Working at National Star is about supporting young people to live their best lives, according to Kerry Hatcher, the new Manager at Ledbury Road, Hereford, the long-term residential accommodation run by the national disability charity.

Unlike providing support to older people living in care homes, support workers at National Star are very rarely stuck indoors for days at a time. Instead, they are out and about in the local community helping young adults with disabilities get active, learn something new or have fun with their friends.

“Never a day goes by when we are not out in the community, the young people we support love getting out and about,” said Kerry.

Hereford Times: Arts and crafts fun at Ledbury RoadArts and crafts fun at Ledbury Road

All the residents at Ledbury Road have big personalities and even bigger ambitions to make the most of their lives. They never let their disability get in the way of what they want to do. Like other young people in their early twenties, they enjoy listening to music and dancing, swimming, theatre trips and country walks. The residents have a range of learning disabilities and, despite their different needs, get on like a house on fire.

Recently the Ledbury Road staff team took part in the Wye Float Festival with residents cheering them on and unfurling a banner of support as they went under a bridge. The young people are regular visitors to Gloucester Wheels for all accessible cycling and riding for the disabled. Everyone loves getting creative in the kitchen, helping out with Sunday lunch or baking the odd cake or two.

A new resident is moving into Ledbury Road this autumn to join the existing six residents and so National Star is looking to recruit more support workers to the team. Our current staff team is a mixture of part-time and full-time workers, bringing a broad range of skills and experience. A former fishmonger, shop assistant and hospitality worker have turned their backs on their previous careers to join the team, preferring the rewarding aspects of working with young people with disabilities. Other staff have left roles in elderly care to work in National Star’s more dynamic and varied environment.

Hereford Times: Fun at Perrygrove RailwayFun at Perrygrove Railway

As you would expect from a national charity of its size, there are plenty of training and career progression opportunities on offer for staff at National Star. In fact Kerry herself has progressed through the ranks at National Star, first joining the organisation as a care and support worker.

Having walked in the shoes of members of her team, Kerry is conscious of ensuring that staff are well-supported, that she prioritises the team’s support and development needs and that, wherever possible and that rotas are set well in advance so that people can maintain their work & life balance.

Employing more than 1,000 people across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Wales, National Star has a range of staff benefits. From a contributory pension, health cashback scheme and competitive salary (with enhanced rates for working weekends), through to more unusual staff perks like heavily discounted Glamping holidays and long-service awards, staff are valued at National Star.

Want to discover more about what it would be like to work at National Star in Hereford? The charity is staging two drop-in recruitment events at 1, Ledbury Road, Hereford on Thursday 16 September, between 4pm – 8pm and again on Saturday 25 September, between 10am – 2pm.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet members of the current team and find out more about specific roles. Can’t wait that long? Visit nationalstar.org/jobs to browse current vacancies.