Contract "Support Worker" Jobs
We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Bank Support Worker to join our homelessness service in Kent.
£13.15 per hour, working on a zero hour contract.
Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Bank Support Workers have the ability to accept any shifts available on an ad-hoc basis across from all of Look Ahead's specialisms including Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Homelessness and Young People. Bank Support Workers will provide support to customers to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs of the customers of the service. They will work with customers to promote social inclusion and alongside other members of the team to promote independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices. Within Learning Disability services, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional and social care. Within Mental Health and Homelessness services they will enable vulnerable people living in a variety of different tenures to manage their tenancies/ licences and move towards greater independence within the community by providing a flexible and individually tailored support package. While carrying out activities, Bank Support Workers should deal with all customers, visitors and staff in a professional and appropriate manner and report to Look Ahead staff and management any observations relating to customers' welfare.
This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.
What you'll do:
Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers
Conducting key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
Proactively manage risk and safety both in and outside of their physical living environment
Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
Undertake all administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive tenant/customer records to professional standards
Report any observations relating to customers welfare
Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local area to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community
Enable customers to make full use of community facilities by providing support as directed
For our full job description please see our website.
The above sets out the key responsibilities and typical tasks, however not all of these tasks will be relevant to all specialisms. You may also be required to undertake various other tasks and duties to ensure that our customers' needs are fully and effectively met. The list is not exhaustive.
About you:
Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
Approachable and open behaviour
Prefers working as part of a group or team
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
Flexible
Open to feedback and self development
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is essentially customer-focused
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours
What you'll bring:
Applicants may have some previous relevant work experience. This may be experience gained from care of a vulnerable person or work in similar organisations. Prior experience is not a pre-requisite for the role as key behaviours and core competencies will also be taken into account.
About us:
Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Bank Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities service in Hertfordshire. No personal care or experience is required, just the right values.
£11.95 per hour, Zero Hour Contract.
Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.
Bank Support Workers have the ability to accept any shifts available on an ad-hoc basis across from all of Look Ahead's specialisms including Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Homelessness and Young People. Bank Support Workers will provide support to customers to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs of the customers of the service. They will work with customers to promote social inclusion and alongside other members of the team to promote independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices. Within Learning Disability services, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional and social care. Within Mental Health and Homelessness services they will enable vulnerable people living in a variety of different tenures to manage their tenancies/ licences and move towards greater independence within the community by providing a flexible and individually tailored support package.
While carrying out activities, Bank Support Workers should deal with all customers, visitors and staff in a professional and appropriate manner and report to Look Ahead staff and management any observations relating to customers' welfare.
This role is only suitable for drivers.
This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.
What you'll do:
- Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers
- Conducting key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
- Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
- Proactively manage risk and safety both in and outside of their physical living environment
- Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
- Undertake all administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive tenant/customer records to professional standards
- Report any observations relating to customers welfare
- Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local area to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community
- Enable customers to make full use of community facilities by providing support as directed
- Carry out support duties to enable customers to integrate into the community including e.g. accompanying the customer to attend benefit agency appointments and meetings, go shopping, to enquire at colleges about possible courses, to visit various public amenities
- Empower customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to
- Engage in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills
- Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies are adhered to at all time and to uphold all health and safety responsibilities within relevant policies and local protocols
- Adhering to all other Look Ahead's policies and procedures
- Encourage and enable tenants to pay their rent and to ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively in conjunction with the Housing Management team
- Ensure that referrals are chased proactively so that properties which can be used to house those in need are filled as efficiently as possible
- If a need arises, deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. In some services, this will include delivering personal and physical care as appropriate
- Carry out security duties to ensure the safety of the customers and premises
- Monitor the CCTV throughout the shift
- Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as may be reasonably assigned
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
- Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
- Approachable and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
- Flexible
- Open to feedback and self development
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
- Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
- Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
- Is essentially customer-focused
- Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours
About us:
Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Purpose
This role is a job share with another Deputy Service Manager. Both Deputies will be responsible for equally sharing duties.
This role sits within our Adult Services department, across Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing, Hounslow and Spelthorne.
You will be working directly with the Service Manager and be responsible for assisting with the operational delivery and service development, of a portfolio of services. Namely:
- Safe Space Community
- Safe Space ED
- Hounslow Helpline
- Nova Roots (Forensic Community Hub)
- Spelthorne Prevention Hub
The Role Purpose
The role of the Deputy Service Manager will be to work closely alongside the Service Manager and assist with the operational delivery of a portfolio of services. You will be there to support the rest of the team in delivering interventions on a one-to-one and group basis. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing. The role will also include line management and supervision of Team Managers and supervision of Support Workers within the service. In addition, you will be responsible for deputising for the Service Manager in their absence. You will also be expected to provide on-call advice.
You can download a PDF of the job description for this role at the bottom of the page.
About Us
Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind are a specialist mental health provider and part of the Mind Federation. We provide support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
The lived experience of people with mental health problems is at the heart of everything we say and do.
We campaign to improve services and are committed to empowering local residents, promoting wellbeing and supporting recovery.
We work to transform understanding of mental health in the workplace, in schools and public services.
We do this by providing a range of services that are empowering, recovery focused and preventative.
Key Responsibilities
See job description for full list of responsibilities.
- Guiding the team, supporting the team managers in responding to referrals and planning each shift in terms of staffing, activities and case allocation
- Understanding of risk and risk management
- Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
- Understanding of safety planning and de-escalation
- Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
- Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
- Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
- Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
- Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
- Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
- Understanding CQC standards and NICE guidelines around mental health
- Create and maintain good working relationships with partner agencies
- Actively participate in training and development
- Provide guidance to support workers and volunteers
- Direct line management of team managers
- To work with service managers and assist with reporting and monitoring
Dimensions and limits of authority
- In the absence of the Service Manager be responsible and accountable for the delivery of high-quality services
- In the absence of the Service Manager act as a point of contact for stakeholders
- In the absence of the Service Manager be responsible for the overall management of the staff working in the service
Person Specification
See job description for full person specification
- Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
- Experience of line management within a mental health setting
- Experience of de-escalation
- Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
- Evidence of continual professional development
- Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
- Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
- Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
- Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
- Understanding of how to report and mitigate risks
- Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
- Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
- Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
- Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
- A good understanding of mental health conditions
- Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
- Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
- Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
- Ability to prioritise and manage workload
- Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
- Empathy and non-judgemental approach
- Good communication skills
- Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
- Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
- Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
- Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
- Understanding of different databases such as Views, Salesforce.
- Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and willingness to travel to locations would be desirable.
- Ability to work out of hours and on weekends
Closing Date
We reserve the right to change the closing date without notice depending on the number of responses received.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from everyone, applicants with lived experience, LGBTQ+, people with a disability, or who are BAME are actively encouraged to apply. We are proud to have also been awarded Disability Confident employer status and therefore we ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone.
We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
HFEH Mind are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Main Purpose of the Role:
To provide advocacy and support to survivors of sexual violence. The ISVA will support adults who have reported or are wishing to report this crime navigate the criminal justice system. The ISVA will work closely with the Police Service, Sexual Assault Referral Centre, CPS, and other relevant organisations.
ISVA Main Duties
· Provide advice, guidance and information to adults who have experienced rape and sexual abuse.
· Support service users that have been referred to Trust House Reading.
· Support clients in making informed choices about their future options.
· Explain relevant criminal, legal and civil remedies and housing options to clients as required.
· Assess the risk and support needs of clients.
· Develop individual support plans to address risks /support needs of clients.
· Ensure that clients are aware of the services to which they are entitled and advocate for them to help them access services.
· Understand the legal framework relating to the protection of children and vulnerable adults including the policy and procedures in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
· Support ISVA clients through the criminal justice system, explaining the procedures and their role and rights within that system, referring to Victim Support or the Witness Care Service as appropriate.
· Support the service user in making a witness statement and attending court.
· Keep the service user informed about case progress on behalf of the police in line with the requirements of the Service Code of Practice.
· Participate in case conferences with the police, CPS and prosecuting barrister.
· Assist clients accessing special measures.
· Liaise with the police, CPS and other service providers on behalf of the service user.
· Provide information and support in relation to Criminal Injuries Compensation.
· Help clients to develop their own support network.
· Refer on and arrange meetings with other agencies/services as necessary, for instance, sexual health services, mental health, drug and alcohol, counselling, housing etc.
· Actively and positively engage with other voluntary sector agencies, including sexual violence specialist agencies e.g. domestic violence service outreach, IDVA and refuge providers.
· Manage a caseload of approximately 14 active cases.
· Maintain and update records of all cases including initial referral, risk assessment, subsequent risk assessment, care and safety plans, and action taken.
· To understand and assess other support needs of clients, for example translation or interpretation needs and be fully aware of available resources.
· Where an assault is related to domestic violence and the client is assessed as high risk, refer on to Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) following locally agreed protocols (including working proactively with the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Service), attend and participate in meetings and follow-up on actions agreed in MARAC.
· Contribute to the development of policies, protocols, guidelines, strategies within practice area if necessary.
· Collate areas of service gap and service inadequacy to feed back to the commissioner and the relevant strategic groups.
· Note and feed back to the commissioner and the relevant strategic groups or other appropriate body any consistent difficulties clients are having accessing services.
ISVA Person Specification
Essential:
· Educated to A-level standard.
· Experience of working with vulnerable clients.
· Knowledge of the impact of rape/sexual violence and sexual abuse on service.
· Knowledge of the criminal justice system for survivors of rape and sexual abuse.
· Understanding of the principles of risk assessment and safety planning.
· Pro-active.
· Empathic, with a non-judgmental approach.
· A good listener.
· Strong crisis management skills.
· Understanding of the process of seeking help and barriers to seeking help.
· Good written and verbal communication skills.
· Ability to work on own without close supervision.
· Ability to manage caseload and work priorities.
· Ability to share sensitive information, adhering to protocols.
· Understanding of child protection and safeguarding issues and legal responsibilities.
· Willingness to undertake regular training.
· Willingness and ability to work with clients of all genders.
· Commitment to continued professional development.
· Knowledge of and commitment to diversity issues.
· Ability to work safely and within boundaries.
· Completed accredited ISVA training course (or equivalent) or willingness to complete the training.
· Willingness and ability to travel across the Thames Valley when necessary.
· Computer literate: word-processing, emailing, data collection/spreadsheets.
· Ability and willingness to work in partnership and as part of a team.
Desirable:
· Professional qualification in social work or related field.
· Current full driving license and own vehicle.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.