Support Worker, 12 Hours Per Week, Permanent

Being a Support Worker at AFG is a hugely rewarding role and could be your first step on a long and happy career in Health & Social Care.

**So, what does a Support Worker do?**

We have a vision to create _a world where people control their lives. _Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment. These principles are really important to us.

Our Support Workers work in a variety of settings including community-based services (often supporting people in their own homes) to our Treatment & Recovery Centres.

One thing that is common across all of our services is a focus on personalised support and tailoring our services to the needs and aspirations of the people we support with a diverse range of care needs (including Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Mental Health Concerns, Complex Care, Substance Misuse issues to name a few).

**We value the people that work with us**

At AFG we recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development (including opportunities to undertake vocational qualifications) and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.

**About you**

There are a few things that we look for in all of our support workers; we would need you to
- be a good communicator (verbally and in writing)
- be patient, confident and enthusiastic about caring for others
- be able to use your own initiative
- be able to work as part of a team
- have flexibility to work a varied shift pattern to provide 24-hour support
- share our AFG values

We don’t ask for any other relevant training or a previous career in care as full training will be provided - you just need a willingness to learn and develop.

As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family. If you are passionate about caring for others and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

**More about this vacancy...**
We asked the Team Leader to tell us more about this role and the amazing person that we need to work here.
- Where is this vacancy based?_
This vacancy is based in Accrington
- Who do you support?_
We support a gent who has a learning disability, complex needs and autism. He is non-verbal and struggles to communicate his needs. As he has autism, he needs a consistent approach from the staff team around him.
- What activities do the people that we support at this property like to do?_
This gent is extremely active and goes out walking a lot and for long drives.

He does struggle to engage well in the community therefore needs someone who is okay with supporting him on quiet country walks and drives.

We need someone who can drive (not for waking nights)
- What is the team here or is it lone-working?_
You will be lone working if doing a waking night but working with someone else if doing a day shift as this gentleman is 2-1 support at all times. The team are an experienced good team who are knowledgeable of the persons’ support needs.
- What are your shift patterns?_
The usual shift patterns are 8am-9pm times 3 per week for full time posts. This gentleman does have a **waking night support from 8pm-8am which is covered by staff who work permanent nights.**
- Please note our Support Workers are contracted by area therefore flexibility is essential to work in other services where required._