Housing Support Officer

Livin Housing Limited; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading housing organization is seeking a Housing Support Officer in Edinburgh. The role involves providing support to asylum seekers during their application processes, handling various welfare issues, and ensuring effective communication with stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess resilience and empathy and be able to work independently under challenging circumstances. Benefits include a company vehicle, paid volunteering leave, and family-friendly policies.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Paid volunteering leave

Staff discounts and perks via Mears Rewards

Access to EAP counselling

Annual Mears Fun Day

Family-friendly policies

Company vehicle and fuel card

Qualifications

• Experience supporting diverse client groups is crucial.
• Understanding of safeguarding principles is essential.
• Effective communication and record-keeping skills needed.

Responsibilities

• Support service users through their asylum application processes.
• Handle safeguarding and welfare issues and monitor wellbeing.
• Maintain accurate records for Home Office audits.

Skills

Experience with vulnerable client groups

Understanding of safeguarding

Effective communication

Resilience

Supportive and empathetic

Ability to work independently

Record keeping

Flexibility

Education

Entitlement to work in the UK

Job description

Annual salary: up to £28,917.00

Housing Support Officer

Edinburgh

Salary up to £28,917 per annum

Full time – Permanent, 40hrs per week, Monday to Friday

Including company vehicle and fuel card or £3,500 company car allowance

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers whilst their claim is being assessed in three regions: Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. At the end of May 2021 Mears had over 19,000 service users across the three regions. Mears works in partnership with central and local government, registered providers, tenants, landlords, and investors to find solutions to homelessness, provide more social and affordable housing, and create specialist housing for people with care needs.

About the Role:

Due to contract expansion, we are seeking a Housing Support Officer to join our team. This position supports asylum seekers through their right to work and asylum application process with the Home Office. The ideal candidate will be resilient, trustworthy, caring, empathetic, and a good people person. Every day offers new challenges and rewards.

As a Housing Support Officer, your duties will include supporting service users at various stages of their asylum application, handling safeguarding and welfare issues, providing practical and emotional support, monitoring wellbeing, and maintaining accurate records for Home Office audits. Maintaining boundaries and resilience is essential to provide professional, needs-based support.

Role Criteria:

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Understanding of safeguarding
• Ability to identify support needs and facilitate independence
• Experience with mental health or challenging behavior
• Effective communication with colleagues, authorities, and service users
• Record keeping and risk assessment experience
• Ability to work independently
• Resilience
• Supportive, trustworthy, empathetic, approachable
• Flexible and willing to travel
• Full UK driving license

All roles require entitlement to work in the UK; visa sponsorship is not provided.

Recruitment process includes DBS & BPSS checks and Security Clearance. You will need to provide identification, proof of address, references, passport, and proof of UK residence for the last 5 years.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day
• Paid volunteering leave
• Staff discounts and perks via Mears Rewards
• Family-friendly policies
• Company vehicle and fuel card
• Access to EAP counselling

Required Qualifications: English

Apply below or contact Beth Dunford at [e-mail] for more information.

We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities. We support the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident employer. We promote social mobility and welcome applicants to share optional background information to help us understand diverse experiences better.