Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Homelessness service in Slough.

£24,856.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? 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.

As a Support Worker you will be expected to enable and support vulnerable individuals with complex needs to address this while maintaining their tenancy with the long term goal of living in an independent setting by providing flexible and individually tailored support package. Working with excluded and hard to reach customers can be challenging, however, with intensive support this challenge can be broken. You will need to be able to engage our customers in a non-judgmental way. You will also be responsible for dealing with emergencies that may arise during your shift whilst remaining calm and using initiative then writing up incident reports amongst other administrative tasks.

You will be responsible for supporting the working shift pattern of the service which is a five week rolling rota which consists of working some weekends as well as long days.

There will be a rota for shifts, with working patterns of 7:30-15:30 and 12:30-20:30. There will be some weekend work.

This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.

What you'll do:

* Work proactively with Slough Hostel team to handle the service caseload and support an effective team approach to meeting each customer's identified needs.
* Motivate the team and champion a positive local culture within the service.
* Contribute to a positive service environment, ensuring the service is supportive and a place of safety and stability for customers. This includes working flexibly and being proactively in delivering, reviewing and arranging effective support for emerging needs and risks in order to prevent escalating concerns.
* Deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. This may include practical tasks, such a facilitating group actives
* Support customers to undertake domestic tasks, including practical assistance to ensure a high quality living environment that promotes customers' dignity, respect and allows customers to feel safe and welcome in their own home.
* Participate in support planning, risk management and assessment of needs in line with support planning.
* Work with customers to promote social inclusion to promote independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices.

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, networks in local business community.
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.
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments with an ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

Has relevant sector work experience
NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent

Desirable:

Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications

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.

Please see our webiste for full job description.