpose derived from making a positive impact on society can be a powerful motivator.
• Social Impact: Charities typically focus on addressing social issues, whether it's healthcare, education, poverty, or the environment. Working for a charity allows employees to be part of efforts to create positive social change and improve the lives of others.
• Diverse and Inclusive Environment: Charities often have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, reflecting the diverse communities they serve. Employees may find themselves working alongside people with varied backgrounds and perspectives.
• Skill Development: Working for a charity may provide opportunities for employees to develop a wide range of skills. With limited resources, employees often take on multiple roles and responsibilities, allowing for skill diversification and professional growth.
• Community Engagement: Charities are usually deeply connected to the communities they serve. Employees may have the chance to engage directly with beneficiaries, volunteers, and community partners, fostering a strong sense of community and interconnectedness.
• Flexibility and Passion-Driven Work: While this may not be universally true, some charities offer a more flexible work environment, recognising the passion and commitment of their employees. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and work-life balance.
• Positive Workplace Culture: Charities often foster a positive and collaborative workplace culture where employees share a common goal and work together to achieve it. This sense of camaraderie can contribute to a supportive and encouraging work environment.
• You are not making money for a board of Directors: At Walsingham, any surplus funds generated by the charity goes back into the care of the service users not pay bonuses to directors.
• Job Stability: According to Tori Utley's article for Forbes magazine in 2016, charities are less likely to take risks when expanding, so are less likely to suffer financially compared to companies that focus purely on profit. Many non-profit organisations do not have private owners, and they do not issue stock or pay dividends as rewards.