Job Description

About Us:

NOW Group is an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to transforming lives by supporting people with learning difficulties, autism, and neurodiverse conditions into meaningful employment and brighter futures. Our focus is on outcomes and impact for individuals, families, and disadvantaged communities.


Through our Community Opportunities Service, we empower participants to build independent living and social skills, ensuring they have the tools to live as valued citizens. Join our dynamic team to be part of this transformative work!

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About the Role:

As Community Support staff with the Community Team you will provide direct support to participants on the NOW Community Opportunities Service by delivering a programme of daily activities to increase independent living and social skills. The post holder will ensure a variety of opportunities and will work closely with other departments including Employment and Training Services.

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Key Responsibilities:

1. Provide person-centered support to participants on the Community Opportunities Service.


2. Support participants within classroom and outdoor venues.


3. Encourage individuals to engage in opportunities and build independence skills.


4. Promote Volunteer opportunities for group members.


5. Build on existing external networks/relations and develop new ones to increase range of activities and networks available to participants.


6. Route train participants to increase independence skills.


7. Comply fully with NOW Group's 'Organisational Approach to Safeguarding.

About The Role

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What We Offer:

Flexible, bank-based work to fit your schedule. A supportive and inclusive team environment. Opportunities to make a meaningful difference in participants' lives.
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Our Values:

At NOW Group, we live by our values, creating a positive and inclusive culture. Candidates are expected to align with our values and behaviors, demonstrating them in their daily work and relationships with participants, colleagues, and stakeholders.

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Additional Information:

Successful candidates will undergo an Enhanced AccessNI disclosure check. We are committed to fair recruitment practices and provide policies on safeguarding, recruitment of ex-offenders, and secure handling of information upon request.

Required Criteria

1. A full current driving license and access to a car. Consideration will be given to alternative travelling proposals in respect of applicants with a disability who cannot hold a license. 2. Ability to be flexible and adaptable - hours are flexible and may involve evening and weekend work as required. 3. GCSE grade C in English Language (or equivalent) 4. At least one years experience of supporting people with learning disabilities within a group environment. 5. Experience of engaging with volunteers. 6. Ability to demonstrate administrative skills with good record keeping. 7. IT skills including Word, Excel, Outlook and Social Media use. 8. Understanding of the barriers faced by people with learning disabilities.

Desired Criteria

1. Community or Youth Qualification (Level 3 or equivalent)

Skills Needed

About The Company

At the heart of the NOW Group's mission is its commitment to empowering individuals to gain skills and access meaningful employment. It achieves this through tailored employment academies, which provide participants with industry-specific training and work placements, and through their social enterprise businesses Loaf Catering and Cafes and Loaf Pottery.


One of the best-known contributions from the NOW Group is the JAM ("Just A Minute") Card

- a tool that allows people with invisible disabilities to discreetly ask for patience in everyday interactions. It's a very successful initiative with over 182,500 users and 3, 000 global organisations regarded as being JAM Card Friendly.


The NOW Group's impact is driven by innovation, dedication, and an unwavering focus on changing lives for the better.

Company Culture

At NOW Group, our culture is what sets us apart. It's built on collaboration, compassion, and a shared belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. Across our integrated team -- from Training and Employment to Family Service, JAM Card, Loaf Cafes, Catering and Pottery, Social Groups, and vital support services like HR, Communications, Finance and Compliance -- we are united by one purpose: to support people with learning difficulties, neurodiverse conditions, ADHD and autism into sustainable employment.


We don't just work side by side -- we work together. Each department brings its own strengths, but our true power lies in our ability to collaborate across teams. Our participants come from all walks of life, and it's our culture of teamwork, flexibility, and deep empathy that allows us to meet their varied needs with real impact.


In 2024/2025 alone, our culture of care and commitment helped place nearly 400 people into meaningful, sustainable employment across Ireland and supported 2,168 individuals to achieve 1,824 qualifications. These aren't just statistics -- each number represents a life transformed, a family supported, and a community benefitted.


What truly defines our team is heart. We care deeply -- not just about the work, but about the people behind it. Our team members show up every day with passion and purpose, knowing that their efforts are making a lasting difference. They don't see targets -- they see individuals, and the ripple effect that a single opportunity can have.

Company Benefits

Benefits at NOW Group

NOW Group is dedicated to the wellbeing and growth of our employees, offering a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both personal and professional needs. We provide

25 days of annual leave plus 12 statutory days

(pro-rata), allowing ample time for rest and rejuvenation.


We prioritize health and wellness through a

Health Cash Plan

, which becomes available upon successful completion of the probationary period, and

confidential staff counseling and financial advisory services

, ensuring support for your physical, mental, and financial health.


To help plan for the future, we offer a

Stakeholder Pension Scheme

with a generous

5% employer contribution

. Employees can also take advantage of our

Bike to Work scheme

and

holiday purchase options

, promoting flexibility and convenience.


Our

flexible working initiatives

, including a

hybrid working model

, and various

wellbeing programs

, reflect our commitment to fostering a positive and adaptable work environment for all team members.


Vacation, Paid time off, Gym membership or wellness programs, Cycle to work, Competitive salary, Long service recognition, Hybrid Working, On the job learning, Progression opportunities

Salary

12.21 per hour