Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Support Worker

The closing date is 21 October 2025

Job summary

Our Short Break Service is a Learning Disability Nurse led service for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. We are looking to recruit three Band 3 Senior Support Workers to join us. This role will be full time, 37.5 hours per week(unsocial hours apply) and based in the Short Break Service (Northenden, Wythenshawe), Provider Services. Our service is part of the wider Community Learning Disability Service (CALDS) and Manchester Local Care Organisation (MLCO). This post will be accountable to the Registered Nurse Service Manager.

The CALDS Provider team has an excellent reputation for delivering person centered care to individuals who require high levels of support due to their complex needs. The post holder will work as part of a Specialist Nurse led team, working across the city of Manchester.

Main duties of the job

Main Responsibilities: To work flexibly to support learning disabled people who may present with severe challenging behaviours and communication needs. To work within the framework of Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) and be involved in the assessing planning and implementing support plans in a holistic manner, under supervision from the specialist nurses and in liaison with families and other professionals. To support across a variety of settings including community settings, and in some circumstances, the persons own home. To undertake a monthly rota pattern which will include 24/7 cover.

About us

MFT is one of the largest NHS Trusts in England with a turnover of £3bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.

Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 30,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.

We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.

We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.

At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.

Details

Date posted

07 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per Annum (Pro Rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

349-LCO-7347943*

Job locations

144 Short Break Service

144 Wythenshawe Road

Wythenshawe, Manchester

M23 0PF


Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating, and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.

Were looking forward to hearing from you!

Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating, and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.

Were looking forward to hearing from you!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ 3 in Care or Care Certificate or equivalent level of experience in health and social care

Desirable

  • Recognised health and social care qualification at diploma level or above.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of supporting people who have learning disabilities.

Desirable

  • Previous experience in a behaviour specialist setting
  • Experience in supporting people with autism
  • Experience of supporting people using Positive Behavioural Support Plans and in developing these.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understand the needs of people with learning disabilities.
  • Understanding behaviour that can challenge services.
  • Ability to make written observation and keep accurate records.
  • Ability to work effectively with other service providers and families.
  • Skills for direct work with people using the service, for example understanding communication impairment.
  • Able to work without direct managerial supervision at times.
  • Good organisation/ time management skills
  • Car driver Manual UK Driving Licence, to drive car / up to 9 seater minibus

Desirable

  • Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act/ Deprivation of Liberty safeguards.
  • Knowledge and understanding of Positive behavioural Support/ health Action Plans/ Person Centered Plans.
  • Experience of supporting people using communication aids and techniques such as TEACCH.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ 3 in Care or Care Certificate or equivalent level of experience in health and social care

Desirable

  • Recognised health and social care qualification at diploma level or above.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of supporting people who have learning disabilities.

Desirable

  • Previous experience in a behaviour specialist setting
  • Experience in supporting people with autism
  • Experience of supporting people using Positive Behavioural Support Plans and in developing these.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understand the needs of people with learning disabilities.
  • Understanding behaviour that can challenge services.
  • Ability to make written observation and keep accurate records.
  • Ability to work effectively with other service providers and families.
  • Skills for direct work with people using the service, for example understanding communication impairment.
  • Able to work without direct managerial supervision at times.
  • Good organisation/ time management skills
  • Car driver Manual UK Driving Licence, to drive car / up to 9 seater minibus

Desirable

  • Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act/ Deprivation of Liberty safeguards.
  • Knowledge and understanding of Positive behavioural Support/ health Action Plans/ Person Centered Plans.
  • Experience of supporting people using communication aids and techniques such as TEACCH.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

144 Short Break Service

144 Wythenshawe Road

Wythenshawe, Manchester

M23 0PF


Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

144 Short Break Service

144 Wythenshawe Road

Wythenshawe, Manchester

M23 0PF


Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Quality Matron

Nicola Sunderland

nicola.sunderland@mft.nhs.uk

01618612958

Details

Date posted

07 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per Annum (Pro Rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

349-LCO-7347943*

Job locations

144 Short Break Service

144 Wythenshawe Road

Wythenshawe, Manchester

M23 0PF


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)