Specialist Support Worker – Sponsorship Available

Employer: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Location: London, United Kingdom (Bexley, Bromley, and Greenwich)
Salary: £31,081 – £33,665 per year
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Closing Date: 26 March 2025

Job Summary

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Support Worker to join the Intensive Community Support Team (ICST) within the Community Adult Learning Disability Team. This role involves providing skilled support to assess and manage adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviours in the community.

The successful candidate will assist with training service providers and carers, facilitate group work with patients and caregivers, and share a caseload with the Clinical Nurse Specialist. While supervision will be provided, the post holder is expected to work independently at times.

Main Responsibilities

• Work as part of the Intensive Community Support Team, sharing a caseload of people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.
• Provide support to individuals at risk of home or placement breakdown.
• Work under nursing supervision, collaborating with Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners.
• Assist in patient assessments and intervention planning.
• Gather information through liaison with patients, carers, and the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
• Monitor patients’ mental health, behaviour, and well-being.
• Obtain vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration rate) – training provided.
• Support care delivery in inpatient settings, when necessary.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings and contribute to clinical/non-clinical reviews.
• Assist the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in delivering learning disability training.
• Maintain accurate patient records using digital record-keeping systems and Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, Teams, etc.).
• Provide specialist support during patient appointments.
• Ensure awareness of patient rights and help them exercise those rights when necessary.

Essential Requirements

Qualifications & Experience:

• Minimum NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Previous experience working with adults with learning disabilities.

Skills & Abilities:

• Basic computer literacy and ability to use electronic patient records.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Training in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
• Previous experience working with challenging behaviours in learning disability settings.
• Further studies in a relevant healthcare or social care course.

Additional Information

• Disclosure & Barring Service Check: Required for this role.
• Certificate of Sponsorship: Available for Skilled Worker visa applicants.
• Criminal Record Checks: Required for applicants who have lived in other countries for 12+ months in the past 10 years.