Support Worker (Housing Related Support)

Company Description

Access Community Trust is a respected regional charity with nearly 50 years of experience in delivering support across health and wellbeing, supported accommodation, employment, enrichment, and social enterprise. With a dedicated workforce of over 200 employees, the organization provides services across Suffolk and Norfolk through over 30 hubs, including a housing portfolio with a daily capacity of 300 beds and high street mental health crisis cafés. Access prides itself on its compassionate services driven by its values of Respect, Excellence, Ambition, Creativity, and Honesty, and offers opportunities for those with lived experience in their field.

Role Description

This is a full-time on-site role located in Lowestoft for a Support Worker (Housing Related Support). The Support Worker will be responsible for providing day-to-day support to individuals in housing-related programs, helping them to achieve independence and stability. Tasks include assessing clients' needs, developing and implementing support plans, ensuring safeguarding practices are followed, and providing emotional and technical support. The role requires collaboration with other team members to create a safe and supportive environment for all clients.

Post: 37.5 hours per week

Pay: £24,570 per annum

Experience

• Applicants must have previous experience of working within a supported accommodation or similar environment and supporting vulnerable people / families with issues relating to financial hardship, homelessness, mental health and substance misuse (E)
• Applicants must have a detailed knowledge of services and support available to vulnerable people in need and a thorough understanding and commitment to Safeguarding (E).
• Applicants must hold a working knowledge of health and safety (within a supported accommodation environment and/or within the community) where lone working is applicable (E)
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have experience in working with internal and external stakeholders within a support discipline (E)

Qualifications

• Knowledge of housing related support or care/support environment (E)
• Education to Level 2 standard or equivalent vocational/life experience, with a commitment to undertaking a Level 3 qualification (E)
• A professional qualification in housing, social work, community work or similar area of work (D)
• Significant lived experience within factors which relate to our clients. This can include knowledge of substance misuse, the welfare system, homelessness, long term unemployment, mental health, financial hardship (D)
• A qualification or experience based upon helping others to learn, such as train the trainer or other practical experience (D)

Work-Focused Skills

• Ability and means to travel across a geographical area within a short timeframe (E)
• Applicants must hold a current driving licence and have the use of a car (D)
• Applicants should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and must be able to work and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team (E)
• Applicants must be able to manage their own workload, support colleagues and use initiative as appropriate and be open to constantly changing work routines (E)
• Applicants should have functional IT skills as the role will involve the use of Microsoft packages and specialist performance reporting systems (E)
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate where they have been able to directly or indirectly support clients to identify their own solutions and deliver person-centred practices (E)
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate how they use empowerment and a solution-focussed approach to problem solving (E)
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate being a team player (E)
• Experience of working in challenging situations and being able to find practical solutions (E)

A full job description is available upon request from [email protected].

We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness and social exclusion.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role. For support in applying or to request reasonable adjustments, please contact us.

Access Community Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its young people and vulnerable adults using our services and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Please note: this position involves work that is a regulated activity and is therefore subject to receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure with a barred list check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. This is in accordance with the Police Act 1997 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This is to be paid for by the successful applicant and will be reimbursed upon the successful passing of a 6-month probationary period.

Please note: We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the listed closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applicants. We endeavour to respond to all applicants, however if you do not hear from us within 28 days please do assume your application has not been shortlisted for interview on this occasion.

• Cashback healthcare & dental scheme, with the ability to upgrade and add on dependants
• One month paid sabbatical after five years' continuous service
• 24/7 counselling helpline, including six structured counselling sessions
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay (subject to statutory eligibility criteria)
• Basic holiday entitlement of 28 days (pro-rata for part time working, you may be required to work on bank holidays if your service remains open but will have the equivalent entitlement to use another time)
• Extra leave accrued for length of service, up to a maximum of 5 days after 5 full years' service
• Company sick pay (from 12 months continuous service)
• Access to a wide range of store, leisure and travel discounts
• Cycle2Work scheme
• Company pension with a 3% employer contribution