Senior Support Worker Full Time

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.

Helping teams succeed so people can thrive.

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.

Lead with compassion. Support with purpose.

Are you an experienced Support Worker ready to take the next step into a leadership role? We’re looking for a dedicated Senior Support Worker to help lead shifts and support the day-to-day management of a high-quality service for older and vulnerable people. Working closely with the Manager and Assistant Manager, you’ll play a key role in supervising staff, ensuring safe and effective care, maintaining compliance with CQC standards, and creating a supportive, wellmanaged environment where service users can thrive. This is a rewarding opportunity to combine handson care with leadership responsibility, make a real impact on people’s lives, and develop your management skills in a supportive and valuesled service.

What You’ll Get To Do

• Assist the Manager by leading the shift to ensure the support needs of the service user are met in line with service values and principles through the effective management of people, buildings and finance.
• Participate in reviewing and developing service user strategies, policies and plans in response to Health and Social Care Act 2008 and CQC Registration requirements in order to maintain a safe, effective and efficient managed unit.
• Participate in the ongoing development of systems and procedures that monitor the maintenance of the building in order that the living environment is appropriate to support the needs of service users.
• Establish and maintain positive communication and professional relationships with other colleagues, service users, CQC advocacy services, carers and other professionals in order to share knowledge, seek advice and coordinate service delivery.
• Responsibility for observing the centre for potential; risk/hazards, loss of light/heat, intruders and taking appropriate action. You will work in Partnership with service users and their carers to plan and implement services on the basis of assessed risk and needs to ensure that an effective and efficient service is provided
• Assist in the absence of the Manager and the Assistant Manager by monitoring the budgets of the unit in accordance with policy and procedure and financial guidelines.
• Assist in the absence of the Manager and Assistant Manager with the appointment, selection, induction and development of staff in order to ensure appropriately selected, trained staff assist & support the needs of the service users.
• Assist in the management if the staff within the service, providing support, guidance and supervision, ensuring the agreed level of support is provided to service users.

What You’ll Bring

• NVQ 3 in Care, equivalent qualification or be committed to working towards this with our support and training.
• QCF Level 3 in Administering Medication or equivalent qualification.
• Uptodate understanding of the needs of vulnerable older adults and current best practice, ensuring safe, respectful and highquality care.
• Proven experience working with older people, supporting independence, wellbeing and quality of life while recognising the challenges associated with ageing.
• Committed to involving service users, families and carers in care decisions, and skilled in delivering personcentred, tailored care plans that promote choice, dignity and individuality.
• Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, making sound decisions, prioritising workload and rolemodelling best practice to deliver consistent, highquality care.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, enabling you to engage positively with service users, colleagues, professionals and external partners.
• A sound understanding of health and safety legislation, with the ability to actively promote safe working practices and support compliance within the service.

If successful, this role requires a DBS and you will have to apply for an enhanced Disclosure.

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).

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

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.