We are seeking support workers for a charming young man who has Down's Syndrome and autism. £18 per hour.
Update November 2025. Our young man has matured and is 22 now. He will be working as an adult volunteer leader. He needs three support workers. The holiday scheme will run from Sunday 28 December to Thursday 1 January 2026.
The young man receives no physical guidance nor restraint. The support is all about building a rapport and offering verbal and non-verbal prompting and support.
The posts I am trying to fill are:
Full-time and residential, (free transport available from and back to North West London and some other locations) with a Jewish youth group You will be supporting the young man as he takes a voluntary pastoral role supporting participant well-being.
How to apply: Please apply before 5:30pm on Saturday 22 November 2025 so I have time to shortlist and arrange interviews. I have had a lot of very interesting responses mostly from my advert on Indeed, so on Saturday evening I will be shortlisting candidates from among all the applications. If you’re applying on the Friday afternoon or Saturday please use the Contact Me on this website in addition to applying via Indeed - in case Indeed locks me out.
Also we’re always looking for people to support him in daily living activities throughout the year: times and roles to be negotiated.
Each support worker will be working (as two-to-one) approximately eleven hours on the Monday through the Wednesday, eight hours (approximately) on Sunday 28 December, and maybe six to seven hours on Thursday 1 January (“double time” rate of pay, on the New Year bank holiday). There will be two support workers with the young man from 8am till 10pm and one support worker while he’s getting up in the morning and winding down in the evening, so I reckon that each support worker will have approximately ten hours on (paid) and five hours rest (unpaid), each day, You will agree between yourselves when you have breaks and who is on duty for the paid night-time on-call. He’s never yet needed to call upon a support worker at night.
You’ll get accommodation and all your meals, and we’re paying you to do some preliminary training during December too, at a time that can be arranged with the youth club leaders. So you should walk away with well over £1,000 after the winter scheme. But it’s a skilled job that won’t suit everyone.
The young man who requires assistance is being given a tailored pastoral role to suit his strengths. In many ways he’s capable, independent and sociable. He has some sense of danger but cannot assess risks of eventualities which are theoretical and not immediately present. He is good company and, when he’s feeling at ease, is capable of establishing a rapport with others.
He is interested in animals, music, films, jokes, foreign languages, and going to the gym. He requires support and encouragement to fully access some activities, such as going to leisure and gym centres, looking after his personal hygiene, and developing his communication skills. He responds well to humour, reassurance and clear boundaries. He doesn't need direct personal care but may benefit from occasional tactful reminders and help to build his skills.
This young man needs workers to support him without taking over. So this is a job requiring skill and sensitivity. The successful candidate will ideally have experience working with someone who is autistic and has a learning disability. This experience could be in your personal life or in a workplace. We're looking for someone who gets on well with other people, has a good sense of humour, is responsible and reliable, can set sensible boundaries, and understands the needs of adults with learning disabilities. The youth club is offering training in December, at a time to be arranged, which will be paid and mandatory for each support worker.
It is an advantage if you are already registered with the DBS update service. If not, you will need to be willing to undergo an enhanced DBS/ Disclosure and Barring Service check (the expense will be covered by me if you are the agreed candidate).
To apply, for either the 5-day residential post or the part-time work, please contact me before 5:30pm on Saturday 22 November via the "Contact Us" link which is above and here. Tell me briefly about your relevant skills and experience. I will reply with an email inviting you to send a CV and further details which must arrive by 7pm on the Saturday 22 November.
I look forward to hearing from you.