Support Worker - Next Wave Care Group

Job Posted: 20 October 2025

• Contract Term: Permanent
• Location: Isle of Wight
• Contract Type: Full time
• Salary: Competitive
• Industries: Health & Social Care

Purpose of the Role

The Support Worker is responsible for delivery safe, consistent, and high-quality support. The role involves building trusting relationships, supporting their development towards independent living, and promoting their emotional wellbeing and safety in line with their support plans.

A Support Worker is a vital part of a skilled and compassionate team, committed to creating a safe, respectful, and empowering environment for the people we support. The role promotes wellbeing, independence, and positive outcomes while maintaining professional practice in line with organisational policies and relevant regulatory standards.

You will work collaboratively with the team in creating a safe and nurturing environment to thrive in. You will support in collaborating with the individuals we support to develop personalised support plans and empower the individuals by accessing resources and services, such as housing, employment, education and mental health.

You will advocate on behalf of the people we support, ensuring they receive the necessary support from local services and respond promptly to and effectively to crisis situations. Implementing appropriate interventions and ensuring safety and well-being of the people. In this role you will work collaboratively with the team to facilitate life skill workshops and activities to enhance life skills. Maintaining accurate and confidential records regarding them.

The position is on a rota basis with shifts covering days, evenings, and weekends as we are a 24/7 service. As part of our team, you will deliver the highest standards of support.

Key Responsibilities

 Safeguarding & Risk Management

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of each young person by following the service’s safeguarding and whistleblowing policies.
• Recognise and respond to indicators of risk, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-harm.
• Contribute to individual risk assessments and follow agreed risk management strategies.
• Support implementation of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs), lone working protocols, and emergency response plans.
• Maintain professional boundaries and record-keeping to minimise risk of allegations.

Relationship-Based Support

• Build positive, trauma-informed relationships with them, promoting trust, emotional safety, and healthy boundaries.
• Act as a role model, promoting pro-social behaviour, respect, and responsibility.
• Support with daily routines and emotional regulation during moments of crisis, conflict, or anxiety.
• Conduct regular keywork sessions that are person-centred, goal-focused, and documented appropriately.
• Adapt communication style to meet individual needs (e.g. neurodiversity, mental health, language barriers). 

Independent Living & Life Skills Development

• Promote skill-building in cooking, budgeting, cleaning, personal hygiene, time management, and health appointments.
• Encourage participation in education, training, employment, and positive recreational activities.
• Foster a sense of ownership, personal growth, and responsibility in the home environment.
• Help them understand tenancy-like agreements, housing rights, and consequences of actions (e.g. behaviour or property damage).

Daily Operations & Environment

• Ensure the home is clean, safe, and secure at all times, carrying out health & safety and maintenance checks.
• Record all incidents, observations, and support provided using the service’s system
• Participate in shift handovers, team meetings, and professional supervision.
• Carry out fire alarm testing, evacuation drills, and lone working check-ins as required.
• Contribute to the positive atmosphere and culture of the service through active team participation.

Compliance & Professional Conduct

• Work in full compliance in line with organisational policies and relevant regulatory standards.
• Follow all internal policies on safeguarding, health & safety, lone working, confidentiality, equality, and behaviour support.
• Complete all mandatory and specialist training as required (e.g. safeguarding, de-escalation, trauma-informed care).
• Work flexibly across shifts and locations, including weekends, bank holidays, and sleep-in duties as part of a rota.
• Promote equality, inclusion, and anti-discriminatory practice at all times.

Person Specification

 Essential Requirements

• Experience working with vulnerable people from different age ranges.
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures and risk management.
• Ability to build positive, non-judgmental relationships with them from diverse backgrounds.
• Confidence in lone working and responding to crisis or safeguarding concerns appropriately.
• Resilience and emotional maturity in high-pressure situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work flexibly, including evenings, weekends, and sleep-ins.

Desirable

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, Health & Social Care, or equivalent.
• Training in trauma-informed care, de-escalation, or mental health first aid.
• Experience working within regulated services.
• Knowledge of housing, youth justice, care-experienced young people, or adults’ mental health.

Professional Development

All support workers are provided with:

• A full induction and shadowing process
• Regular supervision and reflective practice sessions
• Annual training in safeguarding, first aid, fire safety, and lone working
• Access to qualifications and career development pathways

Safeguarding Statement

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expect all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check and reference vetting prior to appointment.