We’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Positive Behaviour Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities service in Gravesend.

£25,857.00 per annum, working 37.5 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you’re part of one team? You’ll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Information on the customer you will be supporting:

“Hi, I’m K and I am a 25-year-old male who is moving to Gravesend this year!

I am moving from another area so will need my support network to guide me with exciting activities!

I’m looking for adventurous and passionate individuals to support me with my daily living skills but also to help me develop my skills to live more independently, to share my hobbies and interests in and to explore new hobbies and interests.

I love talking about Owls, like to visit bird sanctuaries and go on woodland walks, I have an interest in fans and radios and how they are made, I enjoy dismantling fans and radios and putting these back together again, I enjoy water sports, canoeing and kayaking and like photography. I take photos on my phone and tablet and these are VERY important to me.

I am looking for someone who is a good and clear communicator, who is assertiveness, shares enthusiasm with similar interests to me, like all animals and pets and makes learning new skills interesting and fun.”

This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.

K’s Professional Skills requirements:

• Compassionate and able to help me manage my anxiety levels.
• Assertive and able to help me manage my anger and frustrations.
• Experience in working with people with Learning Disabilities
• Can be creative around activities, especially owls and animals.
• A driver so I can travel further distances.
• Someone who can talk to me about washing machines, ceiling fans and owls.
• PBS knowledge and can help support me in a positive way.
• Being calm and patient with me and not rushing me to do things.

What you’ll do:

Specialist Support Workers are responsible for supporting people with learning disabilities and behavioural needs to live full lives, develop skills and maintain their wellbeing.

Specialist Support Workers will need to be flexible and shifts will require some mornings, afternoons/Evenings and weekends.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the customers and Look Ahead. As we have other support services locally, we may also require you to undertake support duties at other locations, subject to agreement at interview stage.

Your role will include:

• Supporting the customer to undertake a full timetable of preferred activities including sport and leisure activities, attending community groups, visiting local amenities, and introducing them to new activities to expand their horizons and networks;
• Developing the customer’s independent living skills and involving them in all aspects of maintaining and developing their home, including cooking, shopping, cleaning and decorating;
• Enabling the customer to keep up with the important people in their life and to meet new people with shared interests;

• Supporting the customer to communicate their wants and needs, and communicating with them in a person-centred way;
• Supporting the customer to manage their anxieties and frustrations, using Positive Behaviour Support and Autism-specific approaches;
• Collating a range of behavioural data and essential paperwork to be analysed within our local management structure;
• Driving the customer to activities using the customer’s vehicle, in rotation with the wider team;
• Communicating with family members and a range of other key stakeholders including social work, psychology and commissioning teams;
• Acting in accordance with the policies and procedures of Look Ahead Care & Support plus those specific to the service including any statutory requirements;
• Consistently reviewing the customer’s life goals and their progress towards achieving them, in partnership with them and those important to them;
• Supporting the customer with personal care;
• Reporting any observations relating to customer welfare;
• Maintaining records as required at the project;
• Participating in team meetings/reviews, support planning, risk management and the general development of the service;
• Undertaking any other duties as requested by management

What you’ll bring:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
• Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
• Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
• Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

Essential:

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with customers with Autism/Challenging Behaviour/learning disabilities and supporting them in line with a PBS framework

Desirable:

• Has some experience in Trauma Informed care
• Has some experience in working with people with Mental health
• Driving licence and a willingness to drive as part of support duties

About us:

Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.