Housing Support Officer

Mears Group; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading housing support organization in Rotherham is seeking a Housing Support Officer to provide essential support to asylum seekers during their application processes. The ideal candidate will need experience with vulnerable populations, effective communication skills, and the ability to work independently. This full-time role offers a competitive salary and benefits, including a company vehicle or allowance.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Company vehicle and fuel card

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Proven experience in social support or similar roles.
• Resilience and flexibility in challenging situations.
• Good record-keeping and risk management skills.

Responsibilities

• Support asylum seekers through right-to-work application.
• Address safeguarding and welfare issues.
• Maintain accurate records for Home Office audits.

Skills

Experience working with vulnerable groups

Understanding of safeguarding procedures

Effective communication

Ability to work independently

Empathy

Job description

Annual salary: up to £28,917.00

Housing Support Officer

Location: Rotherham

Salary: up to £28,917 per annum

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

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

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers while their claims are being assessed in three regions: Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. As of May 2021, Mears supported over 19,000 service users across these regions. We work in partnership with central and local government, registered providers, tenants, landlords, and investors to address homelessness, increase social and affordable housing, and develop specialized housing for individuals with care needs.

About the Role:

Due to contract expansion, we are seeking a Housing Support Officer to join our team. This position involves supporting asylum seekers through their right-to-work asylum application process with the Home Office. The ideal candidate will be resilient, trustworthy, caring, empathetic, and a good communicator. This role offers variety and rewards, despite its challenges.

As a Housing Support Officer, your main duties will include supporting service users at various stages of their asylum application, addressing 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 deliver professional, needs-based support.

Role Criteria:

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures
• Ability to assess individual and family needs and support independence
• Experience with mental health and challenging behaviors
• Effective communication with colleagues, authorities, and service users
• Experience in record keeping and risk assessments
• Ability to work independently
• Resilience
• Supportive, trustworthy, approachable, empathetic
• Flexibility and willingness to travel
• Full UK driving license

Note: All roles require the entitlement to work in the UK; Mears does not sponsor visas.

Recruitment checks: DBS & BPSS checks, Security Clearance, requiring 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
• Discounts through Mears Rewards
• Family-friendly policies
• Company vehicle and fuel card
• Access to EAP counselling

Required Qualifications: Accurate record-keeping, customer service, liaison, risk management, service improvement

To apply or discuss your application, contact:

Beth Dunford ([e-mail])

We support diversity and inclusion, are a Disability Confident employer, and actively promote social mobility through optional background sharing during applications.