Housing Support Officer

Livin Housing Limited; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Housing Support Officer to join their team in Huddersfield. This rewarding role involves supporting asylum seekers through their right to work application process, providing essential emotional and practical support. The ideal candidate will possess resilience, empathy, and effective communication skills to navigate the challenges of this role while maintaining professional boundaries. Join a forward-thinking organization that values diversity and inclusion, offering a supportive work environment and a comprehensive benefits package, including a company vehicle and 25 days of annual leave.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Annual Mears Fun Day

Volunteering leave

Staff discounts via Mears Rewards

Family-friendly policies

Company vehicle and fuel card

Access to EAP counselling sessions

Qualifications

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups is essential.
• Understanding of safeguarding and ability to identify support needs.

Responsibilities

• Support service users at various stages of their asylum application process.
• Provide practical and emotional support while ensuring accurate record-keeping.

Skills

Experience with vulnerable and diverse client groups

Understanding of safeguarding

Effective communication

Experience with mental health and/or challenging behaviour

Ability to work independently

Resilience

Flexibility and willingness to travel

Job description

Annual salary: up to £28,917.00

Housing Support Officer

Huddersfield

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 these 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 is an exciting position that works exclusively to support asylum seekers going through their right to work asylum application process with the Home Office. The ideal candidate will be resilient, trustworthy, caring, a people person, and extremely empathetic to others. As a Housing Support Officer, every day is different, and although this role presents challenges, it is highly rewarding.

As a Housing Support Officer, your main duties will include, but are not limited to, supporting service users at various stages of their asylum application process, including safeguarding and welfare issues, providing practical and emotional support, monitoring wellbeing and support needs, and ensuring all records are updated and accurate for Home Office audits. Maintaining professional boundaries and being resilient are essential to provide a consistent, needs-focused service to service users.

Role Criteria:

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Understanding of safeguarding
• Ability to identify individual and family needs and recognize appropriate support packages to maintain independence
• Experience with mental health and/or challenging behaviour
• Effective communication with colleagues, local authorities, and service users
• Experience with record keeping and risk assessments
• Ability to work independently
• Resilience
• Supportive, trustworthy, good listener, approachable, and empathetic
• Flexibility and willingness to travel
• Full UK driving license

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

As part of the recruitment process, a DBS & BPSS check and security clearance will be conducted. You will need to provide relevant identification, including proof of address, references, a valid passport, and proof of UK residence for the last 5 years.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day
• Volunteering leave to support community engagement
• Staff discounts via Mears Rewards
• Family-friendly policies
• Company vehicle and fuel card
• Access to EAP counselling sessions

To apply or discuss your application further, contact:

Beth Dunford ([e-mail])

We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities, and are a Disability Confident employer. We support the Armed Forces Covenant, hold a Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, and are committed to social mobility initiatives.