Engagement and Development Worker

Contract Type: Permanent | Salary: £28,031.56 per annum | Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Working Pattern: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Location: Based across three services – Wirral Dispersed, RSAP and Rose Brae, Wirral.

At Riverside we recruit to potential, not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description. We will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, but we will not be applying for any further sponsorships.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively as part of a committed team to deliver an outstanding service and a range of personalised programmes that put customers first, empowering them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
• Develop a programme of activities across services that are co‑created and co‑produced with customers, linking with external organisations to offer the maximum opportunity for individual customers' growth.
• Work as part of a staff team committed to best practice and continuously improve service delivery.
• Use psychologically informed approaches and Trauma‑Informed Care principles to support customers to develop new ways of thinking and make steps towards independence.
• Engage customers to meet agreed outcomes and develop independent living skills, delivering a best‑practice support service appropriate to customers’ needs.
• Co‑produce and co‑create Riverside’s commitment statement with customers across services, encouraging a high level of customer involvement, consultation and communication.
• Apply for grants and fundraising for planned activities and events.
• Encourage and support customers to lead their own interest groups and activity sessions.
• Market programme of activities to ensure all customers have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate.
• Identify and promote opportunities for employment, education and training, and support customers to remove barriers to accessing these opportunities.
• Deliver a programme of internal and external activities and opportunities reflective of different customer needs, including culture and diversity.
• Carry out regular surveys and inclusion solutions to ensure the activities programme is meeting the needs of all customers in the services.
• Signpost customers to appropriate external support services, including interventions such as food banks and other community resources.
• Support customers to maintain financial independence through budgeting plans and maximising income.
• Ensure the safety of customers by following local safeguarding procedures, recognising and acting on any significant risk, and escalating appropriately.
• Ensure service delivery complies with Riverside’s policies and procedures relating to equality and diversity.
• Design and update a service directory to enable customers to be sign‑posted externally.
• Ensure the views of customers are fully taken into account in the development and delivery of services.
• Develop and maintain local partnerships to provide a holistic range of support for customers, liaising with them to facilitate access to support.
• Assist in the recruitment and coordination of volunteers and student placements to the services.
• Produce and distribute activity programmes to all customers, ensuring the programme content is appealing and up to date.
• Ensure notice‑boards are organised and well presented using corporate branded paperwork detailing daily and weekly activities.
• Advise and advocate on behalf of customers.
• Work with colleagues to ensure that key performance indicators for Riverside and those outlined within the supported contract are met.
• Record and update clear, factual, accurate, strengths‑based customer and statistical information on Riverside’s and external digital platforms.
• Work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours.
• Be required to carry out local travel to meet customer needs.
• Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary.
• Ensure customers are safe at all times.
• Carry out duties within Riverside’s policy and procedure framework (e.g., health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR, cash handling, etc.).
• Deliver the role in line with Riverside's company values.
• Participate in team meetings, regular supervisions and reflective practice sessions.
• Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development.
• May be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with Line Manager.

Qualifications

• Understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and health and safety requirements.
• Experience of devising and delivering activity programmes within supported housing.
• Team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible, resilient and can‑do attitude.
• Excellent time management and communication skills.
• Demonstrated initiative and confidence to make and act on decisions.
• Competent administrative and IT skills and ability to produce reports and other communications.
• Knowledge of psychological or trauma‑informed approaches to support.
• Experience working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise tasks to achieve results.
• Experience working in a care and support environment.
• Previous experience working with refugees, immigrants, displaced populations or vulnerable communities (preferred).
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of local resources, social services and legal frameworks related to resettlement and immigration.

Benefits

Investment in your learning, personal development and technology. A wide range of benefits.

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside: We are inclusive.

EEO Statement: Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview. Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.