Outreach Support Worker

Due to growth we are recruiting for Support Workers to join our Outreach Housing Support programme based at Pilton Community Health Project.

Our Outreach programme provides support to people aged 16+ that are transitioning from a period of homelessness to longer term accommodation. The team also provides support to those at risk of becoming homeless.

The role of Support Worker is to assist the people we support in their transition from temporary accommodation to permanent housing. The post holder will provide advice on a range of subjects including housing and welfare benefits as well as supporting people to integrate into their local community.

We are Right There, a charity celebrating our 200th anniversary. We provide tailored support for people, at home, and in the community. We are here for people who are living with the effects of homelessness, poverty, substance use, or family breakdowns.

Last year we supported almost 4,000 individuals, helping to prevent them from becoming homeless or separated from the people they love. Every person’s story is unique, and everyone’s route home is different - it doesn’t matter what the situation is – we’re not here to judge, only to help.

Main duties and responsibilities include:

• Arranging and facilitating key work meetings to develop and review support plans in collaboration with the people we support to meet their individual needs
• Developing life skills with the people we support including how to maximise income, budgeting, shopping, cooking, home maintenance & repair and any other skills that aid to independence.
• Assisting the people we support in their transition from temporary accommodation to permanent housing.
• Providing advice on a range of subjects including housing options and welfare benefits.
• Assisting the people we support to engage and integrate into the local community and become active citizens
• Compiling and reviewing keeping yourself safe plans of those we support.
• Promoting involvement in the improvement and development of the programme by the people we support.
• Provide the required support with focus on ‘customer service’ and a People First person centred approach to the people we support providing a culture where the people we support are treated with compassion and unconditional positive regard
• Develop good communication skills and working relationships with those we support, colleagues and other professionals
• Advocate on behalf of the people we support
• Support the people to be part of their local community

Full details can be found in the job & person specification on our website.

What we expect from you

Our values make us who we are and define our actions and behaviours every day. We’d expect the post-holder to uphold and represent our organisation in a way that reflects our values and person-centred way of working.

We’re looking for you to have gained relevant experience from working a similar role supporting vulnerable people, to have knowledge of housing and other benefits and to have good organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise when managing your own caseload. You will also have good attention to detail with the ability to understand and analyse information from a range of sources.

What you can expect from us

We value our staff as our greatest asset and will provide the following working conditions:

• The post holder will report to the Senior Support Worker.
• Your normal working hours are an average of 35 per week. These hours are usually worked Monday to Friday, and flexibly between the hours of 8.00am to 6.00pm depending on the needs of the service, with one-hour unpaid break. Variations to these hours must be agreed with your line manager.
• Your usual place of work will be 73 Boswall Parkway, Edinburgh, EH5 2PW
• You are also required to work in the local community and you will be paid travel expenses between your usual place of work and appointments undertaken in the course of your duties. Alternatively, you may choose to work remotely from your home address where appropriate. Working arrangements are in agreement with your line manager based on the needs of the service.
• Annual leave entitlement of 210 hours holiday (equivalent to 6 weeks) pro rata per year in the first year rising to 280 hours (equivalent to 8 weeks) pro rata per year in the second. This includes public holidays.
• You will be automatically enrolled into the People’s Pension in the month that you will complete 3-months of employment, provided you meet the auto-enrolment criteria.
• Life Insurance from day one
• Option to purchase and sell annual leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Ongoing learning and development
• Wellness programmes

Interested in Applying?

Click apply and you will be redirected to our website where you will find the full job & person specification and details of how to apply. If you are looking for less than full time hours, let us know in your cover letter and we will take this into consideration.

Applications will be considered as they are received and interviews arranged, as such the advert might close earlier than the advertised date.

Please note we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.