• Dementia Link Support Worker

Annual Salary:                   £25,585 (pro rata)
Hours:                                  14.48 hours (2 days) per week
Holidays:                             25 days per annum (rising to 30), plus 8 bank holidays
Term:                                   Permanent subject to funding (initially 24 months fixed term)
Location:                             Zest
Closing Date:                     Midnight, Monday, 5th January 2026

About the Role:
We are seeking a compassionate and motivated Dementia Link Support Worker to join our team at Zest. You will provide person-centred support to individuals living with dementia and their families, helping them access health, social care, housing, and community services.

Essential Criteria:

  • Knowledge of dementia and its impact
  • Experience supporting people with dementia or mental health issues
  • Strong communication and organisational skills
  • Commitment to equality, diversity, and person-centred care

Desirable:

  • Full UK driving licence and access to transport

Job Description and Person Specification

In summary, the postholder will:

  • Require flexibility in their approach, with person-centred responses to individual-specific needs.
  • Hold a caseload offering one-to-one support, advice, guidance and coping strategies to instil hope and confidence.
  • Complete an initial assessment to build trust and ascertain individual needs and wishes.
  • Engage with the person living with dementia and the whole family, to offer a wraparound service.
  • Provide encouragement and motivation with regular check-ins for both client and carer, including a 6-month wellbeing call.
  • Support to access and navigate a range of supporting activities of interest and available in the community, such as dementia cafés, including organising transport to enable regular participation.
  • Engage families in seeking support from Carer support organisations.
  • Observe and identify risks in the home environment that may need support to prevent a hospital admission, e.g. conducting a falls risk assessment.
  • Offer personalised practical advice around common causes of avoidable hospital admissions – giving literature or guidance on falls, dehydration and winter vaccines, for example.
  • Assist with the completion of the social risk assessment tool to identify social risks.
  • Support the use and completion of an emergency plan.
  • Support to encourage engagement with own GP practice.
  • Attend Dementia Partnership Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting(s) each month, to discuss referrals/risks, etc.
  • Have a coordinated approach with other partnership services with the best interest of the patient at the forefront – maximising existing relationships.
  • Develop close working relationships with community partners, Sheffield Dementia Advice Service (DAS), Sheffield Specialist Dementia Action Alliance (SDAA), Enrichment for the Elderly (E4E), PKW Community Partnerships, and Primary Care Networks (PCN).
  • Keep accurate records of support offered/implemented.

Please click the link to view the full Job Description and Person Specification and further details about the role.

Guidance Notes

Before you begin, please refer to Zest’s Job Application, Interview and Onboarding Guidance to support you through the process.

How to apply for this role

Ready to apply? Download and complete our Job Application Form, You can type directly into the form and save your progress.

To submit your application, our preference is that you email your application to hr@zestcommunity.co.uk by Monday, 5th January 2026 – midnight.

Alternatively, you may post or hand-deliver a copy to:
Zest, 18 Upperthorpe, Sheffield, S6 3NA.

Please note: only applications received by the closing date and time will be considered.

Make sure all sections of the form are completed accurately.  If you require the form in an alternative format, please contact our HR team.

Important: Please note, CV’s will not be accepted for this application.

Interviews

For shortlisted candidates, interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th, or Friday 16th January.

Informal Enquiries

If you have any questions about the role, feel free to contact Sean Markham on 0114 270 2041 or email hr@zestcommunity.co.uk

Why Join Us?

At Zest, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and our mission is for our workforce to reflect the communities we serve across the city.  We strive to create a supportive environment where everyone can thrive and are dedicated to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups, including Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled, LGBTQ+ individuals, and members of the Armed Forces community. Join us and be part of a team making a real impact in the community!

Disability Confident Employer & Guaranteed Interviews

Zest is a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions are not disadvantaged through our recruitment process. 

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. You must tick the relevant box on page 3 of our application form to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme.

Our Commitment to Inclusive Recruitment

We are an inclusive employer, committed to recruitment practices that are fair, accessible, and welcoming. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. Our inclusive approach includes: 

    • Speakers of other languages – Skills in languages such as Arabic and Somali are especially valuable in serving our local community. 
    • Disabled applicants – We guarantee interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. We are working towards Level 2 Disability Confident status. 
    • Neurodivergent applicants – We recognise traditional interview methods may not reflect everyone’s strengths. We guarantee interviews to neurodivergent applicants meeting the essential criteria.
    • Deaf and hard of hearing applicants – We offer communication support and adjustments during the recruitment process. 
    • LGBTQ+ gender-diverse applicants – We foster an inclusive environment and support individuals of all gender identities. 
    • Armed Forces community – We support the Armed Forces Covenant and guarantee interviews to eligible applicants who meet the criteria. 

This above list is not exhaustive — we welcome all forms of diversity and are happy to make adjustments to support you throughout the application process. 

Benefits of Working for Zest

  • Company pension scheme 
  • Real Living Wage Foundation employer 
  • Disability Confident Employer
  • Paid sick leave (subject to terms and conditions) 
  • Flexible working
  • Westfield Health scheme (paid for by the company, pro rata)
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Employee recognition and rewards
  • Generous annual leave entitlement
  • Accessible and approachable leadership team
  • Supported workplace: mental wellbeing-trained staff, buddies, and programmes
  • Peer support
  • Opportunities to progress within the company
  • Ongoing learning for personal and professional development