Female Support Worker

Central Recruitment is currently recruiting for a female only Support Worker, to work in the Westminster area in a hostel for homeless women. The service supports women affected by substance misuse, unemployment, domestic violence and mental health issues and aims to help towards independent living.

The successful candidate will be required to work 40 hours per week, working across Monday - Sunday on a rota basis, covering early and late shifts. There is a requirement to work two weekends in every five weeks. Temporary cover is required for 4 - 6 weeks. The pay rate for this role is £13.85, with £1.67 holiday pay, totalling £15.52 per hour.

Please note; the service is based over two sites, 100m apart and the job regularly involves walking throughout and between both sites. One site is a building over five floors, with stair access only.

In this position, you will be expected to:

• Use motivational and asset-based interviewing techniques to interview, assess and create support plans and risk assessments that address the needs of service users, involving the service user fully in the process and taking into account their wishes and needs.
• Respond to the needs of service users appropriately on a day-to-day basis.
• Ensure a high standard of customer service is upheld and communal areas are clean, tidy, relevant and welcoming.
• Provide a high-quality, person-centred support to residents with a range of medium to high needs.
• Work within a Psychologically-Informed Environment approach and strive to meet targets and deliver results.
• Take a positive, trauma-informed approach to working with service users with complex needs and challenging behaviour.
• Support and facilitate service user involvement in activities.
• Identify, maintain, and develop relationships with external agencies where required as well as accompanying service users to off-site appointments.
• Assess service user's clinical risk and identify steps to reduce the likelihood and effect of these risks. Proactively safeguard at all times.
• Provide tenancy management and contribute to ensuring maximum revenue collection for the residents.
• Assist in the provision of safe and secure accommodation including reporting all repairs, housekeeping and maintenance issues.
• Maintain a good working knowledge of homelessness issues and be able to offer advice to people who call at the project in person or by telephone.
• Handle, record and report incidents in accordance with agreed policies and procedures.
• Carry out floor checks and health and safety checks.

To apply for this role, you must have:

• Experience of working with vulnerable women with complex needs including substance misuse, mental health and domestic violence.
• An understanding of the challenges faced by women experiencing homelessness, and the barriers to overcoming these.
• Experience of managing a caseload of service users and creating Support Plans.
• Experience supporting vulnerable people to set and achieve goals using the SMART model.
• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding processes.
• An understanding of the benefits of working within a Psychologically-Informed Environment approach.
• Experience with de-escalation techniques; a calm, approachable and non-judgmental attitude.
• Able to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with the ability to be organised, punctual and self-motivated.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programmes and IT skills.

Please note; this role is female only. Gender is considered to be a genuine occupational requirement - Equality Act 2010.

Candidates must confirm their interest as soon as possible, with interviews scheduled shortly after and the appointed candidate expected to start as soon as possible.

Further requirements:

• Current valid right to work in the UK.
• Minimum 12 months’ of paid experience in a front line social care role within the last 3 years (unless recruitment criteria states otherwise).
• A fully enhanced DBS registered on the DBS update service or willingness to apply for one through Central (at a cost of £60).
• Employment or education history to cover the last 5 years which can be verified through the referencing process.

How to apply:

If you feel that you fully meet the above outlined criteria for this role and would like to apply for this post, please forward your CV for consideration.

Please note the outlined experience is the 'minimum' first stage criteria, and we will therefore be unable to consider your application unless you are able to demonstrate a relevant work history in line with this position.