Female Support Worker - Nights

Specialist Support Worker – Community Mental Health and Autism

Help Someone Live Life on Their Own Terms

At Unicare Complex Care Specialist, we don’t just provide care—we build trusted relationships that empower people to live meaningful, independent lives.

We are seeking compassionate, emotionally resilient and highly skilled Support Workers to join a dedicated team supporting a young adult living independently in the community who presents with complex mental health needs, autism and behaviours of concern.

This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who values person-centred care and understands that trust, patience and consistency are fundamental to achieving positive outcomes.

About the role

You will provide one-to-one specialist support to an individual living in their own home, helping them maintain independence while promoting emotional wellbeing, safety and community participation.

This role requires someone who can build a genuine therapeutic relationship, remain calm during emotional distress, understand neurodiversity and work in a trauma-informed way. You will support emotional regulation without judgement, respect personal choice and autonomy, and encourage independence.

Every day will be different. Your approach must always be compassionate, flexible and person-led.

What you’ll be doing

• Providing specialist one-to-one community support and building a trusting, consistent relationship.

• Supporting emotional wellbeing using calm, therapeutic approaches, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies, and sensory-based and grounding techniques.

• Promoting independence with daily routines, household tasks, meal planning, healthy eating and hydration.

• Assisting with shopping, community access and attendance at appointments and meaningful activities.

• Encouraging hobbies, creativity and community participation.

• Respecting communication preferences and adapting your communication style.

• Prompting and supporting medication in line with care plans.

• Completing accurate electronic care records.

• Working with clinicians, mental health professionals and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Who we’re looking for

You will be compassionate, patient, non-judgemental and calm under pressure. You will be observant, creative, flexible, consistent and reliable. You should be comfortable working independently, able to build trust over time and committed to safeguarding and professional practice.

You will respect personal boundaries and individual preferences, adapt when plans change, and remain professional during challenging situations. Excellent observational and recording skills are important.

Experience

We are particularly interested in experience supporting people with autism, complex mental health needs, emotional dysregulation, trauma or self-injurious behaviours. Experience of PBS, trauma-informed care, neurodiversity, sensory processing differences, anxiety disorders, selective or situational mutism, de-escalation, crisis prevention or community-based support is also relevant.

Experience with alternative communication methods, including written communication, visual prompts, gestures or technology-assisted communication, would be highly advantageous.

Applicants who enjoy nature and outdoor activities, arts and crafts, creative projects, animal welfare or environmental sustainability may be able to use those interests to support meaningful engagement and shared activities.

Essential requirements

• Experience supporting people with complex mental health needs and/or autism.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to remain calm in emotionally challenging situations.

• Commitment to safeguarding and person-centred care.

• Enhanced DBS, or willingness to obtain one.

• Right to work in the UK.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are desirable but not essential.

What we offer

• Competitive hourly rate.

• Induction and specialist training.

• Ongoing CPD, including PBS, trauma-informed care and autism specialist training.

• Clinical supervision and a supportive management team.

• Employee Assistance Programme and pension scheme.

• Career progression opportunities.

• Reward and recognition programme, company events and referral bonus scheme.

Shift patterns

We are recruiting across days, evenings, sleep-in shifts, weekends and bank holidays. Flexible working patterns may be available.

Why join Unicare?

At Unicare, you’ll become part of a specialist organisation recognised for delivering high-quality, person-centred support to people with complex needs across Sussex. You’ll receive ongoing training, clinical guidance and regular supervision, with the opportunity to develop specialist skills while making a difference in someone’s life.

If you are passionate about empowering people and believe in dignity, respect and person-centred support, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today to join Unicare Complex Care Specialist.

Work location: In person