Title: Support Worker
Location: St Neots, PE19
Nearest Station: St Neots
Wage: Up to £20.00 gross per hour
Driver Essential? Yes
Essential: Experience supporting a young adult with mild learning difficulties and high levels of anxiety
Desirable: Graduate with an interest in becoming a psychologist or teacher
Start Date: ASAP, Permanent Contract
Days & Hours: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, core hours: 11.00am to 6.00pm
Family/Client Pets: Two cats
About this client:
Alex is a bright, articulate and capable 23 year old with a wide range of interests, including paleontology (especially fossil hunting and research), producing electronic music, DJing, going to music concerts, watching horror films, TV and cinema. Alex has mild learning difficulties with Mosaic Down’s syndrome, traits of high functioning Asperger’s/ASD, gender dysphoria and some mental health issues with high anxiety levels (especially social) and depression. There are also some minor health issues which the Support Worker / Mentor would need to be aware of.
Overview of role:
This is a role which will be focused on supporting Alex in accessing bespoke education, researching and arranging suitable activities and accompanying Alex to various appointments, including therapy sessions. Alex doesn’t attend formal education or college, so part of your role you will be to organise alternative educational experiences and transport Alex to and from them, as well as supporting her whilst there. She also needs help to give her the tools and confidence to become more independent. For example, improving her independence skills around shopping, cooking, travel, cleaning, laundry and personal hygiene. Although Alex can do some of these things, she needs considerable prompting and encouragement to start an activity or keep on task. She can get very anxious in settings that are busy, for example in crowds of people or in supermarkets, or when there may be too much choice and sensory overload.
Who this job would suit:
The next few years will be a pivotal time for Alex, so we are looking for a Support Worker who can build a strong rapport with Alex, make a difference to her life and who can focus on moving things forward. This would be a fantastic position for someone who has an interest in teaching, mental health and/or who is looking to work in the psychology field. As a young adult, there will be occasions when Alex wants her own time and space, as well as help to plan trips away or to attend events during the evening, so we are looking for a Support Worker who has some flexibility to provide this. It is also intended that Alex will need help to make a successful transition into suitable more independent living with the right levels of support. You will need to have access to your own car, mileage paid when on duty, 0.40p per mile.
What’s great about this job:
This is a unique role which will be very rewarding for someone equipped to meet Alex’s evolving needs. You will play an active role in assisting Alex with her bespoke Education program and liaise with many professionals in the specialist field.
Client/Family met by Snap?
Yes, Snap have worked with this family for several years and are well-known to us.
Rachael is recruiting for this role
rachael@snapcare.co.uk
or 020 7729 2200
Snap Care is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We are committed to equality of opportunity and recruitment/selection decisions are based only on individuals' ability to best do the job. *Where a specific gender is stated as essential, gender is considered to be a genuine occupational requirement in accordance with paragraph 1, schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010.