At a Glance
- Tasks: Support asylum seekers with their right-to-work applications and provide practical and emotional assistance.
- Company: Join Mears Group, a company committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, a company vehicle, and discounts on groceries and holidays.
- Other info: Flexible working with opportunities for community volunteering and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a rewarding environment.
- Qualifications: Empathy, resilience, and a full UK driving licence are essential.
The predicted salary is between 29856 - 29856 £ per year.
Annual salary: up to £29,856.80 per annum, including company vehicle and fuel card or £3,500 company car allowance.
Location: Hawick
About the Role
We are looking for a Housing Support Officer to join our expanding team. This rewarding role focuses on supporting asylum seekers through their right‑to‑work application process with the Home Office. You will provide both practical and emotional support, address safeguarding and welfare needs, monitor wellbeing, and keep accurate records for compliance. Every day is different, and while the role can be challenging, it is also highly rewarding for someone who is resilient, empathetic, and people focused.
This role is responsible for delivering a high‑quality housing management and support service to service users, combining property management with person‑centred support. The post holder will manage a portfolio of homes within an assigned region, ensuring properties are maintained to contractual standards while safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of all service users. The role involves coordinating move‑ins, move‑outs, voids and inspections, monitoring compliance with key performance indicators, and identifying and managing risks. Through regular assessments and engagement, the post holder will identify service users' support needs, provide advice and assistance, and work collaboratively with internal teams, external agencies, care providers and community organisations to ensure appropriate support is in place.
The role requires cultural awareness, professional boundaries, resilience, accurate record keeping, performance reporting, and a flexible approach, including supporting colleagues and undertaking ad hoc projects as required.
Role Criteria
- Support asylum seekers throughout their application process, ensuring welfare and safeguarding needs are met.
- Provide practical and emotional support to individuals and families.
- Identify needs and put in place support packages to promote independence.
- Work with vulnerable and diverse client groups, including those with mental health needs or challenging behaviours.
- Carry out risk assessments and maintain accurate records for audits and compliance.
- Communicate effectively with colleagues, service users, local authorities, and partner organisations.
- Maintain professional boundaries while being approachable, empathetic, and supportive.
- Work independently, showing resilience and initiative.
- Flexible and willing to travel between sites.
- Hold a full UK driving licence.
Benefits we can offer you
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Annual Mears Fun Day – organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work.
- Volunteering Leave – employees can take paid time to volunteer in the community.
- Staff perks through Mears Rewards – discounts of up to 10% on weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share Save scheme, plus much more.
- Family‑friendly policies.
- Company Vehicle and Fuel Card.
- Access to EAP counseling sessions.
All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity and Security checks before commencement of employment. At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
Housing Support Officer in Hawick employer: CIH International Housing Group
Contact Detail:
CIH International Housing Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Support Officer in Hawick
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the housing support sector, attend local events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their values. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with supporting asylum seekers and managing properties. Show them you’re not just a fit for the role, but for their team!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those around resilience and empathy. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your experience effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Housing Support Officer in Hawick
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Housing Support Officer role. We want to see how you can support asylum seekers and manage properties effectively!
Showcase Your Empathy: This role is all about supporting vulnerable individuals, so don’t shy away from sharing examples of how you've demonstrated empathy and resilience in past experiences. We love to see that human touch!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points if necessary to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. We appreciate a well-structured application!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at CIH International Housing Group
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Housing Support Officer. Familiarise yourself with the right-to-work application process and the specific needs of asylum seekers. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Empathy and Resilience
In this role, you'll be working with vulnerable individuals, so it's crucial to highlight your empathetic nature. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've provided emotional support or handled challenging situations with resilience. This will illustrate your suitability for the position.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to manage risks. Think of scenarios where you've had to conduct risk assessments or work collaboratively with different agencies. Practising these responses will help you feel more confident during the interview.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, take the opportunity to ask insightful questions about the team dynamics, support systems in place, or how success is measured in the role. This shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values.