There are few jobs as rewarding as being a Support Worker. The role of a Support Worker involves helping people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives and achieve their goals.
You’ll get to make a real impact on people’s lives every day and share in their success. Read our guide on the duties and responsibilities of a Support Worker to find out more!
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What is a Support Worker?
A Support Worker is someone who supports vulnerable people to help them make the most of daily life. They help service users with various physical and mental disability needs to live more independently and to achieve their goals by offering emotional and physical support.
The role of a Support Worker is hugely varied. Each service user has their own individual needs so support is tailored to each person. As a result, it’s an incredibly rewarding role where you can improve quality of life for vulnerable people and make a real positive difference to their lives.
What is support work?
Support work is all about helping service users live their best life! This means promoting dignity, independence and helping people achieve personal goals.
As a result, support work is different every day. Each person has specific needs and requirements, and we’re particularly proud that we develop individual support plans to help every service user reach their goals with our support.
What is the role of a Support Worker?
The daily role of a Support Worker changes according to the requirements of the service user they’re supporting. Sometimes the role could include helping with daily tasks like personal care and maintaining hygiene, other days it could be teaching new skills, providing emotional support and ensuring they’re living a fulfilled life.
Many of our Support Workers enjoy fun days out with our service users, from day trips to the zoo, going for a picnic, or even watching professional wrestling! Without doubt, the job can be great fun.
The role is primarily centred on supporting people to live as independently as possible. Alina Disability Support Support Workers help service users with a variety of needs, from Learning Disabilities to Autism,Physical Disabilities or more Complex Care.
Support Workers often need to work in different settings; this includes Supported Living properties as well as in health and social care settings, in the community, or in the service user’s own home.
Why become a Support Worker?
Becoming a Support Worker can be a very rewarding job! Although the role can be challenging at times, making a positive difference to someone’s life and helping them achieve personal goals brings feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment. It’s ideal for someone who enjoys a varied job role and plenty of interaction with many different people!
Making new memories, celebrating accomplishments and sharing experiences together are some of the most enjoyable aspects of the role. You’ll enable people to overcome obstacles and gain confidence and self esteem to make independent life choices.
Fulfilment – support work can be challenging but also rewarding! You’ll support service users to achieve personal goals and share in their success
Fun – you’ll make memories with service users and enrich their lives by accompanying them on exciting activities and outings
Development – starting as a Support Worker with no experience means more opportunities to progress your career in social care. Even our Disability Support Director started as a Support Worker!
Variety – every day is different! Supporting people with different needs and personalities means the role of a Support Worker is varied day to day
Perks – our Support Workers enjoy many great perks, including exclusive discounts on top brands and flexible working options to fit their lifestyle
If you’d like to learn more about the role of a Support Worker before applying, check out the Skills for Carewebsite as it has lots of useful information on how to get started. Once you feel fully informed, don’t forget to come back to apply at Alina Disability Support!
If there’s a challenging day, we’re always there for each other. That’s the best part – when you’re at work, you don’t feel isolated, you’re just part of the entire family.”
Sneahaal, Support Worker at Alina Disability Support
What’s included in a Support Worker job description?
A Support Worker job description will include a summary of the role and the type of candidate the recruiter is looking for, the duties and responsibilities of the role, and any necessary requirements or qualifications. It’s always important to read the job description thoroughly to understand what’s expected of you and to make sure you’d be a good fit for the role.
We’ve provided some information about the different sections of a Support Worker job description below:
Summary
A Support Worker job description will usually begin with a summary of the role and the type of candidate the company is looking for. In the case of a Support Worker, they’ll be looking for someone with great social skills as you’ll be interacting with a variety of different people.
Other areas of the summary might include a small introduction to the company and their core values, as well as a brief description of the main roles and responsibilities of Support Workers. Some Support Worker job descriptions might include information about who you’d be reporting to and the Team you’ll be working with.
A job description summary allows the candidate to easily identify whether they’d be a good fit for the role. The summary may also mention the location of where the role is based, so you don’t want to apply for a job that’s too far away!
Responsibilities
Although the summary may have mentioned some of the key responsibilities of the role, this section will go into a bit more detail. They’ll usually list a few of the most important aspects of the job so the candidate can understand what’s expected of them. This is your opportunity to understand whether the role of a Support Worker is something you’d be able to manage and if you’d be able to carry out all the duties required.
Some typical responsibilities that might be included in a Support Worker job description are:
Assisting service users with daily personal care routines, such as bathing and dressing
Helping with domestic tasks, such as cooking and cleaning
Supporting service users with shopping, budgeting and managing finances
Evaluating service users’ practical and emotional needs and assisting with creating support plans
Monitoring the mental health and wellbeing of service users and reporting any significant changes
Providing emotional support to service users and families by listening to and discussing concerns
Encouraging service users to achieve personal goals and always being respectful of their choices
Requirements
The requirements section of a Support Worker job description usually comes last. This may include education, previous experience or qualifications that are necessary for the role. They may also include additional skills such as IT proficiency or personality traits that are suitable for the duties of a Support Worker job role. Learn more about the different Support Worker skills you may need today.
Before applying for the role of a Support Worker, it’s important to read the requirements section to make sure you have the necessary skills and experience to be successful – you don’t want to waste your time or the time of the recruiter! This section might be split into two categories to make it easier: essential and desirable requirements.
Some Support Worker job requirements may include:
Qualification/s in Health & Social Care or willingness to work towards this
Commitment to helping others and providing dedicated person centred support
A good level of written and spoken English
Excellent communication and social skills
Understanding of necessary policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for service users
Full and up to date DBS check
Competent knowledge of necessary IT systems (the job description might identify what these systems are if there’s a certain software the company uses to record notes)
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (this is an example of something that could be essential if the job description involves delivering community support. It’s also desirable if you’ll work in supported living accommodation to take service users out for day trips, but travel isn’t necessary)
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What are the responsibilities of a Support Worker?
Support Workers play a vital role in supporting people with learning and physical disabilities, mental health needs and complex care needs to live independently in the place they call home. Therefore, the role of a Support Worker is undeniably varied from day to day, especially because the people they support have unique personalities and differing needs.
Support Workers provide fundamental physical and emotional support to people so they can do the things that matter most to them. The role is focused on supporting people to live their lives as independently as possible, keeping them safe and respecting their own choices. The support they provide means people can lead full and enriching lives, helping them achieve their personal goals. This makes the job incredibly rewarding!
Support work is all about making life easier and more fun for service users. Our Support Workers plan exciting activities, from going to animal parks to learning how to cook or gardening!
At Alina Disability Support, we’re passionate about treating each service user as an individual with their own hobbies and interests. The role of a Support Worker is to foster and develop these interests and help people grow in independence and confidence.
5 key duties of a Support Worker
Because there’s so much variety, it’s difficult to only include 5 key duties of a Support Worker. However, Support Worker duties and responsibilities often include:
- Personal support – helping service users with daily tasks such as personal care and hygiene, meal preparation and other domestic tasks. Support Workers also enable them to develop independent life skills, such as managing their own finances
- Effective communication – helping service users meet friends and stay in touch with loved ones. Support Workers also support those who have communication difficulties to express themselves through effective communication, using sensory stimulus where necessary
- Keeping active – supporting service users to be an active part of their local community by taking part in activities and day trips, if possible
- Emotional support – providing emotional support for service users and their families. Ensuring a safe environment for service users and encouraging them to make independent life choices. Support Workers also encourage service users to achieve short and long term goals. This could be anything from cooking a meal to attending college!
- Medication management – working with the service user and other professionals to support any medical needs, including attending appointments or administering medication, if necessary
As Support Workers progress into more senior roles, they also help manage the Team and develop individual support plans to ensure service users reach their goals.
Being a Support Worker is such an amazing role! You support people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their daily lives and engage them in exciting opportunities to enrich their lives, putting a smile on their face and yours.”
Kate Ford, Director of Alina Disability Support
What skills do you need as a Support Worker?
Support Workers need to be ready to adapt to a fast paced and varied environment. As a result, they need to be equipped with these skills:
People focused – a desire to help others grow in independence
Great communication – ability to communicate well with service users, families and other members of their support team. This includes good numeracy, literacy and IT skills
Good listener – ready to lend an ear and provide emotional support
Fantastic problem solver – adaptable and reactive to changing situations
Team player – independent but also great at teamwork
It also helps if you have the ability to drive, so you can take our service users out for the day. At Alina Disability Support, we pay a generous mileage allowance.
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What qualifications does a Support Worker need?
To become a Support Worker at Alina Disability Support, you don’t need any qualifications! You’ll just need to pass enhanced background checks and have the right to work in the UK.
When starting the role, you’ll receive exclusive training with our professional Training Team. This covers everything from understanding our quality standards to specific instructions so you can thrive while delivering all aspects of support work.
Once you start, there’s also the opportunity to pursue ongoing training such as an NVQ Level 2 in Health & Social Care and diplomas in the health and social care sector. Additionally, we offer social care apprenticeship opportunities so you can learn and earn at the same time.
Some Support Workers and Senior Support Workers also receive training on more specialist support work, such as administering medication and delivering Complex Care.
What makes a good Support Worker?
We understand applying for a new job can be nerve-racking, but in the social care sector, it’s not necessarily about knowing all the right skills, but having the right mindset and enthusiastic attitude. If you’re willing to work hard and make a difference to people’s lives, you’ll succeed!”
Nicol Daunt, Recruitment Manager at Alina Disability Support
A day in the life of a Support Worker
There’s no such thing as a typical day in the life of a Support Worker because every day is different! Our service users are all unique individuals with different needs and interests. That means no two days are the same! A large part of what Support Workers get involved with is driven by the people they support, helping them to live with as much independence and choice as possible.
However, here is what a day in the life of a Support Worker could look like:
Morning wake up
They might start their morning shift by helping service users get out of bed and ready for the day. The morning routine might include assisting with personal care and hygiene, as well as helping them dress. Support might be in the form of verbal prompts or direct physical assistance, depending on the person’s needs.
Breakfast
They’ll then support with making breakfast and discussing the plans for the day. If a service user needs medication, they’ll assist with this or remind them to take medication with their morning meal.
Mid morning
After breakfast, the events of the day depend on the needs of the service user and their schedule. The day could involve going to college, a shopping trip, attending an appointment, an outdoor walk or taking part in an activity. The day may be filled with different people needing different types of support.
Lunch
Lunch is an important part of everyone’s day and for a Support Worker this may be eaten inside the home of a service user or out and about in the local community. It’s important to make sure wherever they are, it’s a safe and comfortable environment for the service user.
Evening
In the evenings, they’ll prepare meals or support service users with preparing their own meals. Each person will have a different night time routine. For instance, some may like to enjoy quiet time on their own before going to bed, whereas others might like to spend time together until they want to go to bed.
As well as providing both physical and emotional support to service users throughout the day, it’s equally important for Support Workers to complete necessary paperwork or admin to report on the day’s activities. This can be daily records about what has happened during their shift, or to report any information that other Support Workers, family members or other involved professionals may need to know about.
Is a Support Worker the same as a Care Assistant?
The role of a Support Worker and the role of a Care Assistant have some similarities but there are also considerable differences.
The main difference between the role of a Support Worker and a Care Assistant is the people they support. A Support Worker primarily works with people with learning disabilities, supporting them to live as independently as possible and to achieve personal goals. A Care Assistant, on the other hand, often refers to providing care to the elderly, someone recovering from surgery, or anyone who needs extra support in their daily routines. This may be through providing personal care, domestic duties or companionship.
A Support Worker’s job role is to empower people with disabilities to have more control over their lives by giving them the right support, opportunities and encouragement to live a more fulfilling life. For example, a Support Worker may support children with disabilities in their transition into adulthood, or they may work with adults with disabilities, giving them life skills and confidence to live a rewarding and full life.
Although the role of a Support Worker and Care Assistant are different, they’re both just as rewarding!
What are the different types of Support Workers and how do their roles differ?
There are different types of Support Worker job roles available. Scroll across below to learn more about these roles and their key differences.
Learning Disabilities Support Worker
Most of our Alina Disability Support Support Worker jobs are for supporting people with learning and physical disabilities.
The main role of a Learning Disabilities Support Worker is to ensure the person you’re supporting leads a fulfilling life and to enable them to achieve personal goals. Personal goals will vary from one person to another, depending on the person’s abilities and interests.
As a Learning Disabilities Support Worker, you’ll assess the needs of the person relying on your service to identify a person centred approach to providing the best possible support. You’ll encourage their hobbies and participation in activities which they enjoy and to develop independence. The type of support provided will depend on the person’s abilities and understanding. For example, some people might need assistance with washing and dressing, whereas others might need support with understanding and managing their finances.
One of the most important aspects of being a Support Worker is to establish a good relationship with the people you’re supporting. Building trust and providing encouragement will enable them to build confidence and self esteem. The role of a Learning Disabilities Support Worker is to support inclusivity and help people access opportunities in life which are available to everyone.
Mental Health Support Worker
Our Support Worker job roles can also include mental health support. A Mental Health Support Worker is someone who supports people who may have a substance addiction, mental health conditions such as depression, or other cognitive challenges such as dementia. Their primary role is to contribute to the overall mental health and wellbeing of the people they support.
They aim to promote independent living, whilst providing practical support to help people gain access to resources they might otherwise be unaware of. In this instance, a Mental Health Support Worker might be supporting someone as part of a larger team and therefore effective communication is essential.
Mental Health Support Workers support people living with mental health conditions in order to help them cope with daily life. They’ll provide reassurance and vital support to help them achieve recovery goals and milestones. Typical duties of a Mental Health Support Worker include providing therapy assistance and support with basic care needs. This can range from assisting the person to prepare healthy meals or with essential tasks like taking medications. They may also help with managing finances and completing job applications to enable the person to live as independently as possible.
Mental Health Support Workers can have a positive impact on the lives of someone suffering with a mental health condition. The support they provide can reduce the risk of chronic diseases related to stress, anxiety and substance abuse brought on by mental health. By improving the outlook of someone who would otherwise feel hopeless and alone, their support can save lives.
Community Support Worker
Many of our Support Worker job roles include community support work. A Community Support Worker works with individuals or groups of people to provide emotional and physical care to people in their own homes. They’re responsible for ensuring the people they support can live safely and comfortably at home. Their focus is on promoting independence and providing support to help people manage and overcome challenges.
As with any Support Worker job role, the duties of a Community Support Worker can be varied. They might provide counselling to people so they can live their lives more independently. Alternatively, they may help people to manage their finances and advise them on how to achieve career goals. Other tasks could be teaching members of the community skills to increase their independence and to develop important life skills.
Supported Living Support Worker
Our Support Worker jobs often include aspects of a Supported Living Support Worker job description. A Support Living Support Worker is someone who supports adults with learning disabilities to live in 24 hour support accommodation. Working alongside a team of Support Workers, they’ll usually work on a shift rota that includes mornings, evenings, weekends, bank holidays or overnight sleep in shifts.
Support living services enable people with a range of needs to live independent, fulfilling lives safely in the local community. Someone living in supported living accommodation will have their own room and tenancy agreement, but they’ll receive support which can range from a few hours a week to continuous one to one support.
People with learning disabilities, autism and other complex care needs require some level of support but a Supported Living Support Worker can allow them to maximise their independence and make their own life choices. Supported living is a great option for someone who would find it difficult to live alone but who doesn’t want to move into residential care. They’ll be responsible for their own finances and paying their bills with the added reassurance of support from a dedicated Support Worker.
What is the average salary of a Support Worker?
According to Total Jobs, the average Support Worker earns £19,000 a year. At Alina Disability Support, we’re proud that most of our Support Workers earn more than this. Your specific salary will vary from region to region, as well as the hours and contract you choose. To find out more, we suggest chatting to our Recruitment Team.
What opportunities are there for career progression?
Many members of our Team have developed and grown their careers with us. For example, our Director of Alina Disability Support, Kate Ford, started out as a Support Worker!
We offer all employees the chance to work towards an apprenticeship, NVQ or diploma whilst working. This can lead to a Senior Support Worker role, as well as a Field Care Supervisor job or, eventually, a managerial position.
There are also chances for regular training, such as first aid, to help our Support Workers keep up with the latest developments and quality standards expected in this role.
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How to apply for a Support Worker job role
If you’d like to apply for a Support Worker job role at Alina Disability Support, apply now or visit our Disability Support Worker jobs page to learn more. We have many new and exciting opportunities available, so we suggest chatting with our Jobs Team to discuss your options.
You can also download our Support Worker CV template to get started. If you’re invited for an interview, read our sample Support Worker interview questions and answers with a free downloadable PDF.
Apply below to become a Support Worker with us!