Support Worker

Riverside-12e5e24d; Guildford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Generous pension

25 days holidays plus bank holidays

Learning investment and benefits

Job summary

Riverside is looking for a dedicated Support Worker in Guildford, Surrey. This permanent full-time role (37.5 hours) operates Monday to Friday 9-5 with 1 in 3 weekends, and a salary of £28,031.56 per annum.

The job involves delivering structured support to vulnerable customers, managing risk, and helping individuals move toward independence and tenancy readiness. A full UK driving licence is required for travel across dispersed properties in the Surrey area.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with vulnerable people.
• Experience of delivering structured support and risk management.
• Be a team player with a caring, empathetic and resilient attitude.
• Understanding of supporting vulnerable people including lived experience.
• Able to work flexible hours including lone working.

Responsibilities

• Lead on co-producing bespoke support and move-on plans with key stakeholders.
• Organise regular reviews of support and risk plans; respond to incidents.
• Engage customers to meet outcomes and develop life skills.
• Assist with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters.
• Identify opportunities for employment, education and training; remove barriers.
• Signpost to external support services and resources.
• Support tenancy readiness and financial independence through budgeting.
• Monitor healthcare needs and liaise with professionals.
• Record clear, factual customer information on the designated platform.

Skills

Vulnerable people experience

Structured support delivery

Risk management

Team player

Lived experience

Job description

Job Title: Support Worker
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £28,031.56 per annum
Working Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday 9-5 and 1 in 3 weekends
Location: St Saviour's Dispersed, Guildford, Surrey

Car Essential: A full UK driving licence and access to a car is required for this role as it involves travel across dispersed properties in the Surrey area.
Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• Experience of working with vulnerable people
• Experience of delivering structured support and risk management
• To be a team player with a caring and empathetic nature with a resilient, can-do attitude, able to work as part of a team
• An understanding of supporting vulnerable people – this could include having your own lived experience of homelessness or drug or alcohol addiction.
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours and may include lone working

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference - enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.

Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.

Role Profile

Supporting Customers:

• Leading on Co-producing bespoke support and move-on plans, involving key stakeholders (e.g. family/other support providers), where appropriate
• Organising and carrying out regular planned reviews of support and risk plans, or following an incident/significant change in a customer’s circumstances
• Engaging customers to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills
• Assisting customers with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters
• Identifying and promoting opportunities for employment, education and training and supporting customers to remove barriers to accessing these opportunities
• Signposting customers to appropriate external support services, including interventions such as food banks and other community resources
• Supporting customers to be 'tenancy ready' to enable successful move on
• Supporting customers to be financially independent through budgeting plans and maximising income
• Supporting and monitoring customers' healthcare needs, ensuring appropriate contact with healthcare professionals
• Empowering customers to move towards self-management of their medication by following the medication procedure
• Leading on support initiatives including Group Work
• Ensure the safety of our customers by following local safeguarding procedures, recognising and acting on any significant risk, and escalating appropriately
• Record and update clear, factual, accurate, strengths based customer information on the local or appropriate digital platform

Service Delivery:

• Facilitate the referral process into the service and assess potential new customers
• Contribute to the delivery of a housing management service, including income collection and providing customers with tenancy-related support
• Work with customers to maintain a safe environment by reporting repairs and health and safety concerns
• Clean and prepare rooms as appropriate
• Resolve difficult and challenging situations in a sensitive and informed way, balancing the needs of the individual with responsibilities for the safety of the service
• Develop and maintain local partnerships to provide a holistic range of support for customer
• Carry out day-to-day administration and operational duties

Other Information:

• You will be required to work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours
• You will be required to travel to different properties within the defined area as and when required
• Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary
• Ensure customers are safe at all times - carrying out all of your duties within Riverside's Policy and Procedure Policy and Procedure framework e.g. health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR opportunities, cash handling, etc
• Deliver your role in line with Riverside company values - "Our Riverside Way"
• Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and reflecting practice sessions
• Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely
• From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager

Person specification

Essential

Car Essential: A full UK driving licence and access to a car is required for this role as it involves travel across dispersed properties in the Surrey area.

• An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs
• Experience of delivering structured support and risk management
• Be a team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and have a resilient, can-do attitude
• Previous experience in positively resolving incidents
• Demonstrate initiative and confidence to make and act on decisions
• Competent administrative and IT skills (to be able to produce reports and other communications)

Desirable

• Knowledge of Psychological or Trauma Informed approaches to support
• Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise, organise tasks to achieve results
• Knowledge of current benefit systems
• Experience of working in a care and support environment.