Senior Support Worker - Learning Disability Day Services
| Posting date: | 25 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £33,699 to £39,152 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 01 April 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
We are seeking a dynamic and innovative Senior Support Worker to join our team of experienced and skilled staff at Strathy Close in Tilehurst in Reading. This dual role combines hands‑on support with key leadership duties, ideal for someone who thrives in a varied and rewarding environment.
At our Learning Disability Day Service, we are committed to providing high‑quality, person‑centred support for adults with complex learning disabilities. We offer care on a 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4 basis, ensuring every person receives respectful, dignified support regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role:
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK - Sponsorship not available.
Full Time - 37 hours per week - 8.45am – 4.15pm (Monday - Thursday) and 8.45am - 3.45pm (Friday) – No weekend work required.
In this role, you’ll play a vital part in shaping a user‑led, empowering, and fulfilling Day Service where each person can grow, connect, and achieve meaningful outcomes.
As a Senior Support Worker, you will lead with confidence by professionally supervising, appraising, and supporting staff, while overseeing daily operational delivery. Manage performance effectively and guide your team with clarity and compassion to ensure a positive and productive working environment.
As a Senior Support Worker, you will:
Acting as a role model for best practice and supporting the team with day‑to‑day tasks
Leading shifts, allocating duties, and ensuring the smooth running of the service
Administering medication, providing personal care, moving and handling and maintaining accurate records
Supporting with training, mentoring new staff, and promoting a positive team culture
Working collaboratively with families, professionals, and external partners
Ensuring safeguarding and regulatory standards are upheld at all times
Exceptional client care and effective communication skills are crucial, along with a comprehension of the principles of exemplary practices in residential care and an awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with complex needs. Induction and training will be offered.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
For an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity, please contact Veronica Chapman (Team Manager) at veronica.chapman@reading.gov.uk
Closing date: Wednesday 1st April 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: Interviews face to face at Strathy Close, Tilehurst, Reading
Visit: www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.
At our Learning Disability Day Service, we are committed to providing high‑quality, person‑centred support for adults with complex learning disabilities. We offer care on a 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4 basis, ensuring every person receives respectful, dignified support regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role:
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK - Sponsorship not available.
Full Time - 37 hours per week - 8.45am – 4.15pm (Monday - Thursday) and 8.45am - 3.45pm (Friday) – No weekend work required.
In this role, you’ll play a vital part in shaping a user‑led, empowering, and fulfilling Day Service where each person can grow, connect, and achieve meaningful outcomes.
As a Senior Support Worker, you will lead with confidence by professionally supervising, appraising, and supporting staff, while overseeing daily operational delivery. Manage performance effectively and guide your team with clarity and compassion to ensure a positive and productive working environment.
As a Senior Support Worker, you will:
Acting as a role model for best practice and supporting the team with day‑to‑day tasks
Leading shifts, allocating duties, and ensuring the smooth running of the service
Administering medication, providing personal care, moving and handling and maintaining accurate records
Supporting with training, mentoring new staff, and promoting a positive team culture
Working collaboratively with families, professionals, and external partners
Ensuring safeguarding and regulatory standards are upheld at all times
Exceptional client care and effective communication skills are crucial, along with a comprehension of the principles of exemplary practices in residential care and an awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with complex needs. Induction and training will be offered.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
For an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity, please contact Veronica Chapman (Team Manager) at veronica.chapman@reading.gov.uk
Closing date: Wednesday 1st April 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: Interviews face to face at Strathy Close, Tilehurst, Reading
Visit: www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.