Bank Support Worker – Lancaster and Morecambe

Contract type: Bank / Zero-hours contract
Location: Lancaster and Morecambe, Lancashire
Working pattern: Flexible shifts offered according to service needs and your availability
Shift requirements: Days, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Sleep-in shifts, waking nights and shifts of up to 12 hours may also be required.

Please note: This is a zero-hours bank position with no guaranteed hours. Shifts will be offered according to the needs of the service. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

About Us

Believe Care and Support is a unique, person-centred provider dedicated to supporting individuals with autism, learning disabilities and mental health needs to live fulfilling lives that make sense to them.

We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live life on their own terms, with the right support to develop independence, pursue their interests, build meaningful relationships and be an active part of their community.

We are equally committed to supporting our team members to grow, develop and become the best possible support for the individuals who trust us to be by their side.

Our mission is simple: to deliver outstanding, person-centred support by empowering both our team members and the individuals we support.

We believe in:

• Individuality – embracing the uniqueness of every person and recognising that everyone has their own strengths, interests, communication styles and aspirations.
• Teamwork and collaboration – working together, sharing experiences and learning from one another to create meaningful change.
• Citizenship – supporting individuals to have a voice, participate in their communities and live with dignity and purpose.
• Choice and independence – respecting every individual's right to make decisions and live life on their own terms.
• Equality – creating an inclusive environment where everyone is valued, respected and treated fairly.

At Believe, you'll be part of an organisation that invests in your development, values honesty and transparency, and recognises the vital role you play in transforming lives.

Support is at the heart of everything we do, not just for the individuals we support, but for you as a valued member of our team. Through training, reflective learning and everyday encouragement, we aim to ensure you feel supported, appreciated and empowered in your role.

About the Role

We're looking for compassionate, reliable and flexible Bank Support Workers to join our teams across Lancaster and Morecambe, supporting individuals in their own homes.

You'll support people with a range of needs, including autism, learning disabilities and mental health needs, helping them to live fulfilling lives, maintain their independence and achieve the things that matter to them.

No two people are the same, and neither is the support they need. You might be helping someone develop everyday living skills, supporting them to access their local community, encouraging them to explore their interests, providing emotional reassurance or simply being a consistent and trusted person in their day.

Our approach is always person-centred. We take the time to understand each individual, listen to what matters to them and provide support in a way that reflects their preferences, choices and aspirations.

As a Bank Support Worker, you'll help us maintain continuity of support when additional cover is required. This may include covering annual leave, sickness, planned absences and other service needs.

This is a flexible, zero-hours position, with shifts offered according to service requirements and your availability. It can suit someone looking for flexible work who is passionate about supporting others and making a genuine difference.

Previous experience in care or support work is beneficial, particularly experience supporting autistic people, individuals with learning disabilities or people with mental health needs. However, we're also interested in people who have the right values, a willingness to learn and a genuine commitment to person-centred support.

Full training and ongoing support will be provided.

You'll work with individuals in their own homes, helping them build the skills, confidence and relationships they need to live life as independently as possible.

Depending on the individual and their support plan, this may involve:

• Supporting people with everyday routines and household tasks.
• Helping individuals develop practical life skills and confidence.
• Supporting budgeting, shopping, cooking and meal preparation.
• Encouraging personal interests, hobbies and meaningful activities.
• Supporting access to local facilities, community activities and social opportunities across Lancaster and Morecambe.
• Providing emotional support and reassurance.
• Supporting individuals to make choices, express their preferences and have greater control over their lives.
• Recognising and responding sensitively to individual communication styles, sensory needs and emotional wellbeing.
• Supporting people to manage challenges in ways that respect their dignity, rights and individual needs.

Some individuals may communicate differently, need additional time to process information or benefit from a consistent and predictable approach. Others may need support with emotional regulation, building confidence or navigating everyday situations.

You'll need to be patient, observant and adaptable, recognising that effective support means understanding the person rather than expecting the person to fit around the support.

Our aim is to help every individual feel safe, respected, understood and empowered to live a life that is meaningful to them.

About You

We're looking for people who are caring, adaptable, emotionally aware and committed to delivering high-quality support.

You'll understand the importance of trust and meaningful relationships, be willing to listen and recognise that sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

You should be someone who:

• Is compassionate, patient, respectful and non-judgemental.
• Has a genuine interest in supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health needs.
• Respects individual choice, dignity, privacy and personal boundaries.
• Understands the importance of promoting independence rather than doing everything for someone.
• Can adapt their approach to suit different personalities, communication styles and support needs.
• Is observant, creative and able to think flexibly when situations change.
• Can follow individual support plans, risk assessments and agreed ways of working.
• Is confident working independently while recognising the importance of teamwork.
• Communicates effectively and can share information appropriately with colleagues.
• Maintains professional boundaries and respects confidentiality.
• Can remain calm, patient and thoughtful during challenging situations.
• Is reliable, punctual and committed to providing consistent support.
• Is willing to undertake training, reflect on their practice and develop their skills.
• Can be flexible and responsive to the needs of a bank role.

Most importantly, you'll have a genuine passion for supporting people and a desire to help individuals achieve their goals, develop their independence and LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE!

Working Pattern and Flexibility

This is a bank role on a zero-hours contract, offering flexibility for people who want to work on an as-needed basis.

There are no guaranteed hours. Shifts will be offered according to the needs of our services across Lancaster and Morecambe, and you'll be able to discuss your availability with the management team.

We are looking for people who can offer flexibility across a range of shift patterns, which may include:

• Day shifts and evening shifts.
• Weekends and bank holidays.
• Sleep-in shifts.
• Waking night shifts.
• Shifts of up to 12 hours.

Reliability, good communication and a willingness to support different individuals and teams are essential. Flexibility will help us maintain continuity of support and ensure individuals receive the assistance they need.

Key Responsibilities

Person-Centred Support

• Provide support in ways that reflect each individual's needs, choices, preferences and aspirations.
• Build trusting relationships through consistency, patience and genuine interest.
• Promote dignity, privacy, equality and individual rights.
• Encourage independence, informed decision-making and meaningful participation.
• Support individuals to pursue their interests, develop confidence and achieve personal goals.
• Recognise and respect differences in communication, sensory needs and emotional wellbeing.

Daily Living and Independence

• Support individuals with everyday activities and practical tasks in accordance with their support plans.
• Encourage the development of life skills, including cooking, shopping, budgeting and money management.
• Provide personal care and support with self-care where required and agreed.
• Encourage participation in hobbies, social activities and the wider community.
• Help individuals develop routines and skills that support greater independence.
• Provide emotional reassurance while respecting personal boundaries and individual choice.

Autism, Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Support

• Develop an understanding of each individual's strengths, needs, communication and preferred ways of receiving support.
• Use agreed communication approaches and allow individuals time to process information and make decisions.
• Recognise changes in presentation, behaviour or emotional wellbeing and respond in accordance with individual support plans.
• Support emotional wellbeing using calm, respectful and appropriate approaches.
• Promote positive risk-taking and opportunities for personal growth while following agreed safety measures.
• Challenge assumptions and promote a culture that recognises each individual as a person with their own abilities, identity and aspirations.

Communication and Teamwork

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to provide consistent, high-quality support.
• Follow support plans, risk assessments, policies and agreed procedures.
• Complete accurate records and contribute to effective handovers.
• Report concerns, incidents and changes in an individual's needs or wellbeing promptly.
• Work respectfully with families, representatives and other professionals where appropriate.
• Communicate clearly and maintain confidentiality.
• Contribute positively to the wider team and help maintain continuity of support when covering shifts.

Safeguarding and Professional Practice

• Promote the safety, welfare and rights of the individuals you support.
• Follow safeguarding procedures and report concerns appropriately.
• Maintain professional boundaries and respect confidentiality.
• Follow health and safety guidance and relevant organisational policies.
• Follow medication procedures where applicable to your role, training and authorisation.
• Recognise and report risks while supporting individuals to maintain their independence.
• Attend mandatory training and take responsibility for keeping your knowledge and skills up to date.

Why Join Believe?

We believe great support starts with great people. As a member of our bank team, you'll have the opportunity to make a genuine difference in your local community while benefiting from the flexibility of a zero-hours contract.

Our benefits include:

• Health and Wellbeing Programme – access to an employee assistance line offering counselling, bereavement support, legal information, medical information and more.
• Employee Referral Programme – opportunities to benefit from referring suitable candidates, subject to scheme terms.
• Believe Breaks – access to our fully accessible caravan in the heart of the Lake District at a heavily discounted rate for employees throughout the year.
• Living Wage Employer – we are accredited as a Living Wage Employer.
• Training and professional development – opportunities to learn, develop your skills and build a career in care and support.
• Supportive management team – work with a dedicated management team committed to supporting staff and improving the quality of support.

Eligibility for particular benefits may depend on the relevant scheme rules and your employment arrangements. Further information will be available during recruitment.

Values-Based Recruitment

At Believe, we believe that recruiting the right people is about more than experience and qualifications. It's about finding people whose values align with ours and who understand the importance of putting individuals at the centre of their support.

We want to build teams that work well together and understand that every person is different. Good support starts with listening, building relationships and being willing to learn what matters to each individual.

If you believe in individuality, citizenship, choice, independence, collaboration and equality, we'd love to hear from you.

Whether you already have experience in care or are looking to develop a career in support work, we welcome applications from people who are committed to learning, building relationships and making a positive difference.

Our Safeguarding Commitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the individuals we support. We expect all staff to share this commitment and uphold the highest standards of safeguarding practice.

As part of our recruitment process, successful candidates will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, which may include:

• Reference checks from previous employers.
• An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including barred-list checks where legally applicable to the role.
• Right-to-work verification and identity checks.
• An employment history review, including clarification of any gaps.

It is a criminal offence for an individual who is barred from working in regulated activity with the relevant group to undertake work from which they are barred.

Equal Opportunities

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

We believe diversity enriches our organisation and enables us to better support the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Our recruitment decisions are based on skills, experience, values and suitability for the role.

If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're compassionate, flexible and passionate about helping people live fulfilling lives, we'd love to hear from you. Please apply online or email recruitment@believecare.org