At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young adults in building confidence and independence while providing care and companionship.
- Company: Join Action for Children, a team dedicated to creating safe and happy childhoods.
- Benefits: Enjoy over 7 weeks paid leave, flexible family packages, and discounts at 15,000 retailers.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while gaining valuable experience and training.
- Qualifications: Compassion and enthusiasm are key; qualifications can be supported if you're willing to learn.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 27000 £ per year.
Salary: £27,000 per annum + sleep in allowance £2,607.15 per annum
Location: Haddington
Contract/Hours: Permanent / Full Time - 37 hours per week, with a rota that includes a mixture of early and late shifts, some weekends, and one sleep-in each week. You'll have alternate weekends off, with shifts usually working 7:00am to 2:30pm or 2:00pm to 9:30pm.
Closing date for applications is midnight of Thursday 19th November.
Benefits:
- Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and the option to buy or sell leave
- Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles
- Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages
- Up to 5% employer contribution and life assurance cover
- Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers
- A paid annual Wellbeing Day to support a healthy balance between work and life
A bit about the role:
We’re looking for caring, energetic individuals who bring a positive attitude and a genuine commitment to giving the best care to children and young people. You don’t need lots of experience or qualifications — what matters most is your compassion, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. As a Housing Support Worker, you’ll play a key role in helping young adults build confidence, independence and life skills. Many of the young people we support have complex needs and can display behaviours that may challenge, so you’ll need to be calm, patient and resilient. With the right support and training, you’ll learn how to respond in a way that keeps everyone safe, supported and respected. You’ll help with daily routines, personal care and medication, but you’ll also bring joy and adventure into everyday life — from walks in the park and swimming, to surfing, exploring new places and celebrating the small wins that mean so much.
About the Service:
Our Housing Support and Care at Home service empowers young adults to live independently in their own homes and communities. Right now, we’re privileged to support two amazing young people — a young man and a young woman — who each have their own tenancies. They live with learning disabilities and sometimes present behaviours that may challenge, but they’re full of personality, potential, and a love for life. With 2:1 support, we help them navigate daily living while encouraging independence, confidence, and self‑expression. We believe that behaviour is communication, and our approach is rooted in listening, understanding, and responding with compassion.
What you do could make a difference:
- Building strong, respectful relationships with young people, their families and your team.
- Staying alert and responsive to safeguarding and child protection policies.
- Helping young people grow into confident, happy and healthy adults.
- Remaining calm, solution focused and strengths based, even during the most challenging moments.
- Creating safe, nurturing environments where young people feel heard, valued and supported.
- Reporting concerns appropriately and always putting safety and wellbeing first.
- Helping to shape personalised care plans, support decision making and being a trusted, steady presence as young people work toward their goals.
Let’s talk about you:
- A positive, upbeat approach, helping to create a fun and engaging environment for the young people in our care.
- Ideally, you’ll hold an HNC and SVQ Level 3 in a social care related field (or an equivalent qualification that meets registration requirements). If not, we’ll fully support you to work towards these if you’re committed to completing them.
- The ability to stay calm, think clearly and manage difficult or challenging situations with confidence.
- A willingness to take part in all relevant training, whether on the job or off site, to build your skills and knowledge.
- Providing high quality support and care that promotes wellbeing, dignity and independence.
- A commitment to working a rota pattern, including weekends and some bank holidays, as part of a supportive and reliable team.
Our Commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism:
At Action for Children, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive. We know that racism and discrimination create barriers, and we are taking active steps to challenge these inequalities in our organisation and in the communities we serve. We strongly welcome applications from people who are Black, Asian, or from other racialised and ethnically marginalised communities, as well as disabled people, who are currently under-represented in our workforce. We are committed to removing barriers in our recruitment processes and ensuring fair access to opportunities. We also encourage applications from men, who are under-represented in our Children’s Services roles. We recognise that people hold multiple identities, and we value the richness this brings to our team.
Want to get to know Action for Children better?
Find out more about Action for Children here: Action for Children and on LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better. The difference is what you do. You can learn more about why we do it, by checking out our 'Driven by Love' video.
Housing Support Worker in Musselburgh employer: Action for Children
Action for Children is an exceptional employer that prioritises a supportive and inclusive work culture, offering flexible hours to accommodate personal commitments. Employees benefit from professional growth opportunities through collaboration with passionate colleagues and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the community. Working in this role not only allows you to lead exciting fundraising events but also to engage with dedicated supporters and volunteers, making every day rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Support Worker in Musselburgh
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Action for Children.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Action for Children!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Action for Children, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Action for Children or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Housing Support Worker in Musselburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Action for Children:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Action for Children! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Action for Children
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
