Housing Support Officer

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

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a compassionate Housing Support Officer to assist asylum seekers in navigating their right to work applications. This rewarding role involves providing practical and emotional support while ensuring compliance with safeguarding procedures. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills and the ability to work independently, all while maintaining professional boundaries. Join a team dedicated to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals, with the opportunity to contribute to meaningful social change.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Annual Mears Fun Day

Volunteering leave

Staff discounts through Mears Rewards

Family-friendly policies

Company vehicle and fuel card

Access to EAP counselling sessions

Qualifications

• Experience supporting asylum seekers through the application process.
• Ability to maintain accurate records for Home Office audits.

Responsibilities

• Support service users with safeguarding and welfare issues.
• Monitor wellbeing and support needs of clients.

Skills

Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups

Understanding of safeguarding procedures

Effective communication skills

Experience with mental health issues

Ability to work independently

Job description

Annual salary: up to £28,917.00

Housing Support Officer

Wakefield

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 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. Every day is different, and although the 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 accurate for Home Office audits. Maintaining professional boundaries and resilience is essential to provide a consistent and effective service tailored to service users' needs.

Role Criteria:

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures
• Ability to identify individual and family needs and support packages to maintain independence
• Experience working with mental health issues and challenging behaviour
• Effective communication skills with colleagues, local authorities, and service users
• Experience with record keeping and risk assessments
• Ability to work independently
• Resilient and supportive, trustworthy, a good listener, approachable, and empathetic
• Flexible and willing to travel
• Full UK driving license

All roles require candidates to have the right to work in the UK. Mears does not offer visa sponsorship.

As part of the recruitment process, a DBS & BPSS check, as well as Security Clearance, will be conducted. You will need to provide relevant identification, 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, a celebration organized as a thank you to staff
• Volunteering leave to support paid community volunteering
• Staff discounts through 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 fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, are a Disability Confident employer, and support the Armed Forces Covenant with a Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We also support veterans transitioning into civilian careers and promote social mobility through voluntary background sharing and the Social Mobility Index, which are optional and do not impact your application.