Healthcare Assistant needed in Horsham | Leaf Complex Care

At Leaf Complex Care, part of the Catalyst Care Group, we are committed to providing expert complex care that transforms lives. We stand on the pillars of Compassion, Impact, and Community, values that guide our actions and our approach to compassionate care. We are seeking professionals who are passionate about making a significant difference in the lives of others while embodying these core values.

We are seeking dedicated, patient, and energetic healthcare assistants to support a young lady as she transitions from a hospital setting into her new home. This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to be part of building a brand-new team around her, supporting her to feel safe, understood, and excited about this next chapter in her life.

She is a non-verbal young lady who communicates fluently using Makaton. She is currently a wheelchair user. She has a playful and spirited sense of humour, and is caring, funny, adventurous, and kind, with a truly big heart.

This role is about more than support, it’s about building trust, creating stability, and helping her thrive in her new environment.

About the Role

You will initially support her within a hospital setting, working alongside professionals to ensure a smooth and safe transition into her own home, while helping establish a consistent and supportive team around her.

She loves to be active, outdoors, and engaged, so this role requires someone who can match her energy and enthusiasm for life. She also loves dancing and listening to music.

Her favourite activities include:

-Water play
-Soft play
-Trips to the park
-Cinema outings
-Trampolining
-Playing football
-Shopping
-Messy play
-Story time (bonus points for character voices!)

She is also working towards returning to activities such as cinema trips, trampolining, and playing football, and will need support to gradually build back up to these.
In her downtime, she enjoys watching:
Peppa Pig, Thomas the Tank Engine, Spiderman, and Teletubbies, so being able to engage with her in these moments is just as important.

Working Patterns

Based on package needs – likely a mix of shifts including days and community support.

Responsibilities:
-Support a safe and positive transition from hospital to the community
-Use Makaton, visual aids, and PECS to communicate effectively
-Build trusting relationships through consistency and understanding
-Support daily routines and promote independence
-Facilitate meaningful activities aligned with her interests
-Encourage community access and engagement
-Work collaboratively with family and multidisciplinary teams
-Maintain accurate records and follow care plans

Qualifications & Experience:
-Experience supporting individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism
-Experience supporting individuals with trauma-informed approaches is highly desirable
-Prior knowledge or experience using Makaton, PECS, or other visual communication tools is highly desirable
-Minimum of 6 months of experience in similar healthcare settings
-Driving is essential for this role due to the location of the home and limited transport links. Access to a vehicle will be required to support community activities

However, if you have the right attitude, passion, and willingness to learn — we would still love to hear from you.

Candidate Traits & Competencies

We are looking for someone who is:

-Patient, kind, and emotionally intelligent
-Calm and confident in challenging situations
-Energetic and proactive in their approach
-Fun, engaging, and able to build rapport
-Reliable with strong timekeeping
-Open to learning new communication methods
-Trustworthy and consistent
-Passionate about making a real difference

In the words of the young lady:
“If you give me time and help me feel safe in the world, I’m a cheeky monkey!”

If you think this sounds like the role for you then get in touch.

What We Offer:
-Financial & Practical Support
-Mileage allowance
-Refer-a-friend bonus – incentives for introducing new workers to the company (recently rolled out)
-Tax relief – the ability to claim through the government for work-related clothing and tools (e.g., uniforms, mileage, and equipment)

Development & Support:
-On-shift support and guidance through the on-call system
-Regular supervisions
-Specialist training opportunities such as safeguarding, medication management, and more
-All mandatory training is free

Work-Life Balance and Community:
-Flexible working hours – option to choose shifts based on availability
-Recognition programmes – celebrating and rewarding outstanding contributions
-Social events – opportunities to connect and build team spirit
-1st DBS is free

We do not provide visa sponsorship; applicants must have the right to work in the UK.