Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Young People's service in Ealing.

£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Oaklands & St Kilda's is made up of two newly refurbished six-bedroom homes, located close to each other in Ealing, West London. We work with up to 12 young people at a time, providing a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. Many of the young people joining us are moving on from hospital, stepping down from more intensive placements, or transitioning from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to Adult services.

Our team delivers 24-hour trauma-informed and psychologically informed support. You'll play a key role in helping each young person shape their own support and service experience. Everyone receives a bespoke welcome pack and is encouraged to personalise their living space, helping them feel at home from day one.

We place a strong emphasis on participation and co-production. Young people are encouraged to make decisions about their care, engage in partnership meetings, and take part in activities that build skills and confidence - whether that's cooking, budgeting, managing medication, or accessing education and work opportunities.

As a Support Worker, you'll provide direct, day-to-day support to young people, helping them develop essential life skills, manage their mental health, and build independence. You'll assist with practical tasks such as meal preparation, budgeting, attending appointments, and maintaining a healthy routine. You will encourage participation in social, vocational and community activities, and help young people feel comfortable and confident in their environment.

* Build supportive, trusting relationships with young people and help create a positive, welcoming atmosphere.
* Work proactively with other members of the team to manage the service caseload and carry out necessary administrative tasks.
* Conduct keywork sessions as required, using creative and engaging approaches to help young people achieve their Support Plan goals.
* Work collaboratively with young people to assess and manage risks, supporting positive risk-taking and shared decision-making.
* Provide practical support with daily living activities, such as budgeting, cooking, shopping, and helping to establish healthy routines.
* Support young people to maintain a safe and healthy living environment, including assistance with cleaning and personal hygiene where needed.
* Assist in the recording and reporting of incidents, ensuring accurate and timely documentation.
* Manage referrals, complete assessments, and ensure all relevant paperwork is up to date.
* Develop effective working relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes.
* Adhere to lone working protocols and maintain high awareness of health and safety for yourself and colleagues.
* Involve young people in shaping the design, development, and delivery of the service.
* Encourage and support young people to pay rent and manage their finances responsibly.

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:

* Ability to advocate for young people in a variety of professional and community settings.

* Values working collaboratively with young people to ensure the service truly meets their needs.

* Understands the impact of individual context, including experiences of trauma and adversity, on young people's lives and mental health.

* Culturally aware and respectful of the different ways people make sense of their experiences and distress.

* We welcome applications from people with lived experience of the challenges this service supports, such as mental health difficulties or experiences of trauma.

* Encourages and supports young people's involvement in local activities and community life.

* Approachable, open, and friendly in behaviour, helping to create a safe and welcoming environment.

* Recognises the importance of both one-to-one work and working as part of a group or team.

* Confident in completing regular paperwork and maintaining good organisation.

* Flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances in a dynamic, diverse environment.

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

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.

Please see our website for the full job description.