Support Worker


Company:	Salutem Care and Education
Salary:	£13.70 to £15.25 an hour
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Bedford, BEDFORD
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	21 Oct 2026
Closing date:	19 Nov 2026

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Summary

About The Company

About Orchard House

The aim of our Learning disability homes is to provide a safe and stimulating environment for the children. We care for children with a range of complex needs and social emotional mental health, as well as children with autism.

The home can support children with a range of additional needs and learning disabilities, including ASC, ADHD, communication differences and associated behavioural and medical needs. Each child has an individual, tailored care plan. These will highlight key areas of support for each child, focussing on their sensory, auditory, emotional and physical needs.

At Salutem Care and Education, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live the life they choose.

As one of the UK's leading providers of specialist care, education, and support services, we deliver life-changing outcomes for children, young people, and adults across England and Wales. From residential care and supported living services to schools and colleges, our teams work every day to help individuals achieve their ambitions, maximise their independence, and realise their potential.

We are proud to be recognised as a Top Employer United Kingdom 2026 and one of the Top 10 Global Inspiring Workplaces 2026—a reflection of our commitment to creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

About The Role

About You:

If you are an experienced support worker looking for a new role, you have come to the right place! Salutem Care and Education are excited to announce that we are currently seeking experienced support workers to join our team. We are a leading provider of care and education services across the United Kingdom, and we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality support to individuals with a range of complex needs.

At Salutem, we know that the role of a support worker is vital in improving the lives of those we support, and we are committed to providing our staff with the tools and resources they need to excel in their roles. We offer extensive training and development opportunities, as well as a range of benefits, including competitive salaries and flexible working hours.

What makes Salutem Different?

- We are a top 10 Inspiring Workplace - Are you looking for a workplace that inspires you to be your best self every day? Do you want to join a team that provides outstanding employee experience? If so, we invite you to join us as we celebrate our recent recognition as a top 50 Inspiring Workplace in EMEA with special mentions for our efforts in communication and experience. Our commitment to fostering a positive and supportive work environment has earned us this prestigious honour.

- We have a trauma-based approach to working - We deliver a clear program of workshops, coaching and mentoring, alongside group clinical supervision and peer-to-peer support. Working with the clinical and PBS under the structure of CYP to ensure one vision, holistic support to the teams and clear role definition.

- We develop and support colleagues for the future – We create a continuous learning and reflective practice environment that emphasises growth and continuous development. We focus on succession planning that will provide opportunity to develop. We are committed to having the best qualified staff supporting the children and young people.

- We have developed a core and cluster model - We specialise in supporting children and young people who have emotional and behavioural needs, autistic spectrum condition, and physical / learning disability with access to education opportunities being at the core of our work. Some of our services have teamed up with our Online Education Platform to provide the young people we support education virtually from their homes.

What will I do as a Support Worker?

- To complete in-depth induction training and all mandatory training, including safeguarding modules and Wales induction framework

- To follow Salutem policies and procedures, including those concerning the health and safety of yourself and others

- Provide support to individual young people with complex health, physical and learning needs within the children’s home

- To attend to the day-to-day needs of the young people and support them to access and participate in a variety of activities, including in the evenings and weekends

- Registration with Social Care Wales

- To provide high-quality personal care and promote opportunities for independence

- To encourage our young people to socialise and be included and help them reach their own personal outcomes

- To understand the young person’s communication needs

- To produce a safe and stimulating environment for young people

- To promote the health and well-being of the young people

- To attend and actively participate in handover meetings, and key worker meetings and liaise with colleagues and management

- To complete key worker activities and responsibilities with individual key young people in the children’s home, including those on short breaks

- Work alongside external agencies and professionals i.e. social workers, families and health care professionals

- To keep accurate records and report on the young people you work with, providing effective communication between the home and school and with outside agencies involved with the young people in a professional context

- To maintain effective contact with parents and guardians of our young people, ensuring appropriate information is passed on efficiently

- To be reliable and flexible, using your initiative when making decisions

- To attend all relevant training provided by the organisation for you to provide safe practice

- To maintain a high standard of tidiness within the home

- To undertake sleeping in duties

- To report to management, and to perform as requested by a senior member of staff, including additional duties commensurate with the post

- To be proactive in assessing and reporting risk

Our Values

Our values shape the way we work. We are Supportive, Ambitious, Loyal, Unique, Transparent, Engaging and Meaningful in everything we do.

We believe in creating opportunities, encouraging independence and ensuring the people we support have the opportunity to live the life they choose.

Why Choose Salutem?

We want our people to feel supported, valued and able to thrive — both at work and outside of it.

Emotional Support 

24/7 Employee Assistance, mental health resources, meditation apps and bereavement support.

Health & Wellbeing 

Free online GP access, Health Cash Plan, Cancer Cover and menopause support.

Financial Support 

Flexible pay through Stream, utility bill savings, MoneyHelper and Life Assurance.

Physical Wellbeing 

Online workouts, Cycle to Work scheme, gym discounts and National Trust activities.

Training 

You’ll receive training, ongoing support and opportunities to develop your skills and career in social care.

Ready to make a difference? 

If you’re passionate about making a positive difference, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today

Has or is willing to work towards the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma

Salutem Care and Education is dedicated to protecting and promoting the well-being of children, young adults, and vulnerable individuals. As part of our safer recruitment process, the successful candidate will be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS and, where applicable, overseas criminal record checks.

We are committed to ensuring that safeguarding is a top priority. Therefore, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we will carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence process.

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