Homeless Support Worker

Response; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a compassionate Homeless Support Worker to empower individuals facing homelessness. This role involves providing intensive support and housing management to clients, helping them sustain tenancies and navigate challenges. With a commitment to personal development, you will engage effectively with vulnerable individuals, offering non-judgmental advice and support. The position offers a hybrid working model, combining office, home, and community resources, ensuring a dynamic and fulfilling work environment. Join this forward-thinking organization and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need.

Benefits

33 days of annual leave

Employee Assistance Plan

Cycle to Work Scheme

Health cash plan

Wellbeing hub and mental health support app

Free flu jabs

Free DBS check

Enhanced family leave

Flexible working options

Referral bonus

Qualifications

• Experience with clients facing homelessness and related challenges.
• Ability to provide person-centered support and create comprehensive support plans.

Responsibilities

• Provide intensive support to clients through proactive floating support.
• Conduct regular visits and assist clients with practical skills like budgeting.

Skills

Engagement with clients

Non-judgmental support

Communication skills

Understanding of complex trauma

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Job description

Our mission at Response is to enable people of all ages to live a more fulfilled life by providing excellent mental health services, housing, and supported living.

Do you have the desire to empower and promote independence and an interest in mental health?

Homeless Support Worker - £27,560 - £30,680 per annum (Salaries vary depending on experiences)

Hours

37 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Department

Adult Service Delivery

Location

Oxfordshire - Hybrid working with regular visits to client accommodation

What You’ll Be Doing:

Response is recruiting for a Homeless Support Worker within Adult Services, Settled Oxfordshire, to help people who have experienced street homelessness and repeated placements within supported and crisis housing services to sustain their own tenancy, live independently, and move on into mainstream accommodation. Working closely with a range of other providers, both voluntary and statutory, you will have the support and guidance of the Service Manager to provide a housing management, support, and move-on service to a small group of vulnerable people recently experiencing homelessness. The accommodation will be located within Oxford City and throughout the County. If you're a motivated individual seeking an opportunity to contribute to a compassionate organization, we want to hear from you!

Overall job responsibilities:

• Provide intensive support and housing management to a caseload of 9 or 10 clients through proactive floating support.
• Ensure each client has a comprehensive support plan with achievable goals, outcomes, and a robust risk assessment, updated regularly with input from clients and professionals.
• Offer person-centered support, recognizing clients as experts by experience.
• Identify interventions for each referral to help clients move into and sustain their accommodation, and address challenges that might destabilize their tenancy.
• Support clients with benefit applications, affordability assessments, and repayment plans.
• Conduct regular visits to accommodation and support clients with practical skills such as budgeting and cleaning.
• Encourage engagement with agencies addressing needs like substance misuse, offending, education, employment, and training.
• Promote participation in meaningful activities and peer support where appropriate.
• Ensure properties are safe and compliant with health and safety regulations.
• Keep internal and external stakeholders informed about clients' progress.
• Manage housing-related issues including rent arrears, anti-social behavior, breaches of tenancy, and repairs.
• Recognize early signs of abuse and safeguarding concerns, following reporting procedures.
• Provide regular progress reports for each case.
• This role is hybrid, involving work in the office, from home, and at clients' properties, as well as community resources.
• Assist clients in understanding move-on options and creating realistic plans to increase living skills, find work, budget, and address substance misuse.

The Successful Applicant:

Our priority is to find individuals who embody our values: Caring, Safe, Creative, and Aspirational. We provide excellent training, but we do ask that you have:

• GCSEs in English and Maths (or equivalent) and a commitment to personal development.
• A solid understanding of homelessness and related issues.
• Ability to engage effectively with clients, providing non-judgmental support and advice.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Safeguarding knowledge.
• Understanding of complex trauma and personality disorders.
• Experience working with clients with histories of homelessness, substance use, offending, and challenging behavior.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in unpredictable situations.
• Ability to build appropriate working relationships.

What We Offer:

• 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Blue Light card and discounts
• Employee Assistance Plan with free counseling
• Cycle to Work Scheme (post-probation)
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working options (role dependent)
• Support for professional qualifications and study leave
• £500 referral bonus
• Health cash plan for prescriptions and treatments
• Wellbeing hub and mental health support app
• Free flu jabs
• Free DBS check

If this Homeless Support Worker role interests you, please apply today! We look forward to hearing from you. Note: This vacancy may close early. For more about Response, visit our website. Closing date: 05/06/2025.

We celebrate diversity and are a Disability Confident Employer. All roles require an enhanced DBS, two references, and the right to work in the UK.