Gateshead Council
Support Worker - Blaydon Lodge
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Blaydon Lodge is a 24-hour service, so this post will be required to cover multiple shift patterns, including sleep-ins, mornings, evenings, splits, weekends, and bank holidays.
Creating opportunities, building confidence, changing futures.
Who We Are And What We Stand For
Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might just be the perfect match.
We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.
We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.
At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity, and passionately advocates a great work/life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.
Support people, celebrate individuality, transform lives.
Adult Social Care at Gateshead Council supports adults with care and support needs to live safe, independent, and thriving lives. The service provides statutory assessments, safeguarding, prevention, and a wide range of community-based support in line with the Care Act 2014. Working in a strengths-based way, Adult Social Care focuses on wellbeing, independence, and personalised outcomes, helping people to access the right support at the right time, whether through assessment and planning, enablement services, technology-enabled care, or wider community resources.
Empowering People. Enriching Lives.
At Blaydon Lodge, which is a CQC-registered short break service, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling, meaningful, and independent life. As a Support Worker, you will play a vital role in helping adults with learning disabilities, autism, and other neurodivergent conditions overcome barriers, develop life skills, and achieve their personal goals. Through compassionate, person-centred support, you will create a safe, welcoming, and empowering environment where individuals can build confidence, enjoy new experiences, and maximise their independence. Every day brings the opportunity to make a genuine difference to someone's quality of life.
What You'll Get To Do
- Deliver high-quality, person-centered care to adults with learning disabilities, autism, and other neurodivergent conditions, including those with complex needs.
- Promote independence and uphold each guest’s rights to privacy, dignity, and choice.
- Provide holistic support that meets emotional, behavioural, physical, and personal care needs, fostering wellbeing through meaningful engagement and activities.
- Create a safe and empowering environment tailored to individual strengths and preferences.
- Work flexibly across a shift-based rota, including mornings, evenings, weekends, bank holidays, and occasional split shifts.
- Ensure guests’ safety and wellbeing overnight, providing on-call support during sleep-in cover.
- Communicate effectively with colleagues, guests, families, carers, and professionals to share information, seek guidance, and coordinate care.
- Perform domestic tasks such as cleaning, shopping, and cooking to maintain a safe, hygienic, and welcoming home environment.
- Complete administrative duties to a high standard. This includes reading from and writing detailed and accurate daily records and other essential documentation.
- Follow medication plans, administer medication, and complete comprehensive MAR charts.
- Organise and accompany guests on outings and activities, including driving the service’s minibus.
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What You'll Bring
- Health and Social Care Diploma Level 2 or equivalent (or, willing to work towards).
- Health and Safety, Infection Prevention, Fire Safety, First Aid, and Food Safety certificates.
- Medication Administration Certificates.
- A full, manual UK driving licence, with the willingness to drive the minibus to support guests to access activities, appointments, and opportunities within the community.
- Experience supporting adults with learning disabilities, epilepsy, and complex needs, delivering person-centred care that promotes independence and wellbeing.
- Knowledge and experience of autism and neurodivergence, with the ability to adapt communication and support to individual needs.
- Confidence managing challenging situations calmly and professionally, maintaining a positive and supportive environment.
- Experience administering medication and following care plans, ensuring high standards of safety, compliance, and record-keeping.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to build positive relationships with guests, families, colleagues, and professionals.
- A proactive and flexible approach, with the initiative to plan meaningful activities and adapt to the changing needs of the service.
- Strong written English and clear verbal communication skills.
What’s In It For You
- Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
- Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info.
- Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
- Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
- Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
- Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
- Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions, a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
- Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).
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Our commitment to you
We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected, and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
How To Apply
You can apply online using the apply now button below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences, and qualifications.
We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.
If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via [insert contact information].
Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.
Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.
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