At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing homelessness and addiction, empowering them towards positive change.
- Company: You Matter, a compassionate organisation dedicated to community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for training and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while growing personally and professionally.
- Qualifications: Experience in charity work or homelessness sector preferred; empathy and communication skills essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 £ per year.
As a Support Worker at You Matter, you will naturally be an empathetic and caring person wanting to provide unconditional support for those experiencing homelessness and addiction issues. Your role as a Support Worker will be to create a safe environment that empowers residents to make positive changes in their lives. You will work closely as part of a team with the Director of Homeless Services and Operational Leadership Team in the development of operational planning and service delivery to the highest standard.
Location: Runcorn
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, shifts from 7.30am – 8:30pm including weekends and bank holidays.
Job Type: Permanent/Fixed Term
What your week may look like:
- Welcoming new residents in line with the service’s policies and procedures, carrying out risk assessments and supporting people to continue in their journey towards independence.
- Ensuring the basic needs of residents are met including good quality accommodation and facilities, healthy food, advice and guidance.
- Responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of adults/children/young people who are at risk.
- Advocating for social inclusion of the people you support ensuring they are able to access health and financial support.
- Ensuring Housing Benefit and Services Charges are collected and managed effectively.
- Developing and reviewing written support plans with your residents that reflect their own needs, changes and hopes for the future.
- Working alongside the people in our services to address their physical and mental health issues, including liaison with primary and secondary health teams.
- Carrying out the immediate support needs of residents as appropriate, providing crisis intervention where necessary and working with services.
- Ensuring all health and safety and maintenance issues are raised in a timely manner.
- Participating in team meetings, supervisions and reflective practice encouraging open, honest and transparent feedback where continuous improvement is encouraged.
- Being flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the service, ensuring our SHREK values run through all of the work that you do.
- Promoting a supportive and inclusive culture within the service, valuing people and their diversity.
It is recognised that the association is operating in a dynamic environment and as such this job description may be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect evolving needs of the business and changing nature of the job.
What We Can Offer You:
Working with You Matter comes with a whole host of benefits. We hope that people will find personal fulfilment and purpose by working alongside people in our services. Our teams are compassionate and supportive, fostering a strong sense of community. With opportunities for professional growth, You Matter offers training to support your role and personal development.
The skills we are looking for:
- EXPERIENCE: Ideally you will have a background of working within a charity, community project and/or previous involvement in the homelessness sector. You will have knowledge around supporting people with challenging and complex behaviours including substance misuse and Mental Health within a 24-hour residential support service.
- KNOWLEDGE: A basic understanding of relevant and appropriate legislation, including welfare benefits and housing law. An understanding of health and safety requirements in the workplace.
- COMMUNICATION: Excellent communication, fostering a respectful, collaborative and professional approach to the people who you work alongside ensuring confidentiality at all times.
- EMPATHY and RESPECT: The ability to empower people to make positive changes, showing empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
- COMMITMENT: The ability to work in an innovative and solutions focused way, including reflecting and learning as you go, and a willingness to flex and adapt approaches as needed.
- ORGANISATION: Strong time management and the ability to manage and prioritise tasks.
- COMPUTER LITERACY: You will be IT literate and have experience of working with multiple software programs such as Microsoft Office and Outlook.
What is a nice to have:
- NVQ/L2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
- Experience of working within a psychologically informed working environment.
- Knowledge of housing management and IT databases.
- Awareness of benefits and how they work including Universal Credit and other welfare systems.
You Matter is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.
Support Practitioner Runcorn 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 Support Practitioner Runcorn
✨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 Support Practitioner Runcorn
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.
