Support Worker
Luton Borough Council
£25183.00-25992.00 per year
Luton
Part time
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Recommended by parents
- Respectful managers
About Luton Borough Council
Luton Borough Council is a local authority. They oversee local services.
Job description from Luton Borough Council
Salary: £25,183 - £25,992 a year (pro rata for under 37hrs)
Hours per week: Various
Contract type: Permanent
Are you a compassionate and experienced professional looking to make a difference in social care? Luton Council is looking for a Support Worker to join our dedicated team. This role involves advocating for individuals' needs, supporting their daily care experience, and ensuring a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment.
As a Support Worker, you'll be part of a caring and dedicated team focused on improving wellbeing, independence and quality of life for individuals across our community.
Key Responsibilities include:
Individual Advocacy: Act as a strong advocate for individuals, ensuring their needs and preferences are respected in all aspects of their day care experience.
Team Collaboration: Work effectively both independently and as part of a team, ensuring seamless care delivery and support.
Equality in Service: Recognise and address any discrimination in service delivery or in the workplace, taking appropriate action as needed.
Community Knowledge: Apply your understanding of the challenges facing individuals with learning disabilities and work to meet their unique needs.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About you
You're someone who thrives on making a difference and brings empathy, energy and a team spirit to everything you do.
Essential Skills and Requirements:
Experience: Demonstrable background in community work or social care services, in either a paid or voluntary capacity.
Flexible Working: Your hours will be between 9 - 5 and flexibility with start and end times to meet service needs, however, your manager will discuss with you your confirmed start and end times. In a case of service wide disruption, willingness to work shifts, including split-shifts, sleep-in, and waking night duties.
Mobility: Ability to travel across multiple locations to support service demands.
Health & Safety: Physical capability to lift, move, and handle individuals and equipment using appropriate aids, in line with Health and Safety regulations after training.
Communication: Strong spoken English skills to effectively converse with the public and provide accurate advice.
Education and training: Have or be willing to work towards a QCF Level 3 in Care
Understand the needs of people with learning disabilities and approach your work with fairness and inclusion at its core.
This is a public facing role so you'll need to show off your fluency in speaking and writing English
About us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough
Application Process
Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person's criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.
Benefits
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
- From 25 to 32 days' annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
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
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What employees say
Pay
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Okay
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Only some people are paid a living wage
Do Luton Borough Council pay a living wage?
Some people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
41% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 27 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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 £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Okay
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Only some people are paid market rates
Do Luton Borough Council pay market rates?
Only some people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
50% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 26 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and May 2025.
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
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do workers at Luton Borough Council get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
83% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 29 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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.
Good
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Most people get sick pay
Do Luton Borough Council pay sick pay?
Yes. Most people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
67% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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.
Good
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Most people don’t do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Luton Borough Council do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Rarely. Most people don’t do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
86% of people report that they don’t do extra unpaid work.Based on data from 14 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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
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Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do workers at Luton Borough Council worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
80% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and July 2025.
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
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do Luton Borough Council workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
55% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Luton Borough Council?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
71% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 24 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2023 and July 2025.
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.
Good
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Shifts don’t get changed at short notice
Do Luton Borough Council managers change shifts at short notice?
Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
77% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and May 2025.
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.
Good
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Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Luton Borough Council?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
71% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 28 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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.
Good
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Most parents say it’s good
Is working at Luton Borough Council good if you’re a parent or carer?
Most parents and carers say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
69% of people who care for a child or other relative report this is a good place to work.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and May 2025.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do people at Luton Borough Council feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
78% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 23 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and May 2025.
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.
Okay
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Only some people get proper breaks
Do people at Luton Borough Council get proper breaks?
Some people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
38% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 29 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Luton Borough Council?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
72% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 29 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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
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Most people enjoy their job
Do people at Luton Borough Council enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
76% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 25 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Luton Borough Council recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
59% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Luton Borough Council?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
45% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Luton Borough Council?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 61% 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 28 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Luton Borough Council 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
88% 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 26 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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
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Most people don’t feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Luton Borough Council is doing?
Most people don’t feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
71% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 24 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and July 2025.
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 Luton Borough Council employees say about their job
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Best thing
Flexibility, opportunities to look at other things
Worst thing
Boring, lots of admin
Employee at Luton Borough Council, July 2023
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Best thing
discounted membership
the people as friendsWorst thing
the work ethic
Lifeguard at Luton Borough Council, April 2022
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