Senior Support Worker

Who are Fair Ways and what do we stand for?

Fair Ways is a leading children’s services charity based in the Solent, delivering Fostering, Education, Residential, Mental Health and Family services and cares for over 400 children, families, young people and vulnerable adults each year.

Fair Ways is a great place to work. We are a team. We care about each other and are all committed to making a change to the lives of the young people and service users in our care. We will not apologise for calling our staff great, the best, or world-class. Our staff are at the core of our organisation and we celebrate them by shouting it from the rooftops!

Where and when do we need you?

Fair Ways have many Supported Living homes for young people. They consist of a collection of small family homes and can accommodate a number of residents at a time. Each young person has their own private room and shared access to communal areas. Our aim is to provide stability, consistency and acceptance, with the emphasis on young adults being responsible for themselves. Our staff seek to support and advise, not to tell or instruct. This role would suit a person who is able to advocate strongly for a young person to ensure the best possible outcomes during this vital period of adjustment into adult life.  

You will be working as part of a wonderful team in our Southampton, and encouraged to develop your career within an ambitious and growing organisation that is committed to staff retention and development.

As a senior support worker for our Post-16 division, you will be involved exciting and rewarding things like:

• Deputising for the home manager - Taking responsibility for the running of the home in the House manager’s absence including all management paperwork. Giving appropriate support and direction to the staff team to help and support appropriate recording on the Outcome Records and updating placement plans, risk assessments and auditing that all information is recorded appropriately and accurately.
• Providing support and Guidance - Observing, assessing and monitoring young people’s health development and emotional well-being, by promoting high standards of support, hygiene and safety for all young people in the home.
• Keeping vulnerable young people safe - Safely managing challenging behaviour resulting from complex needs and formulate plans and update paperwork to reduce the likelihood of future similar events. Including supporting colleagues in their reflective practice to develop an understanding of the underlying issues to challenging behaviour.
• Promoting and building Independence - Involving young people in decisions about their Outcome Placement Plan and risk assessments, in order to maximise their choices, giving due consideration to their wishes and feelings.
• Using your excellent communication skills - helping to guide our young people with general life skills. You will be organised, prioritise and complete tasks, and delegate appropriately.
• Thinking outside the box! - You will be able to demonstrate a flexible approach to the task in hand and be positive and motivated with a real drive to make a difference. This will involve being resilient and calm headed under pressure, focused on finding the right solution and providing support.

The rota pattern for this role is based on a weekly hours of 37.5, this is compiled from a mixture of earlies, lates and up to 2 sleeps per week over week days and weekends. All candidates must have a full driving license and have access to the use of a car. Successful candidates will be required to provide an enhanced Disclosure (DBS). This disclosure cost will be met by Fair Ways.

Desirable…. but not Essential

Whilst we value the knowledge and understanding that experience and qualifications can bring, we also know that some of our best people have come to us from unrelated backgrounds. These people already held our core values at heart, and with the dedication of our amazing in-house training and development team, we have supported the rest!

• Previous experience of working with young people and/or adults with health/social care/educational needs
• You will hold a Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject and either hold or be working towards a level 5

Let us look after you!

At Fair Ways, we care about your well-being, here is what we currently offer to our dedicated team:

• Exciting Opportunities: Participate in free staff lotteries with amazing prizes, such as £1000 holiday vouchers, weekends away, luxury hampers, £1000 fostering referral scheme and vouchers. Experience a workplace that celebrates your contributions.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a Holiday Accrual Scheme and the option to purchase additional holidays (up to 5 days). We value your time and offer flexibility to accommodate your existing commitments.
• Health and Support: Benefit from Health Shield, our health cash plan, and access to our Employee Assistance Scheme, providing emergency financial assistance and 24/7 counselling services. Access your salary when you need it with Early Pay – The ability to withdraw an amount of your salary early each month to assist with any unforeseen circumstances.
• Growth and Development: Unlock your potential with our Education Grant, offering funding for accreditation up to master's level. Engage in leadership courses to enhance your skills and progress in your career.
• Wellbeing Matters: Experience team-building days, summer festivals, and well-being initiatives, promoting a positive work environment. Take advantage of discounted gym memberships and a cycle-to-work scheme to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Recognition and Rewards: Be appreciated for your dedication through annual Staff Awards and Long Service Awards. Build a secure future with our pension scheme and gain eligibility for a Blue Light Card.
• Supportive Community: Be part of our diverse workforce that embraces all communities. We value your unique perspective and encourage you to contribute to our inclusive and vibrant culture.

Become a part of our community – We can’t wait to meet you!

If you're passionate about making a difference and are ready to embark on an incredible journey, apply today and be a part of something amazing at Fair Ways. Join our team and help shape brighter futures!