What does a Senior support Worker Do?
Senior Support Workers support Team Leaders to deliver outstanding care to all our young people and their families accessing Robins vital service.
Senior Support Workers support Team Leaders to lead a team of up to 10 Support Workers at any one time. Team leaders are responsible for everyone’s well-being, safety and productivity – you will support and at times deputise to manage the day, allocate our support workers, arrange trips, manage health and safety and inspire our team to be the best it can be at all times.
You will supervise and manage your team members alongside the Registered Manager.
Although Senior Support Workers have a supervisory role you will still key work children and young people to provide outstanding child-centered care and support.
As part of the high quality care provision we offer you will need to attend reviews and write reports, care plans, risk assessments and outcomes to ensure the best possible suport and care always.
Creative skills are important in finding imaginative ways to problem solve – supporting children to break down barriers and achieve their full potential.
As a Senior Support Worker you will support Robins Senior Management Team in the homes growth and development to serve our young people in the best way possible.
Support work can be challenging at times but we will support you in growing your skills in communicating, empowering and including our young people in all that they wish to do.
At Lifeworks we put the people we support at the centre of their care. Every decision and plan is made with them and those closest to them, with their best interest at the centre of everything. Through the support we give our aim is to help the people we support to have a great life and achieve their best futures.
Examples of types of work
Home Care and Activities
We support people to live their best lives in a home away from home on either a full time or short-term basis. You will be there to offer support with practical tasks as well as prioritising their emotional well-being by being a champion for them always. From helping people take care of themselves with basic tasks like washing and personal care, dressing and eating to just having fun playing games, doing hobbies or simply hanging out together.
Out in the community
Being active and enjoying the community around us is really important for the people we support, as it is for us. The people you’ll support enjoy a range of activities; going to the cinema, swimming pool, cafes, local attractions or simply to the park. We have so much to enjoy together, right on our doorstep – it’s just a case of choosing what and where!
Life-skills
Having a learning disability can make some tasks harder than most people would find them. Your role will be to support and encourage people to grow their independence bit by bit over time. You will support people to use public transport, go shopping, cook and look after themselves.
Safeguarding
Keeping people safe is our top priority and it is everyone’s responsibility at Lifeworks to make that happen. The people we support have a learning disability and sometimes other physical needs and disabilities which can make them potentially more at risk to harm. You will provide support to keep them safe and treated well. You will need to provide the highest of care standards and keep good administrative records to make sure those we support are safeguarded at all times.
Academic Year 22/23
About us Lifeworks College is a small, specialist independent FE college that provides a safe and supportive learning environment for young people from the age of 16-25 who have learning disabilities and hold Education Health Care plans (EHCP), and is part of the Lifeworks Charity. The college is located in a village environment, with a strong community spirit, close to the town of Totnes in South Devon.
Whilst you may go to work at a service, as with Support Workers a great deal of the activities you’ll do with those we support will be out in the community. It is hard to say what you will be out and about doing, as so much of it is led by the interests of the people we support. For some it will be taking them to volunteer in a local café and for others a day out at an adventure centre. What is important is that you are up for getting out there and trying new things with the people we support.
What makes a good Support Worker?
A good Senior Support worker is focused and led by the needs of the young people they support.
You’ll understand the commitment and dedication that is required from teams to deliver outstanding care for the young people we care for. Inspiring our support workers to deliver the best possible care at all times, you’ll be able to mentor them to learn and grow through reflection.
A key skill is the ability to support staff to help Robin’s young people achieve their goals – can you make brushing your teeth the best activity ever or spot new opportunities for increased independence. This requires creativity, dedication and leadership.
You should be professional, representing Robins in multi-agency meetings, building relationships with key stakeholders and ensuring they are confident in the care and support delivered at Robins.
What qualifications and experience does a SENIOR support worker need?
As a Senior Support Worker you will need to hold or be working towards a Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent. Experience supporting young people with Learning Disabilities and Autism is an advantage as is the supervision of support workers.
You’ll be directly managed and supported by the Deputy Manager. Personally, you will be inspired to continue your professional development as well as support our staff in their CPD, understanding both your own and your teams strengths and weaknesses in order to seek development opportunities.
Benefits of working for Lifeworks
- 28 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and increasing on length of service
- a company pension scheme
- staff discount scheme
- Employee Assistance Scheme
- as well as an extensive induction on commencement of employment
- ongoing training and supervision
- continuing professional development and support
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