Assistant Support Worker

We're looking for a Support Worker to join Your Place and be part of our dedicated team to help us with our mission to solve homelessness in east London, one person at a time!

About the role

Based within the Harbour Project team, the Assistant Support Worker will provide informal support to residents. Support will vary depending on the resident, but may include escorting people to appointments, basic life skills support, social activities etc. The post will work alongside Support Workers and complement the formal support provided by them.

This role works with colleagues to promote resident engagement by developing positive relationships with clients and contributing towards the promotion of a fulfilling, safe and inclusive environment with a particular focus on developing the community and optimising take up of opportunities.

Salary : £28,000 -£28,712 annual salary (pro rata)
Contract : Permanent
Hours: 0.9 FTE, approx 34 hours per week
Location : Canning Town, London

Responsibilities

• To work alongside Support Workers to increase client engagement, inducting new clients, supporting on-going casework, identifying activities that will support them and facilitate client’s journey towards enablement and recovery.
• Working closely with Customer Services, Facilities and other team members, to contribute towards creating a welcoming and safe environment for clients. This includes maintaining health and safety standards.
• Working closely with the Harbour Project team and colleagues from other teams in the organisation to contribute to developing clients’ skills. Particularly around health and wellbeing.
• To use a person-centred approach which recognises the individuality and strengths of each client.
• Contribute to developing a Psychologically, Trauma and Gender Informed approach across the organisation. Ensuring all clients feel valued and able to fulfil their potential.
• Maintain and support links made into community programmes and resources.
• To ensure all service delivery policies and decisions made by the Team Manager or team are observed and followed through.
• To keep accurate records and statistics on referrals, service outputs and outcomes etc.
• To maintain a high standard of record keeping in the office and keep all financial and administrative systems including resident files in the office in an accurate and up-to-date manner in line with policy.
• To ensure that all written work both for internal and external use is of a high standard.
• Contribute to the regular review of the effectiveness of service delivery, involving clients and other stakeholders in this process.
• Contribute to the continual improvement of service effectiveness, ensuring that clients receive a high-quality outcome-focused service.
• Where deemed appropriate, to develop skills and experience in support work to hold a small caseload under the close supervision of the line manager.
• Contribute to the development of the annual work plan, taking on tasks to ensure its successful implementation and completion.
• Maintain good working relationships with team members across the organisation.

To undertake such other duties within the competence of the post holder which may be required from time to time.

The ideal candidate:

Experience

• Some experience of dealing directly with the public and/or clients or customers in a busy service environment.
• Some experience of dealing with complex and difficult behaviours in relation to people. The willingness to develop skills to support people who may be in difficult personal or emotional situations.
• An understanding of; and empathy with the issues faced by people who experience homelessness or rough sleeping.

Skills & knowledge

• IT skills and particularly Microsoft Office packages
• A genuine interest in helping vulnerable adults to make changes in their life and the ability to maintain enthusiasm on a day-to-day basis.

Abilities

• Willingness and ability to work shifts including evenings and weekends on a rota basis)
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with a wide variety of people at all levels, maintaining professional boundaries
• Ability to work co-operatively across teams and services, and alongside external partners, to achieve goals

Personal qualities

• Commitment to own professional development and a willingness to consider new ideas and approaches.

• Self-sufficient and highly organised with the ability to accomplish goals according to deadlines, and a flexibility and to juggle a variety of tasks
• Ability to act on own initiative and effectively under own direction, as well as productively within a team
• Strong sense of responsibility and accountability
• Awareness of own training and support needs
• The ability to remain calm in a busy, and sometimes challenging, environment.

Before starting this position, you’ll need to undergo a criminal record check by the Disclosure and Barring Service. You must be entitled to work in the UK.