Care Support Worker – Community Empowerment for Autistic Adults

Could you support the delivery of sessions to empower autistic adults to engage with the community and enhance independence?

Job brief

Daisy Chain is a well-established Tees Valley Charity that provides support to autistic and neurodivergent people and their families. We have a fantastic opportunity to join our thriving adult services team as a Care Support Worker, in our new service My Life, My Community.

You will play a key role in reducing loneliness and isolation for autistic and neurodivergent adults by facilitating the delivery of engaging and impactful social groups, designed to enhance independence, generate friendships, and increase community engagement. Groups will be based at suitable community-venues across the Tees Valley, with regular planned excursions into the community to access local amenities, such as coffee shops, pubs, cinema, escape rooms, etc.

We are looking for individuals who can support the delivery of these groups, in one or more local authority area, with the option to work from within your hometown. Autism experience is not essential, training will be provided.

Location Delivery will take place from central community venues within each of the five Tees Valley local authorities. We are particularly looking for people who can deliver groups in Stockton, and Redcar & Cleveland.

Salary – £20,397.15 (pro rata to hours worked)

Hours 7.5 to 15 hours per week available (shifts are approximately 3:15 8:15 pm)

Early applications are invited as we will close the vacancy when we have received enough for shortlisting.

Daisy Chain is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone in our care and therefore this post is subject to an enhanced DBS check

Key Tasks

• Facilitate and support the delivery of social groups for autistic and neurodivergent adults.
• Encourage and empower group members to develop friendships and participate in planned activities.
• Support Session Leads to consult with service users and gather their views, wishes and feelings.
• Develop and maintain positive and supportive relationships with autistic and neurodivergent service users.
• Contribute towards the protection of individuals from abuse by adhering to Daisy Chains Child and At-Risk Adults Safeguarding policies at all times.
• Ensure confidentiality is maintained and that Daisy Chains GDPR Policy is adhered to at all times.

Additional responsibilities:

• Comply with the Charities Health and Safety policy in all employment practices.
• Maintain the integrity of the Daisy Chain brand in all internal and external communications.
• Maintain a proactive approach to your role and responsibilities along with a commitment to contribute and maintain the positive working ethos within the Charity.
• Ensure attendance at staff meetings.
• Undertake any training and development deemed necessary for the pursuance of the post.
• Work in a way that contributes to the continuous improvement of the Charitys services and embraces the organisations quality initiatives.
• Any other duties from time to time, commensurate with the level of the post.

This job outline is intended to indicate the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but, while some variation can be expected in particular duties, the outline is considered to provide a reasonable general description of the post.

Person Specification

Successful candidates will have a strong work ethic, and share our Company values of Passionate, Inclusive, Empowering, Ambitious, Open and Innovative and share our ethos of improving the lives of autistic and neurodivergent people.

The below details what we are looking for in an ideal candidate if it is Essential (E) Desirable (D) and how we will assess that skill, via your application (A) at Interview (I) or as part of a task during the interview process (T)

Experience

• Experience of working with diverse individuals A, I & E
• Experience of working with autistic and neurodivergent young people or adults A, I & D
• Experience of facilitating social/community groups for adults A, I & D

Qualifications

• Level 2 qualification in childcare/education/health & social care or equivalent A&D

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to build and maintain effective and productive working relationships with staff and diverse service users A, I & E
• The ability to follow direction and use own initiative A, I & E

• Knowledge & understanding of safeguarding A, I & D
• Knowledge & understanding of autism & neurodiversity A, I & D
• Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality and GDPR A, I & D

Other

• Must undertake safeguarding training A& E
• Ability and willingness to work at least one evening on a weekly basis A, I & E
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service A, I & E
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team A, I & E
• Understanding of and commitment to the aims and ethos of Daisy Chain A, I & E
• Access to own transport and the ability to travel to community venues A, I & E

Company Benefits

Our staff do amazing jobs and to reward our staff we offer

• Enhanced annual leave of 33 days (pro rata for part time employees) rising to 35 after 5 years service.
• Birthday day off
• A bespoke induction plan specific to you and your role which starts as soon as a job offer is accepted.
• A 6 month programme and planned meetings to ensure the employee is settling in and offer any support needed to fulfil their role.
• Ongoing training and development.
• Our Employee Assistance Programme offers a full range of confidential services designed to ensure you receive professional support that may affect work and home life.
• Company Pension Scheme.
• Staff discount.
• Free on-site car parking and refreshments.
• Social and charitable events.
• Company sick Pay after successful completion of probationary period.
• Savings Club
• Give as you earn scheme for staff to make donation to a charity of their choice if they wish.
• If your role requires membership of a professional Body we will pay your membership fees.

To apply click the button above and submit your CV and details along with the Daisy Chain Application Form. If you have any gaps within your employment history, please state the reasons for these within your CV. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact us on 01642 531248.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.

If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, to enable you to perform to the best of your ability, please let us know when submitting your CV.

DAISY CHAIN ETHOS & CULTURE

I am passionate about improving the lives of Autistic children and adults and committed to Daisy Chains values, culture, and ethos. I will represent Daisy Chain in a positive manner and will always behave professionally. I will demonstrate empathy and support towards families and collaborate with staff and volunteers in the Daisy Chain team.

Vision: Our shared vision is for every person we support to live a life they enjoy and is meaningful to them at every stage

Mission: To support and empower autistic and neurodivergent individuals through the provision of holistic person-centred services, whilst promoting training, wellbeing, inclusion and acceptance regionally and nationwide

Values: Passionate; Inclusive; Empowering; Ambitious; Open; Innovative

Location :Stockton-on-Tees

Closing Date :14/08/2023

HOW TO APPLY

Click Here to Submit your CV and Application on Company Website