FAQs
What does a Support Worker do?
This is where you might start as a new recruit, possibly without any qualifications or even previous experience. But don't be put off, you will receive all the training and support necessary to make sure that you can soon be of real value to your students in their day-to-day lives, helping them with the things which most of us tend to take for granted. This will include domestic activities (depending on your students' ages) such as tidying up, shopping, cooking, budgeting, washing and ironing. Leisure pursuits, both individual and group oriented, also need guidance. These might include pursuing a hobby, socialising in a café or pub, playing board and sporting games, walking, going to the cinema and talking and communicating.
At the same time, and as part of the job, you will begin working towards National Vocational Qualifications in Health and Social Care which are recognised and respected throughout the Care industry. You will have a thorough induction where you will receive essential training in Child Protection, First Aid, The Positive Management of Behaviour, and Health and Safety.
What does a Support Worker earn?*
You will be participating in a pay scheme that rewards qualifications, experience and good job performance. The current salary range for a Support Worker starts at £12805 with 6 weeks holiday a year.
What next?
If you do well and show an aptitude for the work and the ability to take on more responsibility, you could be promoted to Assistant Team Manager.
What does an Assistant Team Manager do?
As an ATM you will have additional responsibilities for helping to manage a team of Support Workers, including supervising, training and supporting them. By now you should have achieved an NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care and be working towards an NVQ Level 3 and/or perhaps an NEBSM (National Examining Board for Supervision and Management) Introductory Certificate. You could also be achieving City and Guilds Learning Development A1 qualification to enable you to assist and assess the members of your team to achieve their own NVQ Level 2s.
And what do Assistant Team Managers earn?*
The current salary range for an ATM starts at £16798 with 6 weeks holiday a year.
And then?
The next promotion step would be to become a Team Manager.
What does a Team Manager do?
As the title suggests, Team Managers are responsible for the management of a care team comprising Assistant Team Managers and Support Workers. Your duties would include organising your care team's induction training, their on-going supervision, direction, support, appraisal, training and monitoring each individual's performance. You would also be working with other staff in the school or college to plan and develop individual programmes for students to provide them with all the necessary activities and experiences to help them overcome their particular difficulties and lead them on to achieve their full personal potential. As part of your own personal development at this stage you would be encouraged to complete the more advanced NEBSM Certificate Course and NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care, as well as becoming an Instructor in PROACT-SCIPr-UK®.
PROACT-SCIPr-UK® is the accepted method used by The Hesley Group to cope with and calm the more challenging behaviours exhibited by some of our students as a result of their learning difficulties. By now you should have achieved the necessary awards to enable you to assess NVQ candidates and verify the assessments of others.
And what do Team Managers earn?*
A Team Managers current salary range starts from £21504 with 6 weeks holiday a year.
Does it stop there ...?
No! Some of our Team Managers move on to become Care Managers (in charge of the whole of the Care facility at one of our schools or colleges); others have chosen to take a Diploma in Social Work. From there on it's up to you!
* internal salary scales are revised each January