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You Matter; Wigan; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

You Matter is recruiting a dedicated Support Worker to join a new service in Wigan. The role focuses on providing unconditional support to people experiencing homelessness and addiction, building trust and safety as a first step toward stable accommodation.

You will work with the Director and Head of Homeless Services to plan and deliver care, coordinating with partner services and supporting residents through risk assessments, housing access, and wellbeing support.

Qualifications

• Empathetic and caring approach to supporting people experiencing homelessness.
• Willingness to work as part of a team and follow safeguarding policies.
• Ability to conduct risk assessments and support planning.

Responsibilities

• Welcoming new residents in line with the service’s policies and procedures, assist risk assessments and help residents progress toward independence.
• Ensure residents' basic needs are met, including accommodation, healthy food, and guidance.
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of adults/children/young people at risk.
• Advocate for social inclusion and help residents access health and financial support.
• Assist with Housing Benefit processes and service charges management.
• Develop and review written support plans reflecting residents’ needs, changes, and future goals.
• Collaborate with health teams to address physical and mental health needs of residents.
• Provide crisis intervention and coordinate with services as required.
• Ensure health and safety and maintenance issues are raised promptly.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and reflective practice to support continuous improvement.
• Support SHREK values in daily work and promote an inclusive culture within the service.

Job description

First Step from The Streets, Wigan will bring together accommodation, intensive person-centred support and strong partnership working to provide a coordinated response for people experiencing rough sleeping in Wigan.

For the team joining the service, it will be an opportunity to help establish a new service from the beginning and be part of an approach that recognises that, for some people, moving away from the streets starts with building trust, creating safety and taking things one step at a time.

What will this service include?

• Placements for up to 10 people
• En-suite accommodation
• 24/7 support
• Short stays of up to 12 weeks
• Psychologically and trauma-informed approach
• Focus on stability and moving towards longer-term accommodation

Why this role would be great for you

As a Support Worker at You Matter you will naturally be an empathetic and caring person wanting to provide unconditional support for those experiencing homelessness and addiction issues. Your role as a Support Worker will be to create a safe environment that empowers residents to make positive changes in their lives. To work closely as part of a team with the Director and Head of Homeless Services and Operational Leadership Team in the development of operational planning and service delivery to the highest standard. Working in partnership with The Brick to support people to access First Step from the Streets, including referrals, assessments and a supported transition into the service.

What your week may look like

• Welcoming new residents in line with the service’s policies and procedures, carry out risk assessments and support people to continue in their journey towards independence
• Ensuring the basic needs of residents are met including good quality accommodation and facilities, healthy food, advice and guidance
• Responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of adults/children/young people who are at risk
• Advocate for social inclusion of the people you support ensuring they are able to access health and financial support
• Ensuring Housing Benefit and Services Charges are collected and managed effectively
• Developing and reviewing written support plans with the your residents that reflect their own needs, changes and hopes for the future
• Work alongside the people in our services to address their physical and mental health issues, including liaison with primary and secondary health teams
• Carrying out the immediate support needs of residents as appropriate, providing crisis intervention where necessary and working with services
• Ensuring all health and safety and maintenance issues are raised in a timely manner
• Participating in team meetings, supervisions and reflective practice encouraging open, honest and transparent feedback where continuous improvement is encouraged.
• Being flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the service, ensuring our SHREK values runs through all of the work that you do
• Promoting a supportive and inclusive culture within the service, valuing people and their diversity

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.