Working at Hft
We’ve been providing person-centred support for learning disabled adults since the early 1960s. Our commitment goes beyond being a high-quality support provider. We work in partnership with the people we support, their families and carers, and health professionals to develop effective services that will help people live the life they choose.
Our colleagues are central to this. No matter who you are, you will be welcomed as part of the Hft team. We hope you’ll consider yourself a partner too, and we’ll work hard to make sure you’re treated fairly and with respect throughout your career with us. The value we place on our colleagues is reflected in the Investors in People Gold accreditation we hold. This is an internationally recognised sign of a great employer and an outstanding place to work.
How good are Hft’s services?
We take safeguarding seriously. Hft is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide personal care and accommodation for persons who require personal care. At time of writing (February 2025) over 80% of Hft’s registered services have been rated as ‘good’ or better.
What training and development opportunities will I have?
You’ll get full training when you start working with us. You’ll also have access to more training and support as you need it. This will help you to offer the best support you can for the people we care for, in line with our standards.
We also offer training for people looking to grow in their careers.
How much collaboration and communication can I expect from management?
In 2013, managers and employees at Hft launched the Partnership Forum. This gave us a place to work together towards shared goals that benefit Hft.
Our colleagues vote-in Partnership Forum Representatives who meet regularly with senior managers. They act as the ‘voice’ of the teams they represent, providing views on upcoming plans and consulting on potential changes.
Since 2013, our Partnership Forum has gone from strength to strength. Our Partnership Forum now has an essential role in the decision–making process at Hft. It’s trusted by colleagues and respected by senior management.
Can I support people with a certain kind of learning disability?
While some of our services do focus on supporting people with particular learning disabilities, most support many different people with different learning disabilities, so this wouldn’t be practical.
Can I work for Hft if I’m under 18?
We have some roles and apprenticeship opportunities that you can apply for if you are under 18. Generally, these have some restrictions to hours of work and tasks. For example, in support worker roles, you would only be able to work in a day service or residential care setting where lone working and personal care are not part of the regular duties. If you see a job you’re interested in, why not give the contact a quick call to check if it would be suitable for you?
Diversity, Equal Opportunities and Inclusion
We’re committed to promoting diversity. We welcome applications from all areas of the community and value what everyone contributes. We treat people equally and without discrimination of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, beliefs, culture, chosen lifestyle, disability, or for any other reason.
This approach applies to the people we support, their families, Hft colleagues, and others we have contact with. We recognise that sharing different perspectives, ideas and approaches leads to better decisions and a stronger, more representative organisation.
Here are our five aims for promoting equality and diversity in our workplace: –
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We will actively develop services that reflect and meet the diverse needs of society.
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We are committed to promoting equality and social inclusion throughout Hft. This is consistent with our vision, mission and values, and with our strategic plan, as endorsed by the Trustees.
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We will further develop our networks and partnerships to achieve this.
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We will extend and adapt the way we work to enable greater access by members of ethnic minority communities.
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We will direct our approaches to the recruitment and management of staff to reflect the communities in which we deliver services.
By being inclusive, we can create an environment in which a diverse range of people can enjoy working together.
Download a copy of our Diversity and Equality policy
This approach is also reflected in our commitment to the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We are willing to go the extra mile to make sure disabled people get a fair chance at joining our team.
Support workers come from all walks of life
Our brilliant support workers enter their roles through different routes. Some come straight into support work after finishing education. Some have had several different careers before joining Hft.
Whether you were previously a plumber, nurse or accountant, there’s no set route to support work and no specific experience that you need. All we look for is a passion for supporting learning disabled adults to live with more independence and choice.
Find out more about some of our support worker’s career paths…
- From prison services to support work “I can’t think of a bad part of being a support worker. Doing this job opens my eyes every day.”
- From management to support work “It wasn’t hard to leave my previous career behind – support work is a different world.”
- From sales to support work “If you’re stuck doing a job you feel isn’t rewarding, try support work!”
- An unlikely but rewarding career path for young musician “I really love this job and getting to change people’s lives on daily basis is so incredibly rewarding.”
Questions?
For general queries, contact us at jobs@hft.org.uk.
For queries about head office and senior management positions, please contact Holly James holly.james@hft.org.uk.
For queries about agencies providing temporary or permanent recruitment support to Hft from recruitment agencies, please contact Vanessa Mitchell vanessa.mitchell@hft.org.uk.
For all other positions, you can contact your local coordinator with any questions about job vacancies, staff benefits, or working at Hft:
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North – Abbey Lomax abbey.lomax@hft.org.uk. Abbey covers our Bradford, Cheshire and Merseyside, Flintshire, Lancashire, Leeds, Newcastle, and Sheffield and Derbyshire regions.
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East – Lauren Taylor lauren.taylor@hft.org.uk. Lauren covers our North and South Kent, North Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Berkshire, Surrey and Sussex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Herts and Essex, Leicestershire, and London regions.
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West – Abbey Lomax abbey.lomax@hft.org.uk. Abbey covers our Bristol and Bath, Cornwall, Devon, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire regions.