Buddy/Support Worker

Buddy/Support Worker – Hackney

Term Time: 16 hours per week  Non-Term Time: 32 hours per week

£17.00 - £18.00 per hour

Are you looking for a new role which will be fulfilling and fundamental in enabling a young Client to develop and grow in confidence and independence?  If so, we have the perfect role for you.

Our Client

Freddie is a 12 year old boy who lives at home with his mum and younger sibling.  Freddie suffered a brain injury several years ago which has left him needing support in various areas of his daily life.  Freddie is independently mobile, despite challenges caused by hypermobility, and has good sight and hearing.  He has PTSD from the time of his injury, ADHD, learning difficulties, motor coordination issues and some complex speech and communication issues.

One of Freddie’s challenges is that he lacks social skills which can lead to isolation as he struggles to form friendships.  He requires constant supervision and care particularly as he lacks awareness of danger or the ability to assess risk; he therefore needs guidance and mentoring to help him make safe choices

Hobbies & Interests

Freddie is an energetic young man with curiosity in the world around him.  He has a passion for outdoor activities such as tree climbing, den building, mini beast hunting and fire making. He loves to be active and enjoys playing football and regularly goes ice skating.  When at home, he enjoys watching nature and wildlife documentaries, listening to audio books, and gaming as well as art projects and cooking.

The Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Buddy/Support Worker to work on a one-to-one basis with Freddie to help him develop his independence away from his family and grow in confidence.  This role will suit an energetic individual who will actively engage with Frankie joining in with all of his activities.  You should have experience of working with children or young people and ideally with some experience of working cohesively with a team of therapists to help Freddie achieve his agreed goals.

The successful candidate should ideally have worked on a one-to-one basis with a Client previously and should have excellent verbal and written communication skills as they will be required to liaise closely with Freddie’s family, the therapy team and the Case Manager. You will need a full, clean UK driving licence and your own vehicle to transport the Client to his various activities and on outings which may include evening social activities, day trips or short breaks/holidays.

You should have an understanding of the need to maintain professional boundaries and privacy within a private family home. You will need to provide trustworthy and reliable support to Freddie, working with him as he develops helping him to make informed and safe choices.

Available Hours

Term Time (16 hours per week):               Monday and Thursday                         16:00 – 20:00

                                                                  Sunday                        09:00 – 17:00

Non-Term Time (32 hours per week):       Monday, Thursday & Sunday  09:00 – 17:00

Rates of Pay

Monday to Friday:       £17.00 per hour

Saturday & Sunday:    £18.00 per hour

Bank Holidays:            1.5 times usual weekday hourly rate

If you are interested in this role and feel you have the knowledge, skills and experience to provide the required care to Freddie, please send a copy of your CV in the first instance.