We are seeking a driven and dedicated Lead Community Advice Worker to join our community advocacy and advice service centred on the community that gathers in Gillett Square in Dalston, Hackney. This is an opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of people facing complex challenges, including poverty, homelessness, poor mental and physical health, disability, and racism and discrimination.
About Side by Side
Our Side by Side service has developed through several years of outreach on Gillett Square in Dalston. Recognising that many in the community that gathers there face severe disadvantages on multiple levels yet rarely seek support, we set about getting to know people, listening to their stories, and slowly building trust whilst offering practical help, advice and support. Now, our community advice workers are considered part of the community themselves and without hesitation, people refer themselves and their friends, neighbours and families to us for support.
The Role
As our Lead Community Advice Worker, you will provide holistic advice, advocacy, and practical support to people connected to the marginalised and excluded Gillett Square community in Dalston. You will help them access essential services, navigate welfare benefits and housing issues, and challenge decisions they believe are unjust. You will also provide guidance and supervision to one Community Advice Worker. This role involves occasional outreach in Gillett Square and through home visits.
The role is offered on a part-time, 4 day week basis (0.8 FTE) with a salary of £36,050 pro rata per annum.
We are looking for someone with:
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Experience in supporting people with complex lives who face multiple disadvantages and social exclusion.
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A proven ability to build trust and positive relationships with individuals who may be distrustful of services.
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A strong understanding of social justice and a commitment to working side by side with people in a way that empowers them to claim their rights.
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Knowledge of welfare rights and housing regulations.
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Excellent communication and advocacy skills.
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An understanding of the effects of racial discrimination and the ability to work effectively with diverse communities.
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Leadership skills and the ability to drive the service forward with service users’ needs at the forefront.
If you are passionate about social justice and meet the requirements, we encourage you to apply or get in touch to arrange an informal chat about the role.
Registered Charity 
6 - 10
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
We're looking for 2 kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Workers to join our Mental Health service in Tower Hamlets.
£29,500.18 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
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.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS (take this out if BSW advert)
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
Specialist Support Workers help to enable vulnerable customers living at the scheme to manage their tenancies, mental/ physical health and wellbeing and assist them to move to social housing within the community. It is a step-down service with a short licence tenancy up to 28 days.
The shift pattern for this role consist of: early shift 9am to 5pm and late shift 12pm to 8pm. Weekends and bank holidays 9am to 5pm
The contract for this role is expected to end: 31st March 2026
What you'll do:
* Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Manager
* Conducting regular flat checks and medication spot checks.
* Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions
* Create support plans / risk assessment plans for providing appropriate services based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available
* Support customers to access local activities and services to maintain and improve health and well-being, avoid hospital admission, support to access and maximise welfare benefits
* Support customers to undertake activity of daily living (ADL), including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation and maintain their home.
* Link customers immediately with Green House to secure appropriate accommodation. Maintain regular contact with Green House.
* Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local community in Hackney
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:
Relationship-building
- Empathy and respect for all individuals, with the ability to build relationships and understand people's motive and perspectives.
Motivation
- Committed to making a positive impact for individuals.
Adaptability
- Resilience and flexibility in changing circumstances, with the ability to work under pressure and deal with uncertain or unexpected outcomes
Communication
- The ability to collaborate with and influence a wide range of people in person and through written communication
Problem solving
- The ability to objectively analyse situations, using information and clear judgement to generate effective response
What you'll bring:
Essential:
? Worked in a customer care setting with transferrable skills.
Desirable:
? Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent.
? Past or present experience in providing support to people with mental health, Learning Disability, Substance misuse and Autism
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.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
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 website for full Job description