Female Sensory Support Worker (Communicator Guide) - Hemel Hempstead/St Albans

Looking for a new challenge?

Sense has some fantastic opportunities for a Sensory Support Worker (Communicator Guide) to join our community service, this role in particular will be in the Hemel Hempstead and St Albans areas.

Offering you £12.78 per hour (Inclusive of Outer London allowance) - This role is working weekdays, Monday to Fridays.

The Communicator Guide service supports adults and older people who have developed hearing and sight loss – known as acquired deafblindness. A communicator guide offers 1:1 support in people homes and in the community. We support individuals to do things they want to, not to do things for them. 

You will be working in the Hemel Hempstead and St Albans area, in the community supporting 4 individuals with a range of differing needs and or requirements. One lady who lives in the Hemel Hempstead would like support for 4 hrs. per week to access the community to do a variety of different activities, including going to the supermarket to get her weekly food shopping, visiting cafés, local shops and restaurants to have lunch . She would also like support to read her correspondence, letters and assistance with ordering her prescriptions. 

Another lady in the St Albans area would like support for 2 hours per week to access the community. She enjoys going for walks, going for lunch and shopping at local supermarkets. 

A lady who also lives in the Hemel Hempstead area would like support for hours per week. She would like support to get out of the house to have social and leisure opportunities. She enjoys having hot drink at a local coffee shop, having lunch at her local pub and looking around the retail shops for clothes, as well as going for walks when the weather is nice.

For genuine occupational reasons we are looking to appoint a female candidate only (exemption under the Equality Act 2010 Part 1 Schedule 9).

This role in particular requires you to hold a valid UK driving license with the use of your own vehicle.

We’re looking for enthusiastic applicants who:

• A level of energy that will complement our team and the individuals we support.
• Portray a polite and friendly manner
• Committed to our values, respect, choice, dignity and listening/ understanding.
• A good team member and ability to use own initiative.
• Positive, with a can-do attitude.
• Caring and empathetic.
• Passionate about enhancing other people’s lives.
• Willing to attend training as needed to support you in your role.
• Have previous experience as a lone worker or working with individuals with sensory loss and/or learning disabilities.

No two days will be the same

Here at Sense, we support people with complex disabilities to live the life they choose. Your priority will be empowering the people you support to live an independent life.

More about this role:

We do not provide support with personal care or administration of medication. Communicator Guides can support people by – enabling someone to travel to the supermarket to do their weekly shopping, tend to their mail and support them set up medical appointments, accompanying them to hospital appointments as well as supporting individuals to develop and maintain friendships and participate in leisure activities. The service also focuses on improving people’s wellbeing by listening to their future goals, aspirations and supporting people to explore their potential. The Important thing is that it’s the person chooses how to use the support they receive.

Everyone we support is an individual, so their care is as unique as they are. You can see a more detailed description of duties in the job description attached at the bottom of this advert.

Why work for Sense?

For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Sense are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.

Working at Sense can be incredibly rewarding; we offer the opportunity to work in a large, diverse and successful charity where people can develop their skills, knowledge and careers in a supportive and flexible environment. In addition, we have excellent training and development, the opportunity for you to join our Group Personal Pension scheme and a generous annual leave entitlement.

Benefits

• 24 days of annual leave.
• Matched pension contributions up to 5%.
• Free life assurance policy.
• Cashback and discounts on high street brands (and 10% off at Sense charity shops!).
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Travel season ticket loans.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Headspace app - free access for all employees to mindfulness application
• Free DBS check if your role needs one.
• A £350 refer-a-friend scheme.
• Free access to over 100 online and face-to-face training courses, including the care certificate.
• Ongoing development opportunities

Ready to make a difference?

To apply

Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your supporting statement to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly.  We would recommend that you read the candidate guidelines, job description and person specification (found at the base of this advert) before applying.

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.

No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.

If you require any further assistance, please contact the Recruitment Team on 0121 415 6735 or recruitment@sense.org.uk

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to an enhanced DBS check.

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. For more information please visit: https://www.sense.org.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity/