Support Worker

Central Recruitment Services Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Recruitment is working with a London-based charity to recruit a Support Worker for a Stockwell service. The role covers 37.5 hours weekly on a Monday-Sunday rota, with shifts 07:00-15:00 or 15:00-22:00. It is a temporary post of about 3 months, paying £16.90 per hour (£15.08 plus £1.82 holiday pay).

The worker will manage a caseload, mentor clients, assess risks, and support independent living within safeguarding and trauma-informed practices.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting people who have experienced homelessness to achieve independent living.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and how they apply day-to-day.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a range of people, both written and verbally.

Responsibilities

• Hold a caseload of 10 key clients and conduct regular key-working sessions.
• Mentor customers using an asset-based approach to set goals.
• Identify and monitor risks; raise safeguarding concerns when needed.
• Apply counselling and coaching techniques within a trauma-informed framework.
• Develop Staying Safe Plans to address daily risks.
• Help customers access benefits, health, housing, and learning supports.
• Support customers in managing tenancy agreements.
• Collaborate with internal/external resettlement services to enable move-on opportunities.
• Assist team to maintain high occupancy by preparing rooms for new customers.
• Identify opportunities for customer involvement and organise events and activities.
• Cover reception, welfare checks, and interviewing and booking in new customers.

Skills

Homelessness support

Safeguarding knowledge

Effective communication

Counselling skills

Coaching techniques

Tenancy support

Record keeping

Office suite

Tools

In-house databases

Microsoft Office

Job description

Central Recruitment is currently working with a London-based charity that is dedicated to creating positive change by providing support to individuals on their journey towards independence.

Our client is currently recruiting for a Support Worker to work in the Stockwell area at a service that provides support to various client groups including young people with a background of homelessness, challenging behaviour and teenage parents.

• 37.5 hours per week
• Working across Monday - Sunday on a rota basis
• Shifts: 07:00 - 15:00 and 15:00 - 22:00
• Temporary: approx. 3 months
• £16.90 per hour (£15.08 per hour, with £1.82 holiday pay)

Please note: parking is available at the service

Key responsibilities:

• Hold a caseload of 10 key clients and conduct regular key working sessions resulting in agreed Support Plans
• Mentor and coach customers using an asset-based approach to identify their strengths and set corresponding goals
• Identify and monitor risk assessing and where necessary raising/escalating safeguarding concerns
• Apply basic coaching/counselling skills to support your customers and operate within a Psychological & Trauma-informed framework to achieve results
• Work with customers to create bespoke Staying Safe Plans which identify and address risks to help them to stay safe on a day-to-day basis
• Ensure customers can access the best levels of external and internal support including those available for benefits, financial, health, specialist services and employment and learning/training opportunities etc.
• Support customers in effectively managing their tenancy agreements
• Collaborate with both internal and external resettlement support services to empower our customers to identify positive 'move on' opportunities and develop the necessary skills to thrive independently beyond our services
• Work with the team to ensure maximum occupancy in the services by clearing/sorting to make vacant rooms ready for new customers in a timely manner
• Identify opportunities for customer involvement and collaborating with them to organise events and activities, encompassing breakfast/lunch-centred gatherings, educational, and social events
• Cover duty tasks and activities including reception duty, welfare and room checks, and interviewing and booking in new customers and referrals

What we’re looking for:

• Experience of working with and supporting people who have experienced homelessness to achieve a level of independent living
• An understanding of the principles of Safeguarding People and how these apply in the day-to-day role
• Knowledge of resources available to people who have experienced homelessness including government benefits
• Experience of, or the ability to, work with software/in-house databases to keep accurate customer records
• The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people both orally and in writing
• The ability to utilise basic counselling and coaching techniques to support homeless people
• Good understanding and working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Further requirements:

• Current valid right to work in the UK
• Minimum 12 months’ of paid experience in a front line social care role within the last 3 years* (unless recruitment criteria states otherwise)
• A fully enhanced DBS either registered on the DBS update service or issued within the last 12 months, or willingness to apply for one through Central (at a cost of £60)
• Employment or education history to cover the last 5 years which can be verified through the referencing process