Are you looking to take the next step in your social care career in 2026?

Then Autism Initiatives wants to hear from you!

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Support Worker to join our West Lothian Housing Support Services team.

The Senior Support Worker (SSW) will support the management team in developing and maintaining the organisation’s standards relating to autism specific, person centred practices and implementation of the service development plan. Liaising with the organisation’s practice support team, the SSW will assist in the preparation of support and communication plans, ensuring consistent practices throughout support networks.

Benefits of working with us include:

• Competitive Salary
• Sleepover rate paid at £12.60 per hour
• 31 days Annual Leave Entitlement, including bank holidays
• Ongoing Learning & Development throughout your role
• Opportunity to undertake relevant SVQ qualification
• Career Progression Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• Medicash Healthcare Plan & eligibility to become a Blue Light Card Member for online & high street discounts

The Senior Support Worker will assist in the supervision and direction of the staff team and in maintaining the high standards of support in line with the organisation’s quality standards and mission statement. Knowledge of current legislation and regulations relating to the social care sector and the requirements of the Care Inspectorate is essential for this role. The post holder will also be expected to commit to on-call duties.

Given the nature of this role, successful applicants must register with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or equivalent regulatory body.

This is a truly rewarding role, with the opportunity for you to develop your skills and knowledge and fulfil your career aspirations.

We are currently recruiting Project Workers to work within our Edinburgh services. You will be joining our dedicated team supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism to reach their individual goals and ambitions.

Rate:£12.60 per hour

Working Hours: 10:00 – 16:00, Monday – Friday, with full time hours at 30 per week

Contract Type:Permanent, Full Time & Part Time: we’d love to hear from all applicants interested in part time or full time work, however we won’t be able to consider applicants looking to work less than 2 days per week.

Holiday:30 days pro rata, enhanced at 3 years’ service by an additional day (pro rata) per year thereafter, up to a maximum of 5 days. Upmo regularly closes during the Christmas/New Year period.

About the role

As a Project Worker, you will be part of an enthusiastic and creative team who provide daily support to adults with learning disabilities and autism as they participate in workshop activities of their choosing within our site-based services, and café sites.

This role includes supporting students on a 1:1 basis, facilitating workshops, and supporting people with personal care tasks throughout the day such as assistance with eating and drinking, toileting needs, and other private hygiene needs.

For this vacancy, we are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with musical and performance skills, but will consider those with all round skills for our services, which run varied workshops throughout the week which involve the following areas: art & crafts, IT, music, drama, dance, cooking, gardening, and outdoor activities.

While previous experience in care or support is highly advantageous, it is not required as we provide full training and ongoing support to our staff team.

We are currently looking to recruit support workers to join our small team within Inclusion Alliance. The role involves supporting people with learning disabilities to be included in the community and lead an ordinary life. Your work would involve helping people to access educational, social, leisure and work or volunteering opportunities in the community.

No experience or formal qualifications are necessary for the role although a caring nature, positive attitude and a sense of fun are important characteristics to have. New staff will receive paid training and undertake shadow shifts with experienced staff members during induction. We want new staff to feel ready and able to work prior to working on their own for the first time.

We have various vacancies available including part time and relief/casual positions in various locations throughout Edinburgh.

Working hours are based between the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday

We have various permanent and casual vacancies available.

Relief/ Casual pay rate- £12.65 per hour

Candidates must be caring, motivated and have excellent communication skills whilst being committed to working in a person-centred way ensuring that support is built around the supported person’s wishes and needs.

Benefits include

• Employer contributory pension scheme
• Funded SVQ 3 qualification and learning opportunity
• Paid annual leave entitlement
• Regular paid supervision sessions
• Regular paid training and development opportunities
• Daytime Monday to Friday working
• Working for a well-established small organisation where person centred values are at the core.Free 24/7 access to employee support app

Join GCIL and Make a Difference!

At the GCIL (Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living), we empower disabled people with the information, skills, and support they need to lead independent lives and participate fully in society.

As a disabled-people-led organisation, we centre lived experience and pride ourselves on delivering high-quality services that make a real impact in our communities. Communication and connection sit at the heart of everything we do.

Why Work With Us?

• Meaningful Impact: Your work will make a tangible difference, helping disabled people of all ages to lead independent, fulfilling lives.
• People-Focused: You’ll spend a significant amount of your time communicating — one-to-one, in groups, in the community, and online. If you love engaging with people, this is the role for you.
• Varied Outreach: From delivering training sessions to hosting workshops, events, and drop-ins, you'll be out in the community building understanding and trust.
• Autonomy and Responsibility: Manage your own caseload and represent GCIL confidently through regular verbal and digital communication.
• Professional Growth: We’ll support your development, including your communication, training delivery, and community engagement skills.

As an Inclusive SDS Development Worker, you will:

• Promote Self-Directed Support (SDS) to service users, carers, professionals, and partner organisations through confident, clear communication.
• Provide information, advice, and signposting — ensuring complex information is explained in a supportive, accessible way.
• Deliver SDS awareness sessions, preparation sessions, workshops, training, and drop-in events (both in person and digitally).
• Build strong, trusting relationships with individuals and communities through consistent outreach and regular communication.
• Support individuals in assessing needs, preparing for SDS assessments, and developing personalised support plans.
• Facilitate and contribute to peer support groups and community asset mapping.
• Plan and deliver training for direct payment recipients and carers, adapting your style to different audiences.
• Collaborate with GCIL teams and HSCP partners, sharing updates, presenting information, and working together to deliver community events.
• Represent GCIL confidently with external stakeholders, partners, and professionals.
• Promote inclusive living options through presentations, outreach visits, and digital communications.
• Manage time and financial resources effectively, following procedures and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Maintain accurate client records and ensure compliance with data protection and GCIL policies.
• Collect and report data for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Continuously develop personal skills and knowledge through training and feedback.
• Ensure high-quality service delivery and uphold GCIL’s values and standards.

In order to be successful in this role you should have:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and confidence engaging with a wide variety of people and communities.
• Experience of providing support and/or delivering training, workshops, or group sessions using a community development approach.
• Experience of providing information, advice, and support in a people-focused environment.
• Good knowledge of Self-Directed Support, particularly Option 1 – Direct Payments.
• An understanding of and commitment to the principles of inclusive living, the social model of disability, and the empowerment of disabled people.
• Strong digital communication skills and a great working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.

It would be great if you had:

• Personal experience of self-managing an inclusive living package.

We Actively Welcome Disabled Applicants

As a disabled-people-led organisation, we are especially keen to hear from disabled people, including those with lived experience of navigating support systems or barriers in society.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. If you have lived experience of disability, we strongly encourage you to apply.

If you need adjustments during the application or interview process, just let us know — we're happy to support you.

We guarantee interviews for all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria outlined in the job description.