Support Worker - Joyful Living Centre

Job Purpose
To provide high-quality learning, personal and wellbeing support to adults with learning disabilities and additional needs. The post holder will support service users to access education, community activities and life-skills programmes, promoting independence, dignity, inclusion, and positive outcomes in line with the Centre’s ethos, vision, and values.

Ethos, Vision, and Values
The post holder will:

• Demonstrate and promote the Centre’s ethos, vision, and values
• Maintain a strong belief that students can and do achieve
• Respect service users as individual adults with rights, dignity, and autonomy
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusive practice
• Act as a positive role model at all times

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching and Learning Support

• Engage with service users during lessons and break times, promoting independence and communication
• Follow guidance from the Class Lecturer and Senior Teaching Aide to reinforce learning and support individual targets and destinations
• Prepare learning environments for internal and external activities, ensuring resources are available and cleared appropriately
• Create learning resources under guidance using Microsoft Office 365 and specialist software following training
• Encourage progression towards employment, community participation and independent living
• Promote self-reliance, self-regulation, and increased self-esteem
• Support a wide range of curriculum activities, including community-based learning, swimming, sports, and trampolining.
• Promote the use of ICT in learning, including tablets (iPads) and internal systems
• Following training, support the consistent use of hi-tech communication aids and assistive technology
• Record service users progress using written observations, photographs, and videos, contributing to ongoing and end-of-term evaluations
• Support basic skills programmes for individuals and small groups, including in community settings
• Provide physical support where required, including mobility, wheelchair use, personal and intimate care and responding to emergencies

Positive Behaviour Support

• Support service users with a range of needs, including behaviours of concern
• Understand, implement, and contribute to Personal Support Plans (PSPs)
• Collect, record, and share relevant data as requested
• Support participation in meaningful activities by:
• Ensuring at least one activity is always available
• Encouraging participation in essential but less preferred tasks using motivation and rewards
• Introducing new activities to broaden choice
• Supporting skill development for increased independence
• Maintaining a balanced and varied programme of activities

Safe, Consistent and Predictable Environments

• Use strategies such as visual timetables and social stories
• Support structured routines and informed choices
• Identify and reduce environmental factors that may contribute to challenging behaviour
• Support service users to cope with unfamiliar or challenging environments

Nursing, Medical and Personal Care

• Support service users’ health and wellbeing by following individual care and medical plans
• Undertake basic first aid and administer PRN medication (e.g., EpiPen) following training
• Provide personal and intimate care with dignity, respect, and sensitivity

Therapy and Physical Support

• Support manual handling needs in line with individual guidelines, including walking support, wheelchair use and hoists
• Implement individual programmes under guidance from the Integrated Services Team, including:
• Communication guidelines
• Eating and drinking plans (following training and sign-off)
• Physiotherapy programmes
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary discussions regarding service users progress and provision

Safeguarding, Compliance and Professional Responsibilities

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of all service users and report concerns in line with safeguarding procedures
• Follow key documentation including Risk Assessments, Care Plans, PSPs, and Behaviour Support Plans
• Adhere to Health and Safety policies at all times
• Participate in training and professional development
• Promote and follow all Centre policies, including Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity and Health & Safety
• Work flexibly
• Undertake other duties of a similar nature as required by the principal