Specialist Support Worker Belfast

What does a Specialist Support Worker do?

Put simply, your job is to support people to live the 
life they want.
To help you to do this, you will:
• Receive a full and paid induction
• Spend time getting to know the person you are 
supporting
• Receive specialist training to develop your 
existing skills
• Receive continuous support and regular 
supervision
• Work as part of a dedicated team to provide 
support. 
You need a relevant qualification and experience 
or just have the right experience.

Main Responsibilities

The people we support
Providing Person Centred Support
• Form a positive relationship with the person being supported, enabling them to 
communicate their wishes and requirements and enhancing their choice and 
control, whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with them and 
their families.
• Provide high quality support at all times to every person we support. This means 
giving each person the individual support they need, as outlined in the 
individual’s Person Centred Portfolio and their Behaviour Support Plan, to live 
the life they want.
• Learn about the person and share that knowledge with others who are also 
supporting the person. 
• Assist in the development, implementation and evaluation of Person Centred 
Portfolios (PCPs).
• Attend reviews with the person, their families / carers and any other significant 
people.
• Ensure any risks that are identified during support of a person are responded to 
promptly and escalated in line with Positive Futures’ Risk Management Policy

Assist and encourage people to make decisions based upon informed choices. 
Understanding your responsibilities in relation to supporting peoples’ decision 
making and lifestyle choices. 
• Support people to keep in touch with important people in their lives (including 
friends, family, carers, advocates and any other significant people).

Ensure every person we support is protected from harm at all times and report 
any issue of concern in line with our safeguarding and whistleblowing policies. 
• Ensure risks that are identified during support of a person are responded to 
promptly and escalated in line with Positive Futures’ Risk Management Policy.
• Identify and assist in assessing risk in relation to people we support and staff
applying appropriate controls or mitigating action and escalate/report as required 
in line with H&S Policy 
Supporting independence, social and communication skills
• Support people to use alternative communication systems which enable them to 
make choices and have control over all aspects of their lives.
• Support people to understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to 
decision making and lifestyle choices. 
• Enable people to participate in, and contribute to, their local community as active 
citizens (e.g. involvement in social, leisure and community-based activities, 
engagement in volunteering, training, and work experience opportunities as 
desired). 
• Support people to plan for and go on holiday, going with them if needed. 
• Always act as a strong role model for other staff and volunteers in relation to 
ensuring support promotes the person’s independence, self-advocacy, social 
and communication skills.

Coaching and mentoring of staff and volunteers
• Always act as a strong role model for, and encourage, other staff and volunteers. 
• Be involved in the induction, coaching and mentoring of staff.
• Challenge any poor practice and report any concerns to your line manager. 
• Maintain positive professional working relationships with key individuals and 
agencies. 
Administration and Monitoring 
• Accurately and effectively complete documents and records and ensure these 
are maintained and up to date. 
• Write short reports and ensure incidents and events are documented.
• Contribute to handovers and ensure effective communication.
• Conduct Health & Safety checks including the escalation of maintenance and 
repair work, safe management, and storage of medication etc. 
Personal Professional Practice 
• Work in line with Positive Futures’ Mission, Values and Code of Conduct and 
Practice.

• Maintain up to date registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council 
(NISCC) or other relevant professional body and adhere to their Standard of 
Conduct and Practice.
• Participate in relevant learning and development courses / activities as required 
and maintain own mandatory training as required.
• Take part in Person Centred Supervision and performance review with your line 
manager. 
• Be familiar with and adhere to all policies, procedures and guidance, keeping up 
to date with any changes and/or developments.
• Keep abreast of best practice initiatives / approaches Positive Behaviour Support 
and participate in relevant training.

To apply for this role, you MUST have:
1. One of the following:
a. 3 years’ experience in a health or social care setting.
or
b. QCF Level 2 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent*) AND have a 
minimum of 2 years’ experience in a health and social care setting * It is 
the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate how their qualification is 
equivalent.
or
c. QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent*) AND have a 
minimum of 1 year’s experience in a health and social care setting * It is 
the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate how their qualification is 
equivalent.
or
d. Psychology Degree AND have a minimum of 1 years’ experience in a 
health and social care setting.
or
e. Psychology Masters Degree AND have a minimum of 1 years’ experience 
in a health and social care setting.

2. At least 1 year’s experience of working with people with a learning disability OR 
autism.
3. At least 1 year’s experience in managing behaviours of concern through the 
implementation of Positive Behaviour Support.
4. Full, valid driving licence or an ability to travel independently to meet the 
requirements of the post.
5. Be registered, or be eligible for registration on appointment, on the appropriate 
part of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) or other relevant 
professional body.