Senior Support Worker (enhanced)

Closing date: 29 May 2020 at 23:59

Aim of the role: To support and empower our customers to increase their life skills

Location: Stockwell

Salary:£26,780.00 per annum

Contract:Permanent

Hours: 37.5 per week.  Working on shift which is 5 days a week over a 7 day rota, including early mornings, evenings and weekends.

Benefits:

• As part of your employment package with us, we offer:
• a competitive salary, comprehensive training and development programme, 
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing each year to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays after 5 years  
• option to buy or sell annual leave up to one week’s annual leave
• a health cash plan providing cash back towards healthcare bills and other wellbeing benefits
• occupational sick pay
• contributory group pension scheme
• free life assurance
• cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans

About the Role

The service is an 87 bed supported housing service for young people aged 16-24 years with a range of complex needs, including experience of homelessness or rough sleeping, substance misuse, mental ill health and offending. The role will require you to work alongside our customers, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, to help identify their strengths and skills so they can achieve their goals and aspirations. Managing all aspects of service delivery including casework management and the daily running of busy hostels and promoting an inclusive and passionate culture.

About You

As well as having experience of supporting vulnerable people who are at risk of gang affiliation and offending to achieve independent living, you must have a clear understanding of why people become homeless, and the needs and challenges they face.

You will be required to take on a caseload of customers, with responsibility for key working, co-ordinating support packages and proactively ensuring all required tasks and activities are completed.

You will provide coaching and guidance to your colleagues to assist their professional development.

You will be part of a dedicated and supportive team, and so will need to demonstrate a positive and inclusive approach. You must be able to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, and be competent in the use of Microsoft Office Word and Excel applications.

About Evolve Housing + Support

Evolve is a leading homelessness charity in London, providing housing and support to over 2,000 people each year.

We believe in building on people’s strengths, aspirations and goals to help break the cycle of homelessness and help them move forward with their lives.

We offer a programme of support tailored to meet people’s individual needs, including housing, employment and skills training, mentoring and counselling. We work with young parents and children at risk of exclusion to build the skills and resilience that can help prevent homelessness. We campaign to end street homelessness. We build affordable homes to help people move on to an independent life.

Our mission is to help children, young people and adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness reach their potential, and move on to live happy, fulfilled lives.

Your application

Evolve Housing + Support is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including people who have experienced homelessness themselves.

Please ensure that your answers give a clear outline of how your application meets the criteria for this job.

Please note that Evolve Housing + Support will process your data in line with Data Protection Regulations and our Privacy Notice which is accessible through the Evolve’s website

Senior support worker

Role profile

Job title:

Senior Support Worker (Enhanced)

Department:

Operations

Reports to:

Team Manager

Location:

See advert

Hours:

37.5 hours comprising of shifts with a rolling rota.
 

Typical shift pattern (may be subject to some variation dependent on the needs of specific services):
 

5 days a week over 7 days rota (including weekends) between 7am and 10pm.Weekends

 

About Evolve

Evolve is a leading homelessness charity in London, providing housing and support to over 2,000 people each year.

We believe in building on people’s strengths, aspirations and goals to help break the cycle of homelessness and help them move forward with their lives.

We offer a programme of support tailored to meet people’s individual needs, including housing, employment and skills training, mentoring and counselling. We work with young parents and children at risk of exclusion to build the skills and resilience that can help prevent homelessness. We campaign to end street homelessness. We build affordable homes to help people move on to an independent life.

Our mission is to help children, young people and adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness reach their potential, and move on to live happy, fulfilled lives.

Job description

 Overall aim

You will support the people we work with, our customers, to reach their potential and improve their quality of life through aspirational goal setting.  You will engage with and empower them to:

• Identify their strengths as part of our asset-based approach and identify their needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities
• Plan what they want to achieve and take appropriate action
• Take part in activities and opportunities that generate aspiration and confidence

You will act as the link between the people we work with and a range of local authority, community and voluntary sector providers.

 As a Senior Support Worker, you will provide leadership to the team during shifts, and act as a coach and mentor to support workers and support assistants.
 

Act as lead for specific are of knowledge and skill, for example substance misuse, offending, mental health and gangs. This includes day to day support for your team and delivering training for small groups of staff in your area of additional expertise.
 

What to expect
Senior Support Workers will spend much of their time based at one service, however you will be expected to travel between sites for training and within the local community to support the people we work with.
 
We recognise that working with people who are disengaged and vulnerable can be very stressful.  On top of one to one meetings with your line manager, we offer access to an employee assistance programme and regular facilitated reflective practice sessions.
 
We provide training to enable you to do your work and build your capabilities.  We will set out a personal development plan with you to ensure you are supported to succeed in your role.
 
Support work is challenging, exciting and at times frustrating.  You will need to be prepared to cope with inevitable conflict and setbacks.  Results are usually long term rather than immediate, so patience and perseverance are essential. Your resilience and creativity will be assets in this role.
 
 
Key responsibilities
 
Supporting our customers

• Hold a caseload of customers and co-ordinate their support packages.
• Actively promoting customer involvement and co-production.
• Work with customers to identify their strengths and goals through our asset-based approach to support.
• Create management plans alongside customers by identifying and assessing risk to ensure they are able to stay safe.
• Establish supportive and professional relationships with customers and dealing effectively with unpredictable and challenging situations in a professional and sensitive manner.
• Support our customers to identify positive move on options and live more independent lives.
• Ensure our customers can thrive and achieve their potential.
• Liaise with external partners, including accessing appropriate statutory and voluntary services.
• Ensure fair access through interviewing and assessing the suitability of referrals, based on the criteria of the project.
• Encourage and support customers to raise complaints, comments and suggestions.
   

Additional responsibilities to support the management of the service

• To be a shift leader during a shift.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to Support Assistants and Support Workers to assist their professional development.

Housing Management

• Ensure all voids are advertised and lettings made promptly.
• Support customers to pay their rent, including providing advice on benefits and debt management.
• Be accessible and responsive to customers’ concerns and requests for information.
• Support and advise customers on any matters relating to their occupancy agreements.
• Deal with breaches of occupancy agreements sensitively and efficiently, in accordance with procedures
• Respond in a sensitive and proactive manner to customer and neighbour disputes.
• Respond proactively to maintenance issues.
• Remove items, clean and make rooms ready for new occupants, where required.
   

Health and Safety

• Ensure customers have up to date information on Health and Safety, and supporting them to manage their environment.
• Be fully aware of, and working within Health and Safety legislation.
• Carry out regular Health and Safety inspections, taking immediate action to remedy health and safety defects and alerting the appropriate people in line with Health and Safety Policies.

Administration

• Complete records on customer database (Salesforce) to deadlines.
• Keep timely and accurate records including customer files, monitoring information etc.
• Provide written reports and information as requested.
• Be aware of, and adhering to, all relevant financial procedures.
• Maintain personal records on the HR database.

General

• Ensure Evolve’s Equality and Diversity Policy and Code of Conduct are actively promoted and adhered to in all areas of work, and that services are accessible to all individuals.
• Work within the GDPR framework.
• Attend and fully participate in one to one meetings, annual reviews, team meetings and all training provided.
• Engage with colleagues and management to fully support the effectiveness of the team.
• Work across other locations, and attending training and meetings on other sites, as required.
   
  This job description provides an indication of the roles and responsibilities for the post of Support Worker, but should not be construed as an exclusive list of the duties that the post holder may be asked to undertake.
  All Evolve employees must also be aware of, and adhere to, all Evolve policies and procedures.
   
  Evolve reserves the right to amend this role profile as necessary, after consultation with the post holder, to reflect changes to the role.
   

Person Specification

Experience and qualifications

• Experience of supporting vulnerable people to achieve independent living
• Experience of providing professional guidance for colleagues

Knowledge

• An understanding of the reasons why people become homeless and the needs and challenges they face
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues and how they apply in day to day work
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to homeless people including an understanding of welfare benefits

 Skills and abilities

• Ability to take on a caseload with responsibility for key working customers in line with Evolve’s approach to support
• Ability to document clear records and to evidence outcomes achieved with customers
• Ability to work inclusively, as part of a team, and to give and receive support and constructive feedback and also to lone work when required
• Ability to manage time and multiple priorities effectively and take individual accountability for meeting deadlines
• A level of self-awareness in respect of personal resilience and a commitment to engaging in activities to support your own wellbeing
• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing, demonstrating a good standard of written and spoken English
• Competent in using Microsoft word, excel and inputting to database

Recruiting for 2 x Support Workers to join our Young Peoples Service in Tower Hamlets!

GBP 22,360 per annum, 40 hours per week, plus 25 days Annual Leave, Pension Scheme, staff discounts, healthcare and more.

Campbell Road Young Peoples Service provides support to over 55 young people in Tower Hamlets with accommodation across 6 sites, dependent on the support needs of the individual. They may have a number of challenging and complex needs including Substance Misuse, Mental Health, Domestic Abuse, Gang Affiliation, Female Genital Mutilation, Sexual Exploitation and Learning Disabilities. The service works alongside Statutory Agencies to provide a holistic support package for our customers.

Job Overview:

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.

Key Responsibilities:

- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers
- Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
- Supporting key customers to set personalised goals in the form of a Support Plan
- Conducting regular 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
- Providing support with daily living activities, including practical assistance where skills are not yet developed, to ensure that customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
- Proactive development of links with local statutory and voluntary organisations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community
- Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service
- Empowering customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to
- Encouraging and enabling tenants to pay their rent and ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively
- 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
- Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills
- Day to day instruction/ supervision of Assistant Support Workers/domestic staff/ Personal Support Assistants where appropriate
- Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/ Manager

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.

Person Specification:

- 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

Recruiting Support Workers to join our Young Peoples Service in Ealing!

£22,360 per annum, 40 hours per week plus 25 days Annual Leave, Pension schemes, Staff discounts, healthcare and more.

Minster House is a specialist semi-independent living (SIL) service for young people in and leaving care aged 16-21 providing a high level of support to customers with a variety of complex needs. The service supports six young people and the referrals can be from any local authority.

Job Overview:

The service is staffed 24/7 by a team of Support Workers and Night Support Workers. 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.

This role requires working on a 4 week rolling rota basis with combined shifts including early shifts 8.00am-16.00pm, late shifts 14:00pm-22:00pm and some weekend.

Key Responsibilities:

- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers
- Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
- Supporting key customers to set personalised goals in the form of a Support Plan
- Conducting regular 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
- Providing support with daily living activities, including practical assistance where skills are not yet developed, to ensure that customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
- Proactive development of links with local statutory and voluntary organisations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community
- Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service
- Empowering customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to
- Encouraging and enabling customers to pay their rent and ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively
- 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
- Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills
- Day to day instruction/ supervision of Assistant Support Workers/domestic staff/Bank Support Workers where appropriate
- Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/Manager

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.

Person Specification:

- 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

For more information or to apply please visit our website.