We are looking for a dedicated and experienced individual to lead a team of Care Support Workers, ensuring a safe, effective, responsive, and person-centred service for our students. This key leadership role focuses on delivering high-quality care and promoting the development and independence of young people with complex needs.
You will supervise and support staff through appraisals, observations, training, and inductions, and contribute to their professional development. You will write and review person-centred care plans and risk assessments, liaise with colleagues across the college, and help ensure students EHCP targets are met. The role includes supporting recruitment and retention, assessing prospective students, managing medication, and delivering training in areas such as moving and handling.
Youll also play a key role in quality assurance through audits and action plans, support compliance with CQC and legislation, deputise for Care Managers, take part in the on-call rota, and liaise with the Clinical team to meet students complex care needs. Upholding safeguarding and health & safety standards is essential, including incident reporting and staff debriefing. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about outstanding care and leading a committed team in a supportive, student-focused environment.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking a compassionate, motivated, and flexible individual with a genuine commitment to supporting young people with complex needs. The ideal candidate will have a good standard of literacy and numeracy, and be willing to assist with personal care while promoting student independence and development. They must be able to stay calm under pressure, particularly when managing challenging behaviours, and demonstrate knowledge of learning disabilities and the importance of dignity and respect in care. A flexible approach to working hours is essential, along with a commitment to ongoing training and personal development including the completion of the Skills for Care Induction Award within 12 weeks if no formal care qualifications are held.
The role also requires the physical ability to support students with mobility needs, including the safe use of wheelchairs and hoisting equipment (training provided). In addition, you must be able to carry out clinical interventions such as administering medication and delivering gastronomy feeds, following appropriate training and competency assessments. Most importantly, candidates must have an enthusiastic, respectful, and professional approach to supporting our student group.
About us
Henshaws Society for Blind People aims to employ a diverse workforce and is committed to equality of employment and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.
Henshaws is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults. It is a criminal offence for people barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with that particular group e.g. vulnerable adults, children or both. An Enhanced DBS with barring and reference checks will be sought from the successful candidate.
Henshaws reserves the right to check social media accounts of all successful applicants.
Registered Charity No: 221888
Job responsibilities
* Lead and support a dedicated team of Care Workers, providing regular supervision, feedback, and encouragement to help them grow and succeed.
* Champion person-centred care by writing and reviewing individualized plans and risk assessments that reflect each service user's goals, preferences, and strengths.
* Promote empowerment and independence, supporting students to achieve their EHCP outcomes through positive engagement and meaningful daily experiences.
* Inspire continuous learning and improvement within the team, ensuring staff have the training, tools, and confidence to deliver outstanding care.
* Maintain robust safeguarding practices, leading by example and promoting wellbeing for both service users and colleagues.
* Contribute to the safe and competent administration of medication and support complex care needs in line with organisational and CQC standards.
* Collaborate with clinical, education, therapies and other stakeholders to provide holistic support and a joined-up approach to service user development.
* Drive quality and compliance by completing audits, action plans, and contributing to continuous service improvement.
* Contribute to EHCP reviews, gathering feedback from service users and staff to celebrate achievements and identify next steps.
* Maintain accurate, respectful records that reflect progress and ensure transparent practice.
* Lead by example in safeguarding and wellbeing, promoting a culture of care and vigilance for both students and colleagues.
* Provide informed recommendations to care managers for policy implementation where required.
* Address and correct poor practice promptly, reporting actions taken during regular reviews.
* Ensure health and safety compliance through high standards of administration and housekeeping.
* Work in accordance with Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) standards and apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act in all decision-making.
* Deputize for the Care Manager when required, contributing to leadership decisions and participating in the on-call rota.
* Take on additional responsibilities as needed to ensure the safe and effective running of the service.
* Encourage ambition and aspiration, helping service users and staff believe in what's possible and achieve their personal best.
Line Management Responsibilities
* Deliver outstanding leadership and management of the section; ensuring the provision of a first class service to both internal and external customers and service users.
* Ensure the team maintain high standards of performance and behaviour, taking appropriate action to address any areas of concern in line with employment policies, with support from HR where applicable.
* Demonstrate a commitment to Henshaws strategic vision, values and objectives and ensure this culture is embedded within the team. Encouraging accountability, an open mindset and a collaborative approach across the charity.
* Carry out regular 1-2-1s, team meetings and annual appraisals with your team interlinking departmental and individual goals throughout the process.
* Ensure all new starters receive an effective induction and your team. Support learning and development within your team and ensure mandatory/statutory and role specific training for all team members is in date.
* To provide operational Health and Safety leadership across all areas of the team and wider organization - take action to prevent accidents, injuries and work related illness.
* Ensure all accidents/incidents and safeguarding concerns are recorded and managed inline with Henshaws policies and procedures.
* Deliver and demonstrate high standards of safeguarding to ensure mitigation of risk and quality of care is provided by all team members.
The postholder must comply with the Health & Safety requirements of the Society, operate within the employee code of conduct and respect confidentiality at all times.
Person Specification
Experience
* The ability to keep calm under pressure when dealing with challenging behaviours
* Enthusiastic, respectful and sensitive attitude to our client group
* Knowledge of different learning disabilities
* Knowledge of care work and what this will involve including understanding dignity and respect
* Commitment to furthering students independence
* Ability to promote the student group in a positive and professional
* manner
* Awareness and respect of students rights
* Awareness of equal opportunities issues relating to this area of work
* Knowledge and experience of health and safety issues relating to this area of work
Qualifications
* NVQ 2/Diploma in Health and Social Care and commitment to work towards Level 3 within 18 months of employment
* Good standard of literacy and numeracy
* Previous experience of working in the care sector and providing personal care
* Recent experience of working with young adults
* Previous experience of working with people with learning disabilities
General and Specialist Knowledge
* At Henshaws, we are guided by our core values: ARE: Ambition - continuously striving to do more and do better Respect - acting with integrity, valuing each individual and their voice Empowerment - enabling others to thrive and take control of their lives
* All employees are expected to uphold and promote these values in their daily work, interactions, and decision-making, contributing to a positive and inclusive culture across the charity.
* To fully support our students you must be able to push a wheelchair around college and in the community and assist the student into and out of the wheelchair if required after having training
* Willingness to assist students with any personal care requirements as needed
* Willingness to support students in a way that promotes their independence and development
* To fully support our students you must be able to take lead role in moving and handling needs and the use of hoisting equipment.
* Flexible approach to working hours and ability to work the hours which meet the establishment's need.
* Commitment to undertaking any training & personal development required which may take place in college holidays
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr