Homelessness Support Worker

Overview

The Support Worker will provide a structured, personalised resettlement service to every service user at Mildmay House. To seek to support service users who have experienced homelessness to move into their own homes in a planned and supported way. This role offers advice, training, information and one-to-one/group support to help service users through this process. The support offered depends on the individual, and can include advice on housing rights, accompanying individuals to meetings, and practical support to move in (e.g., obtaining furniture and setting up payment plans for household bills).

The aim is to ensure that service users who are ready to move on are given the security and support to maximise their independence, dignity and choice, in accordance with the aims and objectives of the project. This is a full-time role working on a rota basis (generally a week of day shifts, a week of night shifts and working every other weekend).

• Providing service users with information on housing options, assisting them to make applications for accommodation, advocating on their behalf with housing providers and accompanying them to interviews and viewings if appropriate
• Acting as a key-worker to a caseload of residents, enabling them to take ownership of their journey with Salvation Army Homes
• Ensuring that clients receive the necessary practical help to move in, either directly or through liaison with other support services (e.g., personal and housing benefit claims, assistance with community care grants, domestic fuel connections)
• Carrying out a strengths-based assessment with applicants, facilitating the co-production of a person-centred plan, enabling individuals to achieve their goals and aspirations and to identify and develop their talents
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with specialists and agencies who might offer resources, funding, or individual services relevant to service user needs (e.g., Registered Social Landlords, Local Authority, Community Psychiatric Services, Benefit Agency and other government agencies, referral agencies, charitable trusts, other voluntary agencies)

Mildmay House is a 47-bed supported accommodation service for single homeless males and females aged 16 upwards. Clients come from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances including relationship breakdowns, rough sleeping, mental health, drugs and alcohol use. Mildmay aims to provide a warm, respectful and supportive environment for clients. Staff support and encourage clients throughout their stay toward independent living.

I love working at Mildmay House because there is never a dull moment. The relationships developed with the clients are extremely important and support transforming lives. This role is known internally as Support Worker.

A Support Worker will instinctively share Salvation Army Homes delivery values and behaviours, loving your work, helping people to thrive and always finding a way to be effective.

You will need to:

• Have experience of or knowledge related to working with homeless people
• Have experience of working with clients to overcome the barriers to effective resettlement
• Proven ability to network with outside agencies and develop partnerships that support effective resettlement
• Proven capacity to deal successfully with difficult and complex situations
• Capacity to understand individual action plans, personal development programmes and needs and risk assessment
• Be a confident and capable communicator, not fazed by difficult situations
• Be able to build trusting, professional relationships and have a high level of resilience
• Take an asset-based approach to empowering people to develop their skills, strengths and talents

• 26 days annual leave rising to 31 days
• £100 when you start work, plus £250 at 6 months’ service and another £250 at 12 months’ service
• An extra day off on your birthday
• A High Street discount scheme (great savings both on and off-line)
• Pension with life assurance
• Discounted private medical insurance
• Loans available for financial emergencies
• Occupatio…