Welfare Support Officer

Livin Housing Limited; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A social support organization seeks a Welfare Support Officer in Sheffield to assist asylum seekers through their applications. Essential skills include strong empathy and resilience, with responsibilities involving practical and emotional support while ensuring welfare issues are addressed. The role requires effective communication and record-keeping abilities, with a salary of up to £28,917 yearly, alongside numerous benefits like 25 days annual leave and a company vehicle.

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.
• Ability to identify individual and family support needs.

Responsibilities

• Support asylum seekers through their right to work and asylum application process.
• Address safeguarding and welfare issues while providing practical and emotional support.
• Maintain accurate records for audit purposes.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Record keeping

Resilience

Job description

Welfare Support Officer

Location: Sheffield

Salary: Up to £28,917 per annum

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Benefits: Company vehicle and fuel card or £3,500 car allowance

Mears provides temporary accommodation for asylum seekers while their claims are being assessed in regions including Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. As of May 2021, Mears supported over 19,000 service users across these regions. We work in partnership with government bodies, providers, tenants, landlords, and investors to address homelessness, increase affordable housing, and develop specialist 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 involves 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 building relationships. Every day presents new challenges and rewards.

Your main duties will include supporting service users at various stages of their asylum process, addressing safeguarding and welfare issues, providing practical and emotional support, monitoring wellbeing, and maintaining accurate records for audit purposes. Maintaining professional boundaries and resilience is essential to deliver high-quality, responsive support.

Role Criteria:

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures
• Ability to identify individual and family support needs and facilitate support packages
• Experience with mental health and challenging behaviour
• Effective communication skills with colleagues, authorities, and service users
• Experience in record keeping and risk assessments
• Ability to work independently
• Resilience and professionalism
• Supportive, trustworthy, empathetic, and approachable
• Flexibility and willingness to travel
• Full UK driving license

Additional Information:

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; visa sponsorship is not available. The recruitment process includes DBS, BPSS checks, and Security Clearance, requiring identification, references, passport, and proof of residence in the UK for the last 5 years. To operate a Mears vehicle, applicants must be over 21, have held a license for over 3 months, and have fewer than 9 points on their license.

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: Accurate record-keeping, customer service, liaison, report writing, teamwork

To apply or discuss further, contact Beth Dunford at [e-mail].

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, are a Disability Confident employer, and support the Armed Forces Covenant. We promote social mobility and welcome optional background sharing during application to improve opportunities for all.