Support Worker

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

£27,134.47 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.

To enable vulnerable people living in a variety of different tenures/property types to manage their tenancies/ licences and move towards greater independence within the community by providing a flexible and individually tailored support package.

This role will consist of four 10 hour shifts, 9 am to 7 pm.

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

What you'll do:

- Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Manager.
- Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions.
- Create support/action plans for providing appropriate services based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available.
- 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.
- Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local community.
- Empower customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to.
- Undertake all administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive tenant/customer records to professional standards.
- Encourage and enable tenants to pay their rent and service charges.
- Ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively in conjunction with the Housing Management team with the Landlord and in the local authority.
- Ensure that referrals are chased proactively so that properties which can be used to house those in need, are filled as efficiently as possible.
- Adhere to Look Ahead's Policies and Procedures.
- Engage in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills.
- 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.
- Enjoys working as part of a group or team but able to work alone and unsupervised.
- 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:

Essential:

- Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector

Desirable:

- Experience working in homelessness.

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.