Sessional support worker - Housing and Homelessness in Sunderland

Changing Lives is a nationwide charity helping people facing the most challenging of circumstances to make positive change - for good. We believe that everyone deserves a safe home, a rewarding job and a life free from addiction or abuse. Our services across the country help thousands of people each year who are experiencing a wide range of complicated challenges, including homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, involvement with the criminal justice system, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse.

We support people who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless, as well as providing specialist accommodation and outreach services for rough sleepers, veterans, survivors of domestic abuse, women and young people. Accommodation to us doesn’t just mean a roof over your head and shelter from the elements. It needs to be a welcoming and flourishing environment, offering opportunities for all those we support to feel comfortable and develop.

Changing Lives is a Charity supporting young people to develop independent lives. The project is a 24-hour supported accommodation service based in Sunderland and we are looking for an enthusiastic Sessional Support Worker to join our new team. We support young people aged 18-25 to become flourishing people and to overcome the interconnected problems that lead them into accessing our services.

The Mill is an 8 bed supported accommodation service for young men aged 18-25 who have experienced homelessness. This role is ideal for a sessional support worker who is happy to support young people and give advice, sharing best practice where required, to ensure all young people living at The Mill receive the high level of support they deserve.

As an individual who is passionate about achieving the best outcomes for young people, you will have experience of direct work with young people (18-25 years) including support planning, safeguarding, risk assessment, referral processes and housing management. You will be part of a passionate team of 3 support workers (days) and 3 support workers (nights), who all strive to ensure that the young people in the service get the best possible support as well as supporting each other.

You will be given training on all aspects of the role as well as taking part in regular reflective practice and case management reviews with the whole team. As part of your development, you will have frequent 1:1’s where you can share positive experiences and get support on any challenges you are facing. You will also complete a comprehensive induction into Changing Lives as well as into The Sheiling.

The biggest part of your role will be supporting our young people to develop their independent living skills and be able to live flourishing lives. Empowering our young people to improve their life skills is important to us and is achieved through the delivery of workshops or sign posting to external agencies who can support if necessary.

As part of your ongoing development, we will support you to ensure all aspects of young people files and service files are at the required professional standard and that all aspects of the GDPR are followed. You will complete safeguarding training to support you to deliver child protection and vulnerable adult responsibilities to the highest standard incorporating local and organisational policy and procedures.

As we have young people living in our service, we all need to ensure the premises are maintained to a high standard and meet all legal and statutory requirements to operate safely, effectively, and efficiently by working with our Housing Management Worker you will ensure that all maintenance needs are reported and progressed.

This job description is not intended as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the post but simply reflects the key areas involved.