At a Glance
- Tasks: Support women facing homelessness by building trust and providing essential services.
- Company: The Connection at St Martin's, dedicated to ending rough sleeping in London.
- Benefits: 30 days holiday, training budget, hybrid working, and generous family-friendly policies.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusive practices and flexible working arrangements.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in women's lives and help them find a safe place to call home.
- Qualifications: Experience in delivering gender-informed services to women experiencing homelessness.
The predicted salary is between 36380 - 40682 £ per year.
About The Connection at St Martin's
We believe that no one should have to sleep rough on London's streets, and that everyone should get the support they need to find a place to call home. We get to know every person we work with, understanding what they need to recover, helping them build on their strengths, and supporting them to find their own way home. Help us make London a city where no one sleeps rough on our streets.
London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience of homelessness who we believe are an essential asset in our sector. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome the opportunity to consider flexible working arrangements.
About the Role
Daylight Women's Day Centre is an exciting new service providing a place of safety and support for women who are long term rough sleepers in London. We want to reach women who have experienced abuse, mental illness, addiction, poor physical health, unclear immigration status and homelessness. Our support will improve their health and wellbeing and enable them to move away from the streets.
Daylight has been designed based on findings from the CHAIN rough sleeping data for London and the Women's Rough Sleeping Census. This evidence highlights the importance of single gender services for women who hide from mainstream provision dominated by men. Daylight will reflect the Connection Theory of Change, building relationships of trust with people who have no confidence in most health and social care services. Therefore Trauma Informed Care lies at the heart of everything we do.
As part of our creative and committed team, you'll play a key role in:
- Building trusting relationships with women facing multiple exclusion and who are rough sleeping in London.
- Understanding the needs of the women accessing Daylight, providing harm minimisation support, access to healthcare and treatment.
- Helping women to move into accommodation and away from the streets.
- Developing strong working relationships with a wide range of partners, ensuring The Connection's Daylight service is a highly respected part of the response to women's rough sleeping in London.
- Implementing this pioneering new service and sharing our learning with others.
You will have experience in delivering psychologically, gender and culturally informed services to women who are experiencing street homelessness. You will be committed to embedding co-production in our service design and engaging volunteers in service delivery.
Salary: £36,380 - £40,682 (Scale Points 19-25)
Closing Date: Sunday 23rd August
Interview Date: Friday 4th September
Our Benefits:
- 30 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Generous training budget, plus an annual personal training budget
- Enhanced Sick Pay Policy
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Day off for moving house
- Hybrid working (depending on role requirements)
- Pension - 5% Employer, 3% Employee
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Season Ticket Loan
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Reward Gateway (access to discount vouchers and cashback at the UK's favourite retailers)
We are a London Living Wage employer.
Community Practitioner - Daylight (Women's Day Centre) in City of Westminster employer: Homeless Link
YMCA DownsLink Group is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment in the vibrant city of Brighton & Hove. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer ongoing professional development opportunities and a culture that values diversity and collaboration, making it a rewarding place for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Practitioner - Daylight (Women's Day Centre) in City of Westminster
✨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 Homeless Link.
✨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 Homeless Link!
✨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 Homeless Link, 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 Homeless Link 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 Community Practitioner - Daylight (Women's Day Centre) in City of Westminster
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 Homeless Link:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Homeless Link! 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 Homeless Link
✨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.
