Job Vacancies

Day Opportunity Group Leader Band 5 (Full Time)

Job Summary

The Band 5 Community Access Worker / Group Leader is responsible for leading and coordinating the delivery of high-quality, person-centred support within the Day Opportunity Service for adults with learning disabilities. The post holder will support individuals to achieve meaningful outcomes, maximise independence, and access opportunities that enhance social inclusion, wellbeing, and community participation.
The role involves managing and supervising a team of support staff to ensure safe, effective, and responsive service delivery. This includes overseeing daily operations, allocating workloads, monitoring staff performance, and promoting best practice in line with organisational policies, professional standards, and regulatory requirements.

 

The post holder will work closely with service users, families, multidisciplinary teams, and external agencies to develop and deliver personalised programmes that reflect individual needs, preferences, and aspirations. They will promote dignity, choice, rights, and inclusion while ensuring safeguarding principles are embedded in all areas of practice.

 

The Group Leader will also contribute to service development, quality improvement, and the creation of innovative opportunities that support adults with learning disabilities to engage in meaningful activities, develop life skills, and maintain active roles within their communities.

 

Key responsibilities include leadership and supervision of staff, risk assessment, care planning, safeguarding, health and safety compliance, and maintaining accurate records and reporting systems. The post holder will act as a role model, fostering a positive, supportive, and empowering environment for both service users and staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

Service Delivery

  • Delivering Person Centred Support
  • Assisting in the assessment of needs and support.
  • Helping in the planning of care using person centred planning
  • Implementation of care for individuals and as a client group, using the person centred approach
  • To work in partnership with the service users and their families, to ensure their needs are met
  • To ensure all service users are cared for as individuals
  • To work with parents and carers as partners and stakeholders
  • To work in partnership with other agencies to ensure a high quality, seamless service for the service users.
  • To offer a range of activities to the service users.
  • To provide a service which is integrated and involved in the community
  • To use knowledge of the care of service users with a learning disability and challenging behaviour to provide a quality service.
  • To ensure information, related to service user, is shared appropriately
  • To demonstrate flexibility in responding to the needs of the service by participating in a variety of shifts as required.
  • To help create a homely atmosphere

Safety

  • Ensure a safe environment for service users, staff, and visitors by adhering to health and safety policies, procedures, and legislation.
  • Conduct and oversee risk assessments for activities, community access, and individual service user needs.
  • Ensure safeguarding principles are fully embedded in practice and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns in line with policy.
  • Support staff in managing behaviours of concern using positive behaviour support strategies and least restrictive practices.
  • Ensure incidents, accidents, near misses, and concerns are reported, documented, and escalated appropriately.
  • Promote safe moving and handling practices, medication management, infection prevention, and emergency procedures.
  • Maintain awareness of service users’ health needs and ensure appropriate responses to medical or wellbeing concerns.

Quality

  • Maintain high standards of care and support in line with organisational policies, regulatory standards, and best practice guidance.
  • Monitor and evaluate service provision to ensure quality outcomes for service users.
  • Ensure accurate, timely, and confidential record keeping, documentation, and reporting.
  • Conduct regular supervision, support, and performance monitoring for team members.
  • Promote a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement within the team.
  • Support audits, inspections, and quality assurance processes, implementing recommendations where required.
  • Encourage feedback from service users, families, and staff to improve service delivery and user experience.

Development

  • Contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the Day Opportunity Service.
  • Identify opportunities to expand community-based activities, programmes, and partnerships that enhance service user outcomes.
  • Support the training, induction, and professional development of staff to build skills and confidence.
  • Keep up to date with current legislation, policy, and best practice relating to learning disability services.
  • Promote innovation and new ways of working to improve service effectiveness and responsiveness.
  • Participate in service planning, team meetings, and organisational development initiatives.
  • Act as a role model and mentor, fostering a positive, inclusive, and supportive team culture.
  • Ensure that the procedures of the service are adhered to in respect of:
    • Handling and security of money
    • Reporting any untoward incident to service manager.
    • Health and Safety Regulations
    • Fire Prevention

Essential Criteria
Qualifications and experience

  • NVQ/QCF/RQF Level 3 in a care-related subject* and 2 years’ experience working in a social care role. OR
  • NVQ/QCF/RQF Level 2 in a care-related subject and 3 years’ experience working in a social care role. OR
  • Hold professional qualification in Social Work/Nursing/Allied Health Profession/Psychology. OR
  • A minimum of 4 years’ experience working with Adults with a Learning Disability in a community setting which must include experience of assessment and care planning and working in partnership with community and voluntary agencies.
  • Experience in undertaking risk assessments and their management, and, experience of person centred planning.
  • Be registered with the NISCC on the Social Care part of the register at the time of appointment or be eligible for immediate registration within a reasonable timescale prior to taking up post.

Other (e.g. Driving etc.)

  • Hold a current full driving license which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. ‘Where disability prohibits driving, this criteria will be waived if the applicant is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements.’

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Ability to use own initiative.
  • Effective organisational skills with an ability to prioritise own workload.
  • Ability to listen and respond appropriately and sensitively to the needs of service users.
  • Ability to identify problems and recommend appropriate solutions.
  • Ability to make use of and contribute to regular supervision.

Information Governance

All employees of Sonas Support are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Sonas Support, including client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails.  All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

This role offers an enriching opportunity for individuals passionate about supporting others. The ideal candidate will demonstrate professionalism, compassion, and a commitment to delivering exceptional care tailored to each individual’s needs.

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