Support Worker
National Care Group
£11.95 per hour
Colchester, Essex, CO6 3NS
Full time, permanent
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Pays all ages fairly
- Respectful managers
- Proper training
About National Care Group
National Care Group provide care and support services for vulnerable adults.
Job description from National Care Group
Support Worker
Up to 40hrs Available
£11.95 per hour (£24,856 per annum)
Do you dare to make a difference?
We know working in care is more th
an ‘just a job’. To us it's playing a crucial role in enabling the people we support to live their best lives.
Unlock your potential by joining our team as a Support Workers at Jamesons Supported Living.
You can expect;
- Accelerated career paths with no experience required
- Unlimited referral scheme £300 per referral
- Recognised qualifications with paid training
- Flexible working patterns
- Inclusive culture with progressive wellbeing support
We are looking for enthusiastic Supported Living Support Workers for our homes in Colchester, Essex. We support adults living with Learning Disabilities and Mental Health conditions to fulfil their potential, develop new skills and live as independently as possible.
Don’t meet every single requirement? We invite you to apply anyway!
At National Care Group, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic organisation. So, if you’re ready to embark on a journey where your potential outweighs your current skill set, we encourage you to apply. You might have the right values and attitude we are looking for!
Job insights from Breakroom
Support workers
Support workers help vulnerable people to live independently
What you’ll do as a support worker:
- Check the needs and progress of the individuals you are supporting
- Help with daily tasks like budgeting, shopping and claiming benefits
- Provide physical care and support including, bathing, dressing, cooking and feeding
- Check and monitor health and help with medication
Is it right for you?
This job may involve:
- Standing
- Heavy lifting
- Helping with personal care
- Physical activity
- Emotionally demanding duties
- Wearing a uniform
- Night work
- Long hours
- Anti-social hours
- Cleaning
- Working alone
What employees say
Pay
-
Okay
-
Only some people are paid a living wage
Do National Care Group pay support workers enough to live on?
Some people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
60% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.00 per hour, and £13.15 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Needs improving
-
Most people are paid below market rates
Do National Care Group pay support workers market rates?
Most people are paid less than average for their job.
How we know this
73% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Needs improving
-
Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do support workers at National Care Group get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
68% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
-
Most people don’t get sick pay
Do National Care Group pay support workers sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
95% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
-
Some people do unpaid extra work
Do support workers at National Care Group do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
47% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
-
Needs improving
-
Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do support workers get of their shift pattern at National Care Group?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 28% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 33% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 11% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 28% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Good
-
Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do support workers at National Care Group worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
77% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
-
Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do support workers at National Care Group get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
42% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
-
Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for support workers at National Care Group to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
65% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Good
-
Easy to book holiday
How easy is it for support workers to book a holiday at National Care Group?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
72% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Okay
-
Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do National Care Group managers change support workers shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
58% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Okay
-
Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it for support workers to take sick leave at National Care Group?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
62% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Workplace
-
Good
-
Most people feel treated with respect
Do support workers at National Care Group feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
72% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Needs improving
-
Most people don’t get proper breaks
Do support workers at National Care Group get proper breaks?
Most people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
90% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
-
Most people are stressed
Is it stressful for support workers to work at National Care Group?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
90% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
-
Most people enjoy their job
Do support workers at National Care Group enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
82% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Okay
-
Only some people recommend their team
Do support workers at National Care Group recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
57% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Good
-
Most people get enough training
Do support workers get enough training when they start at National Care Group?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
75% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
-
Only some people get support to progress
Are support workers given support to progress at National Care Group?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 56% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
-
Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do support workers think National Care Group head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
84% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Needs improving
-
Most people don’t feel well informed by head office
Do support workers feel well informed about how National Care Group is doing?
Most people don’t feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
74% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What National Care Group employees say about their job
-
Best thing
Not a lot
Worst thing
The company is only after money. They don't care about staff or the people we look after. Publicly it's all smiles and sunshine....... reality - work until you drop !!!
National Care Group Senior support worker, February 2024
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Reply from Head of Talent Acquisition at National Care Group, February 2024
Thank you for taking time to share your feedback as we genuinely value our colleagues’ opinions. We are sorry you have had an unpleasant experience, but we really appreciate you bringing this to our attention, And please be assured that your feedback is taken seriously. We would like to address your specific concerns and speak to you about the situation further. Please reach out to our HR department via HR@Nationalcaregroup.com so that we can discuss your concerns in more detail and find a solution. Once again, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We hope to have the opportunity to regain your trust.
-
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Best thing
the people who we support.
Worst thing
Management
National Care Group Support worker, July 2023
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