Welfare Support Officer

Livin Housing Limited; Belfast; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Livin Housing Limited is seeking a Welfare Support Officer to support asylum seekers during their application process. The role involves addressing welfare issues, providing practical support, and ensuring compliance with Home Office regulations. Candidates should possess resilience, effective communication skills, and experience with vulnerable groups. Benefits include a company vehicle, paid leave, and various employee support programs.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Annual Mears Fun Day

Paid volunteering leave

Discounts through Mears Rewards

Family-friendly policies

Company vehicle and fuel card

Access to EAP Counselling

Qualifications

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups.
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures.
• Full UK driving license.

Responsibilities

• Support service users at various stages of asylum applications.
• Address safeguarding and welfare issues.
• Maintain accurate records for Home Office audits.

Skills

Effective communication

Empathy

Resilience

Trustworthiness

Independence

Job description

Welfare Support Officer

Location: Belfast

Salary: Up to £28,917 per annum

Job Type: Full time – Fixed term contract, 40hrs per week, Monday to Friday

Includes a company vehicle and fuel card or a £3,500 company car allowance.

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers while their claims are being assessed across three regions: Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. As of May 2021, Mears served over 19,000 individuals. We collaborate with government bodies, providers, tenants, landlords, and investors to address homelessness, expand social and affordable housing, and develop specialized housing for those with care needs.

About the Role:

Due to contract expansion, we are seeking a Welfare Support Officer to join our team. This role focuses on supporting asylum seekers through their right to work and asylum application process with the Home Office. The ideal candidate will be resilient, trustworthy, caring, empathetic, and excellent at communication. Every day presents new challenges and opportunities, making this a rewarding position.

Main duties include supporting service users at various stages of their asylum applications, addressing safeguarding and welfare issues, providing practical and emotional support, monitoring wellbeing, and maintaining accurate records for Home Office audits. Maintaining professional boundaries and resilience is essential to provide a consistent, needs-based service.

Role Criteria:

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures
• Ability to assess individual and family needs and support package requirements
• Experience with mental health or challenging behavior
• Effective communication skills with colleagues, authorities, and service users
• Experience in record keeping and risk assessments
• Ability to work independently
• Resilient and adaptable
• Supportive, trustworthy, empathetic, and approachable
• Flexible and willing to travel
• Full UK driving license

Note: All roles require entitlement to work in the UK. Mears does not sponsor visas.

As part of the recruitment process, a DBS & BPSS check and Security Clearance will be conducted. You will need to provide identification, proof of address, references, a valid passport, and proof of UK residence for the last 5 years.

To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be over 21, have held your license for over 3 months, and have fewer than 9 points.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day
• Paid volunteering leave
• Discounts through Mears Rewards
• Family-friendly policies
• Company vehicle and fuel card
• Access to EAP Counselling

To apply or discuss your application, contact Beth Dunford at [e-mail]. We support diversity and are committed to equal opportunities, including being a Disability Confident employer and supporting veterans through the Armed Forces Covenant and related awards.

We encourage applicants to voluntarily share background information to promote social mobility; this information is optional and does not affect your application.