Night Support Assistant Homeless Services

Homeless Link; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

You Matter is seeking a Night Support Assistant to provide trauma-informed, compassionate support to residents experiencing homelessness. The role involves night shifts, room checks, client records, and medication assistance within a psychologically informed environment.

You will work as part of a team to support residents’ well-being and progression toward greater independence, while maintaining professional boundaries and the service code of conduct.

Qualifications

• One year’s experience in a hostel setting or similar.
• A working knowledge of safeguarding protocols and dealing with complex clients.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of the Night Support Team providing accommodation-based support on waking night shifts.
• Assist with room checks and manage clients' rooms and relationships; report health and safety issues.
• Support with new resident welcome process and risk assessments.
• Motivate and support clients to achieve their goals and participate in service decisions.
• Input and maintain clients’ electronic records and rent payments on DAVE Housing Management System.
• Support clients with taking prescribed medication as per procedures.
• Conduct nightly welfare checks and share information with the team.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Organisation

Computer literacy

Teamwork

Trauma-informed care

Education

NVQ/L2 Health & Social Care or equivalent

Job description

Location: Hopewell

Salary: £26,966.84 per annum

Hours: 38.6 hours per week: shift patterns 4 on 4 off

Job Type: Permanent

Why this role would be great for you

As a Night Support Assistant at You Matter, you will be an empathetic and caring individual dedicated to providing unconditional support to those experiencing homelessness and the effects of past traumatic incidents. Your role will involve creating a safe environment that empowers residents to make positive changes in their lives.

Everyone goes through periods of crisis at some point, and some individuals require additional support to navigate these challenging times. Your responsibility will be to assist our clients in a trauma-informed manner, enabling them to progress to more independent living. You will work as part of a team to achieve these goals alongside the person you are supporting, ensuring you always work with a person-centred approach

What your week may look like

• To work as part of the Night Support Team
• To provide an accommodation-based support service to people within a psychologically informed environment that is underpinned with a Trauma Informed Care approach on waking night shifts
• Assist with room checks and support clients in the management of their room and relationships with others and to report any health and safety issues
• Assist with new resident welcome process as required into the service and with conducting risk assessments of clients
• Motivate and support clients so they realise their goals
• Encourage involvement and participation amongst clients in the running and shaping of the service
• To input, maintain and update clients electronic records and rent payments on DAVE Housing Management System
• To support clients with the taking of prescribed medication in line with medication procedures & processes
• Provide clear and accurate information in respect of all clients in line with agreed procedures such as daily handovers ensuring that appropriate information is communicated with the team.

Specific Duties

• To monitor clients emotional & mental wellbeing
• To socially engage with clients outside of designated timetabled activities to reduce social isolation & promote inclusion
• Undertake initial needs & risk assessments
• Preparation of room prior to move in being completed
• Carry out induction (if needed to) to all new clients of the service
• Completion of of housing benefit application and You Matter License Agreement
• Complete the welcome process to the service – which may include supporting with the preparation of food & drink
• Carry out evening welfare checks in during every shift
• To deal promptly with all serious incidents, complaints and safeguarding/abuse disclosures
• To creatively support and engage with clients that have a wide range of complex and challenging support needs
• Assisting service users in their personal hygiene and of their room
• To support in the turning around & cleaning of void rooms within limited timescales.

Health and Safety

• To liaise with all emergency services when necessary
• Ensure at all times the safety of yourself and others on the premises in which you work
• To conduct nightly Health and Safety checks
• To report, log and communicate all incidents to the appropriate people in line with You Matter license agreement
• Tackle any nuisance caused by clients behaviour or their visitors, including the consequences of continuing with anti-social behaviour
• Conduct welfare checks as specified during the shift
• To share information and expertise with the team, covering absence, and working together to provide a high-quality service
• To contribute to the formulation of policy and procedures in relation to support services
• To attend and participate in regular team meetings to ensure good communication.

Professional Practice and Development

• Attend regular supervision sessions with the Service Manager or Team Leader in accordance with the supervision contract
• Maintain good professional practice and ensure ongoing development, through use of supervision and training
• Respect the confidentiality of clients using the service and be responsible for the security of personal and confidential information
• Carry out all these duties within the organisation’s safety guidelines
• Ensure personal records are correctly maintained
• Ensure effective communication with staff within You Matter
• Work flexibly to meet the changing needs of the organisation
• Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably requested
• Flexible and positive approach with all team members
• To be committed to learning and personal development both as an individual and as part of a team
• Observe and ensure compliance with the Service Code of Conduct including professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times
• Ensure adherence to You Matter ‘Visitors’ procedure
• Dealing promptly with all complaints in line with You Matter policies and procedures
• Uphold and nurture You Matter Equal Opportunities policy of anti-discrimination across all services
• Ensure compliance with code of conduct, including professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times.

It is recognised that the association is operating in a dynamic environment and as such this job description may be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect evolving needs of the business and changing nature of the job.

What We Can Offer You

Working with You Matter comes will a whole host of benefits. We hope that people will find personal fulfilment and purpose by working with alongside people in our services. Our teams are compassionate and supportive, fostering a strong sense of community. With opportunities for professional growth, You Matter offers training to support your role and personal development. For a full list of benefits see here: Careers Page | You Matter.

The skills we are looking for

• EXPERIENCE– A minimum of one year’s experience of working within a hostel setting or similar. Relevant experience in homelessness, housing, health or offending. A minimum of one year’s experience in dealing with front-line customer service needs. Working experience of maintaining up to date electronic records and calendars
• KNOWLEDGE –A working knowledge of providing support. A working knowledge of Health & Safety issues within a hostel setting. A clear understanding of dealing with customers who have complex and challenging behavioural needs. Knowledge of safeguarding protocols. Working knowledge of providing support in accordance with the You Matter equality and diversity strategy and policy
• COMMUNICATION –Excellent communication skills and an ability to communicate efficiently. Being able to foster a respectful, collaborative and professional approach to the people who you work alongside, always ensuring confidentiality
• EMPATHY and RESPECT– The ability to empower people to make positive changes, showing empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries
• ORGANISATION –Strong time management and the ability to manage to prioritise tasks
• COMPUTER LITERACY –You will be IT literate and have experience of working with multiple software programs such as Microsoft Office and Outlook.

What is a nice to have

• Understanding of different cultures and religions
• NVQ/L2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent
• Experience of working within a psychologically informed working environment
• Knowledge of housing management and IT databases
• Awareness of benefits and how they work including Universal Credit and other welfare systems

You Matter is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.