Welfare Support Officer

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

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Welfare Support Officer in Leeds to provide support to asylum seekers through the application process. The role involves addressing welfare issues, maintaining accurate records, and supporting client needs with a focus on resilience and empathy. Applicants must demonstrate experience with vulnerable groups and possess a full UK driving license.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Annual Mears Fun Day

Volunteering Leave

Discounts through Mears Rewards

Family-friendly policies

Access to EAP counselling

Qualifications

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups.
• Full UK driving license needed.
• DBS & BPSS check required.

Responsibilities

• Support asylum seekers through their right to work and application process.
• Monitor wellbeing and maintain accurate records for Home Office audits.
• Address safeguarding and welfare issues.

Skills

Effective communication

Resilience

Empathy

Ability to identify support needs

Record keeping

Job description

Annual salary: up to £28,917.00

Welfare Support Officer

Leeds

Salary up to £28,917 per annum

Full time – Permanent, 40hrs per week, Monday to Friday

Including company vehicle and fuel card or £3,500 company car allowance

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers whilst their claim is being assessed in three regions: Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. At the end of May 2021, Mears had over 19,000 service users across these regions. Mears works in partnership with central and local government, registered providers, tenants, landlords, and investors to find solutions to homelessness, provide more social and affordable housing, and create specialist housing for people with care needs.

About the Role:

Due to contract expansion, we are seeking a Welfare Support Officer to join our team. This position supports 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 a good communicator. Every day is different, and while the role presents challenges, it is highly rewarding.

As a Welfare Support Officer, your main duties include supporting service users at various stages of their asylum application, 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 deliver effective support tailored to service users' needs.

Role Criteria:

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures
• Ability to identify individual and family support needs and facilitate appropriate support packages
• Experience with mental health and challenging behaviour
• Effective communication with colleagues, authorities, and service users
• Record keeping and risk assessment experience
• Ability to work independently
• Resilience and adaptability
• Supportive, trustworthy, empathetic, and approachable personality
• Flexible and willing to travel
• Full UK driving license

All roles require entitlement to work in the UK; visa sponsorship is not available.

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 penalty points.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day
• Volunteering Leave for paid community service
• Discounts through Mears Rewards
• Family-friendly policies
• Company vehicle and fuel card
• Access to EAP counselling

Apply below or contact:

Beth Dunford ([e-mail])

We support applicants throughout the process and value diversity and inclusion. We are a Disability Confident employer, support the Armed Forces Covenant, and hold relevant awards for veteran employment and social mobility initiatives.