Support Worker

Recruiting for a Support Worker to join our service in Slough!

GBP £22,568 per annum, working 40 hours per week, plus 25 days Annual Leave, Pension schemes, Staff discounts, healthcare and more.

Job Overview:

As Support Worker 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.

As a support worker, you will be working as part of a team as well as with external agencies such as London Probation Service, local substance misuse services, Mental health teams, and police amongst others. Sometimes customers may not be linked in with agencies when they enter the service, as a support worker it is part of your role to ensure they are receiving the correct support from agencies required. Ideally, you will have experience of working with vulnerable people or an understanding of the needs of homelessness. You will be required to support customers with managing their arrears; ensuring housing benefit is applied for as well as monitoring payments and acting appropriately if payments are suspended in order to ensure customer does not fall into any arrears.

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.

Key Responsibilities:

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.

• 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 activity

• 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.

• Involve customers in the design, development and delivery of the service through co-production.

• Report and react to any observations relating to customers welfare.

• Proactive development of links with local statutory and voluntary organizations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community.

• Maintain a good standard of records as required at the project under the direction of the Managers.

• Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills

• Ensure Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times, to ensure the safety of the customers and premises including responding to maintenance, fire and health and safety issues.

• Attend and participate in team meetings and managers meetings.

• Competent use of relevant systems, company policies and frameworks.

• Adhere to all the policies and procedures of Look Ahead Care & Support plus those specific to the project including any statutory requirements.

• Carry out other duties commensurate with the designated role level, as may be deemed reasonable by Look Ahead including working at an alternative patch, if such a need arises.

Person Specification:

• 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.

• Is highly motivated and a self-starter.

• Enjoys managing and motivating others.

• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised.

• Is confident with high levels of self-esteem.

• Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication.

• Is passionate and enthusiastic about his/her career and job experiences.

• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can-do attitude.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

Essential:

- Has relevant sector work experience - mental health or drugs and alcohol misuse. 1 year experience minimum-

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent.

Desirable:

• Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications

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 will 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 the Inclusive Employers Standard 2020. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.