Housing Support Officer

Mears Group; 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 through their application process. This rewarding role involves providing emotional and practical support while ensuring compliance with safeguarding procedures. The ideal candidate will be resilient and empathetic, capable of working independently and effectively communicating with diverse client groups. Join a team committed to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals, where your contributions will be valued and impactful.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Annual Mears Fun Day

Paid volunteering leave

Staff discounts through Mears Rewards

Family-friendly policies

Company vehicle and fuel card

Access to EAP counselling sessions

Qualifications

• Experience working with diverse client groups and understanding safeguarding.
• Ability to support individuals through their asylum application process.

Responsibilities

• Support service users in their asylum application process and monitor wellbeing.
• Provide practical and emotional support while ensuring accurate records.

Skills

Experience with vulnerable client groups

Understanding of safeguarding procedures

Effective communication skills

Experience with mental health

Record keeping and risk assessments

Resilience

Empathy

Flexibility and willingness to travel

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 supports asylum seekers through their right to work and asylum application process with the Home Office. The ideal candidate will be resilient, trustworthy, caring, a people person, and highly empathetic. Every day is different in this role, and although it presents challenges, it is highly rewarding.

As a Housing Support Officer, your main duties will include 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 boundaries and resilience is essential to provide a professional, well-defined service that meets the needs of service users.

Role Criteria:

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

Note: All roles require entitlement to work in the UK; Mears does not offer visa sponsorship.

As part of the recruitment process, a DBS & BPSS check and 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
• Paid volunteering leave
• 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 diversity and inclusion, are a Disability Confident employer, and support the Armed Forces Covenant with a Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

We promote social mobility and invite optional sharing of background information during the application process to help us understand diverse experiences. These questions are optional and will not affect your application.