Support Worker

Help transform lives by joining our team TODAY!

We are looking for Support Workers with the passion to work with our fantastic teams in our community services in Somerset.  Ideally, you will have a background in supporting autistic people but if not, we have a fantastic training programme that will get you on your way to achieving a fulfilling job that will beat most out there.

Your working pattern in this role will require flexibility to meet the needs of the people supported and their families, and will include evening and weekend working.

This advert is for a full-time position 37.5 Hours. The salary for this position is £26,325 per annum equivalent to £13.50 per hour

Possession of a driving licence (minimum one year) is Essential

The role includes:

• Helping individuals achieve independence and personal goals
• Supporting and transporting individuals to integrate into their community
• Develop individuals home making skills and personal chores
• Transforming lives and achieving results for autistic adults

Please click here for a Job Description

We need you to be: Resilient, supportive and sensitive towards the needs of autistic people. Being a support worker takes passion, patience and commitment. But working with autistic people gives so much more in return.

Possession of a driving licence (minimum one year) is preferred.

To protect our autistic adults, all staff are required to have a criminal background check. Possession of an Enhanced DBS Check either on the Update Service or conducted within the last 12 months would be preferable but not essential.

In addition, we offer a whole range of benefits including:

• Excellent training and development programme
• Career progression opportunities
• Enhanced overtime. Additional payments for sleep-in and on call.
• Access to a 24-hour Employee Assistance counselling programme
• Competitive pension scheme
• 33 days annual leave (incl. Public Holidays) with the option to buy or sell annual leave every year
• Access to our benefits portal - online staff discount scheme for a range of benefits for places such as Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Halfords, Nike, Apple, Nando's and loads more!
• Cycle to work scheme
• Headspace membership for yourself + 3 friends/family members - Headspace is a global leader in mindfulness and meditation
• Occupational sick pay
• Salary Finance - Our charity partner offers Salary Finance loans as a financial wellbeing benefit for our staff.
• Eligibility for Blue Light Card
• Join the Team Scheme - Refer a friend and receive £200!
• Level 1 membership to Healthcare Cash Plan for all permanent staff!
• Options to buy private healthcare, private dental insurance, and many other salary sacrifices

You may have a personal connection, a desire to work with or real-life experiences working with autistic people. You will have experience supporting vulnerable people in a residential setting and if you share our values and are willing to make a difference to the lives of autistic people, we’d love to hear from you.

Who we are:

We are the UK's leading charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families. Since 1962, we have been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

We transform lives by providing support, guidance and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers. Autistic people turn to us at key moments or challenging times in their lives, be it getting a diagnosis, going to school or finding work.

We change attitudes by improving public understanding of autism and the difficulties many autistic people face. We also work closely with businesses, local authorities and government to help them provide more autism-friendly spaces, deliver better services and improve laws.

Why Choose us?

Autism expertise and knowledge

Our highly skilled and innovative teams empower people to maximise their involvement and inclusion in their community.

Person-centred care

We use individual evidence based, outcome focused assessments to make sure our support is designed to enable people to live the life they choose.

Understanding your diagnosis

We support people to understand their diagnosis and how this may impact on their life and the lives of those around them.

We have come a long way but there is still so much to do to increase opportunities, reduce social isolation and build a brighter future for people on the spectrum. With your help, we can make it happen.

You’ll be joining our team, both locally and nationally and we’ll support you every step of the way.

To apply for the role, please click the button at the end of this page to apply online.

The National Autistic Society is here to transform lives, challenge perceptions and build a society that works for autistic people.

Visit our website to find out more about who we are and what we do: https://www.autism.org.uk/

Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks which will include reference and criminal background checks.

We are passionate about supporting autistic people into work, and particularly welcome applications from autistic people. We help autistic people from all backgrounds and strive to represent the same diversity in our staff and volunteers. We particularly encourage applications from people from all minority groups, who are currently under-represented in our workforce. Together, we can create a society that works for autistic people.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.