• Job Description

  Req#: F0128-25-0016?language=en&page=137&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Recruitment Event - Monday 14th July

  We are looking for more amazing people to join our Day Service teams as Activity Support Workers so that we can support more people living in the Wokingham borough.

  Our services focus on supporting adults with learning and/or physical disabilities to access community activities, develop life skills, build friendships, and - most importantly - have fun!

  Whether you are looking to start your career in adult social care or looking for a new environment to make the most of your skills, this is a great opportunity to learn more about Optalis and what we do. If you are positive, have lots of energy and are passionate about making a difference, we want to meet you! Come have a chat with us at The Acorn Centre on Monday 14th July - if you like what you hear and you meet our requirements, we will offer an immediate interview to get you started on your journey!

  Please book your preferred time using the link below or by emailing ash.cooper@rbwm.gov.uk - more information will be sent to you once confirmed.

  • https://calendly.com/optalis/day-services-recruitment-day

  This is an in-person recruitment event - applicants on NHS Jobs will be contacted to book in using the above link.

  Main duties of the job

  Day Services in Woodley and Wokingham provide a safe and friendly environment where people can make friends, develop life skills and engage in activities. Our Activity Support Organisers design and host activities like arts and crafts, making music, board games and day trips that are designed to be flexible for all ages and abilities.

  We have three locations that we are recruiting for;

  • Woodley - Woodford Park (RG5 4LY)
  • Wokingham - Acorn Centre (RG41 3DR)
  • Wokingham - Westmead (RG40 2LH)

  This is about putting smiles on faces; we are passionate about helping people to achieve their goals and to live meaningful lives. We are looking for confident, outgoing people who share our values and want to have a positive impact on the people we support.

  Experience isn't necessary; full training is provided as you will be required to support with care responsibilities, such as personal care, administering medication and assisting with mobility.

  Use this link to book your preferred time - https://calendly.com/optalis/day-services-recruitment-day

  Please note for these roles, we do require applicants to have a full or automatic driving licence. If you do not meet these criteria, we will be more than happy to discuss our other positions with you.

  About us

  Optalis is jointly owned by Wokingham Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

  Optalis delivers adult social care on behalf of the two local authorities. We have over 50 services across the WBC and RBWM boroughs, supporting adults with learning disabilities to live independently, providing dementia and nursing care for older people and offering reablement services to help people return home from hospital.

  We provide stable employment and opportunities to develop yourself and advance your career.

  We do not have an employment licence and cannot offer sponsorship with any of our roles.

  Details

  Date posted

  07 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Other

  Salary

  £12.34 an hour

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Part-time

  Reference number

  F0128-25-0016

  Job locations

  Acorn Community Centre

  Fernlea Drive

  Wokingham

  Berkshire

  RG41 3DR

  
  

  Flat Woodford Park Leisure Centre

  Haddon Drive

  Reading

  RG5 4LY

  
  

  Westmead Centre

  Rances Lane

  Wokingham

  Berkshire

  RG40 2LH

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  • Take a person-centred approach to assist customers on an individual basis to be involved in their local community by promoting inclusion and independence.
  • Empower customers to be in control of the services available to them through signposting and self-directed support.
  • To facilitate and oversee engaging activities throughout the day, both in community settings and in service.
  • To support and enable customers to participate in a wide variety of activities through encouragement and motivation.
  • Directly support activities, which can vary across a wide spectrum of topics and tasks.
  • Take a shared responsibility for activities, for individuals and groups, in order to meet the clients diverse individual needs and developmental aims and outcomes.
  • Promote client participation considering informed choice, using a person-centred approach.
  • Support with all care needs for customers, some of whom may have multiple complex needs and/or behavioural difficulties.
  • Assist with eating and drinking as required and undertake personal care tasks as and when required.
  • Promoting high quality activities and supporting other staff to do so by leading by example.
  • Drive the service vehicles - manual and automatic
  • Lone work as required
  • Be aware of and if necessary report safeguarding issues in line with procedures.
  • Be responsible for health and safety, ensuring all faults and hazards are reported.
  • Liaise with colleagues, parents and carers, and healthcare professionals as required.
  • Maintain and update any written/electronic records in accordance with service standards.
  • Participate in staff training, including supervision and appraisals.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  • Take a person-centred approach to assist customers on an individual basis to be involved in their local community by promoting inclusion and independence.
  • Empower customers to be in control of the services available to them through signposting and self-directed support.
  • To facilitate and oversee engaging activities throughout the day, both in community settings and in service.
  • To support and enable customers to participate in a wide variety of activities through encouragement and motivation.
  • Directly support activities, which can vary across a wide spectrum of topics and tasks.
  • Take a shared responsibility for activities, for individuals and groups, in order to meet the clients diverse individual needs and developmental aims and outcomes.
  • Promote client participation considering informed choice, using a person-centred approach.
  • Support with all care needs for customers, some of whom may have multiple complex needs and/or behavioural difficulties.
  • Assist with eating and drinking as required and undertake personal care tasks as and when required.
  • Promoting high quality activities and supporting other staff to do so by leading by example.
  • Drive the service vehicles - manual and automatic
  • Lone work as required
  • Be aware of and if necessary report safeguarding issues in line with procedures.
  • Be responsible for health and safety, ensuring all faults and hazards are reported.
  • Liaise with colleagues, parents and carers, and healthcare professionals as required.
  • Maintain and update any written/electronic records in accordance with service standards.
  • Participate in staff training, including supervision and appraisals.

  Person Specification

  Other

  Essential

  • Entitlement to Work in the UK with at least 12 months remaining on a visa - please not we cannot offer sponsorship.
  • Current driving licence for manual and automatic vehicles and meet Optalis insurance requirements

  Qualifications

  Desirable

  • NVQ 2 in Care or equivalent
  • Knowledge of Social Care legislations (i.e. Care Act, Mental Capacity Act)

  Experience

  Essential

  • Able to recognise and act appropriately to safeguarding concerns
  • Use initiative and present alternatives where appropriate
  • Confident to make decisions to ensure activities are delivered safely to suit all needs
  • Willing and able to partake in physical activities such as swimming, theme park rides and some sports
  • Good communication skills able to speak, read and write to a good level of English
  • Good organisational skills able to plan workload and work systematically
  • Good understanding of IT (i.e. Office 365)

  Desirable

  • Experience of supporting people with Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities or older people living with Dementia
  • Knowledge of additional needs (i.e. health, communication, behaviours)

  Person Specification

  Other

  Essential

  • Entitlement to Work in the UK with at least 12 months remaining on a visa - please not we cannot offer sponsorship.
  • Current driving licence for manual and automatic vehicles and meet Optalis insurance requirements

  Qualifications

  Desirable

  • NVQ 2 in Care or equivalent
  • Knowledge of Social Care legislations (i.e. Care Act, Mental Capacity Act)

  Experience

  Essential

  • Able to recognise and act appropriately to safeguarding concerns
  • Use initiative and present alternatives where appropriate
  • Confident to make decisions to ensure activities are delivered safely to suit all needs
  • Willing and able to partake in physical activities such as swimming, theme park rides and some sports
  • Good communication skills able to speak, read and write to a good level of English
  • Good organisational skills able to plan workload and work systematically
  • Good understanding of IT (i.e. Office 365)

  Desirable

  • Experience of supporting people with Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities or older people living with Dementia
  • Knowledge of additional needs (i.e. health, communication, behaviours)

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Optalis Limited

  Address

  Acorn Community Centre

  Fernlea Drive

  Wokingham

  Berkshire

  RG41 3DR

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.optalis.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Optalis Limited

  Address

  Acorn Community Centre

  Fernlea Drive

  Wokingham

  Berkshire

  RG41 3DR

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.optalis.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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