Support Worker

The Essence Service provides ongoing support to people with a mild to moderate diagnosis of Dementia and their carers to enable them to have a full and active life in the community.

We seek a self-motivated and enthusiastic individual to provide one-to-one support for people with mild to moderate dementia and their carers via tailored personal plans. Excellent verbal and written communication ability is essential. IT skills and experience/knowledge of working with people with dementia are required.

CV’s are not accepted for this role.

Age UK Sunderland is an Equal opportunities Employer

Registered Charity 1086995

**Closing date: Friday 18th July 2025 at 9.00am**

**Interview date: Friday 1st August 2025 PM**

Post: Essence Support Worker

Location: Doxford Park

Responsible to: Essence Manager

Job Purpose

To provide practical, social and emotional specialised support to individuals who are living with a mild to moderate diagnosis of dementia and their carers.

To ensure the provision of innovative interventions and continuous practical, social and emotional support to those living with a mild to moderate diagnosis of dementia and their Carers.

To develop a personal plan for the person with dementia and their carer, identifying appropriate interventions and barriers to maintain quality of life and independence.

Ensure the carers personal plan includes the carer’s needs in relation to their caring responsibility and their own personal needs and development.

To manage an active caseload ensuring all targets and KPIs are met.

To act as a navigator/social prescriber and listening ear to people with dementia and their carers.

To promote a self-management approach which will empowers people with dementia to help themselves through peer to peer support and access to more specialised service e.g. financial planning and legal services.

To actively maintain the ‘Essence’ of the person with dementia - whether that be in the hobbies they enjoy, enabling everyday activities for as long as possible in their home and community.

Encourage and support the person with dementia to remain linked into mainstream services, which can accommodate their needs and interests.

To ensure the Essence transitional pathway is adhered to and higher support services are sought for the person with dementia and their carers where appropriate.

Build a peer network that is supportive and offers opportunities for self-help and the sustainability for the person with dementia and their carer.

To ensure a robust referral pathway to VCS and statutory support across the city.

Support the carer of the person diagnosed with dementia to access support and advice to make known their life choices about their future care.

To actively promote, develop and market the Essence service liaising with partner agencies appropriately as an Age UK Sunderland representative

To ensure effective communication and joint working with the wider Age UK Sunderland teams

To support the recruitment, training, and development of volunteers involved in the delivery of the Essence Service

To keep accurate records of clients and volunteers via Charity Log in line with GDPR requirements.

To act as a safeguarding Alerter

To abide by and implement all policies and procedures of Age UK Sunderland, including being aware of and responsible corporately and as an individual for Health and Safety policy.

To undertake all reasonable tasks, in keeping with the level of responsibility of the post, as requested by the Chief Executive Officer.

Person Specification

Post: Essence Service Support Worker

Responsible to: Essence Manager

Location: Doxford Park

Essential Criteria

Experience of supporting people with dementia and carers.

Experience of social prescribing and sound understanding of community assets and infrastructure.

Experience of supporting services to people living with dementia and their carers.

Experience of caseload management

Experience of conducting community personal support plans for people with dementia and their carers

Previous experience of working with vulnerable people

Experience of supporting community peer support groups and activities.

Possess excellent communication skills to deal with highly sensitive and emotional issues on a frequent and unpredictable basis.

Have a good understanding of volunteering and demonstrate evidence of the ability to recruit, train and retain volunteers.

Commitment to working in the voluntary sector

Be innovative with enthusiasm to take on new challenges.

Be a dynamic self
- starter

Demonstrate a flair for organising

Ability to respond effectively to unplanned/ emergency situations.

A flexible approach to work

Maintain confidentiality at all times

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience of working in a community environment..

Have excellent IT skills, with ability to produce reports, database input and other key IT project management tools.

Possess a full, clean driving licence and have access to