Community Support Worker

34 hours a week. Working 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 2pm Friday.

£20,291 progressing to £22,546

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role where you are able to empower people every day to develop their skills and move towards independence? Do you enjoy working in an environment where every day is different to the next? Then this could be the role for you.

You will be working as part of a team to provide community support to our homeless clients. You will love helping others and enjoy supporting individuals to achieve their goals and to become more independent. Your positive attitude towards your work and others will help to contribute to a great working environment. You will have a calm and personable manner and be able to handle potentially difficult situations.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• You will have your own caseload of clients to manage within the community and will work with them on a one to one basis.
• You will identify their needs by listening to them and put together a client needs assessment and manage risks.
• You will mediate and or negotiate with existing housing providers to ideally prevent homelessness
• You will help and support individuals by providing advice on housing, welfare benefits, rent deposits and household goods via a variety of schemes.
• You will help clients with the practicalities of moving to new accommodation such as contacting energy suppliers
• Help individuals develop practical skills further in areas such as budgeting, shopping, cooking housework, laundry, health and hygiene
• Carry out drop in surgeries at designated locations.
• Liaise with colleges, training agencies, employers to help people to gain access to education, find work or maintain their benefit entitlement
• Any other reasonable duties required in the interest of the organisation
• Maintain client records using relevant systems to a good standard
• Work in accordance with the Health and Safety regulations and all policies and procedures
• Attend supervision, appraisal, training and meetings as directed which may be outside your normal working pattern
• Work flexibly across all areas of operation where required and prior notice given
• Any other reasonable task as requested by a member of staff

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/TRAINING

Previous experience in this sector is not essential but you will be able to demonstrate a real passion for wanting to work with vulnerable people in the homeless sector. Our values will be aligned to your own ethics and ideals and you will be committed to changing the life of others for the better.

• Clear verbal and written English
• Good IT and keyboard skills
• Polite, assertive manner, ability to self -motivate
• Passion for working in a client/customer facing role
• Knowledge of the benefits system and tenancy legislation
• Have an interest and genuine concern for homelessness and related issues
• Knowledge of voluntary and statutory agencies
• Full drivers’ licence and access to a vehicle is a requirement for this role

We reserve the right to close our adverts early if a successful candidate is found, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

We were formed in April 2001 through the merger of the Society of St Dismas (founded in 1962) and St Petroc Housing association (founded in 1972). Both organisations shared a passion for housing and supporting vulnerable single people.

Our vision today is to give people who are homeless, vulnerable or in need of support, the opportunity to build a brighter future.

We have services in Berkshire, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Sussex.

We support 16-65 year olds. Our services include outreach to rough sleepers, supported accommodation (direct access hostels, move-on accommodation, and resettlement flats), day centres, community support, housing first and landlord support services.