Client Support Worker

The Client Support Worker targets those who need the Foodbank on a repeated basis and offers a package of support to address the complex and often overwhelming challenges and crisis situations they are facing.  You will work with clients to give time, advice, advocacy and emotional support as well as providing personalised support.  This could include assisting them to access help with finances, debt, social isolation and other issues and connect them with other local projects which may be relevant.   You will also work closely with the referral agencies who issue Foodbank vouchers.

Principal Duties and responsibilities to include:

•  Client Engagement: Sit down with visitors and engage in conversation with them.  Offer a listening ear and signpost clients, as required, to further support using your knowledge of the local environment. 

• Client Support:  Develop individual plans for clients to assist them through next steps.  Act as an advocate where appropriate, assisting with phone calls, form filling and appointments.  Accompany clients to other projects as required.

•  Administration: Understand and complete the administrative processes for referrals and applying for various grants

• Signposting: Proactively explore the local support offering, build relationships and add useful resources to the signposting folder and disseminate to the centre teams regularly

• Centre Culture:  Work alongside the Centre Coordinators and volunteers to make foodbank visitors feel welcome

• Volunteer Support: Support volunteers in centres to increase their skills and knowledge

 Key attributes and skills

• Positive and proactive: being proactive and outgoing, resourceful and imaginative, encouraging and resilient, with a strong positive attitude.

• Community experience: previous experience of casework and working with people with challenging situations.  An understanding of safeguarding.

• Empathetic and caring: able to listen to and connect with a range of clients and deal with everyone with kindness, care and tact; meeting people where they are.  The ability to work within professional boundaries.

• Passion and commitment: a genuine passion for BBF’s mission and for working hard to help the people we serve in a caring and practical way.

• Relationship management: ability to develop effective relationships with clients and local organisations and comfortable building networks.

• Interpersonal skills and team working: excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team.  Able to deescalate challenging situations in a calm manner.

• IT skills: comfortable using and assisting clients with a range of technology – online applications, emails, attachments.

• Support for our Christian ethos and values: either being a practising Christian or demonstrating a strong willingness to support, and act in accordance with, BBF’s Christian ethos and values.

About Us 

Bromley Borough Foodbank (the “Foodbank”, “BBF” or “we”) was founded in 2011 by Christian churches as a foodbank serving those in need in the London Borough of Bromley. We are a member of the Trussell Trust network of over 400 UK foodbanks.

We remain proud of our Christian identity and ethos, but over the years we have grown into a community-based foodbank. We bring together individuals, schools, workplaces and other groups from all faiths and none to help people in our community facing financial hardship to get back on their feet. We also play our part in efforts to end the need for foodbanks in the UK.