At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing homelessness and addiction, creating a safe and empowering environment.
- Company: You Matter, a compassionate organisation dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive community.
- Other info: Flexible role with opportunities for training and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in people's lives while growing personally and professionally.
- Qualifications: Experience in charity work or homelessness support, strong communication skills, and empathy.
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 (pro rata part time)
Hours: 19.5 hours per week
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 Part Time 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 Part Time
✨Get Involved in Community Events
Dive headfirst into community events and social work fairs in your area. These are great opportunities to connect with potential employers like Homeless Link, grab some insider info, and showcase your passion for social work. Plus, meeting people face-to-face can really make you stand out!
✨Join Social Work Networks
Tap into social work networks and online communities, like local charities and organisations. Engaging in discussions or volunteering can help you build a strong reputation and could lead to part-time roles just like the one at Homeless Link. The connections you make could be the key to landing your next opportunity!
✨Make Your Passion Shine
When approaching part-time roles, be sure to highlight your passion for social issues in conversations and informal chats. Bring your experiences to life through storytelling – this can resonate well with organisations looking for someone who genuinely cares about making a difference!
✨Keep an Eye on Local Job Boards
Part-time roles in social work might not always be advertised in the usual places. Keep checking local job boards or community centres for openings, and don't hesitate to apply directly through Homeless Link's website – we love seeing proactive candidates who take the initiative!
We think you need these skills to ace Support Practitioner Runcorn Part Time
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let your passion for social work shine through. Talk about why you're drawn to this field and how you've been involved in community service or support roles. We want to see your commitment and the heart you bring to the table!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to spotlight any hands-on experience you have! Whether it's internships, volunteering, or relevant coursework, detail how your past experiences relate to the role at Homeless Link. We love seeing candidates who have practical skills and a real understanding of social issues.
Certificates and Training Matter:If you've got any relevant certifications or training specific to social work (like safeguarding training or counselling qualifications), don’t forget to include these in your CV! These details can set you apart and show us you’re serious about your professional development.
Be Flexible with Your Availability:Since this is a part-time role, explain your availability clearly in your application. Let us know when you can start and how many hours you’re looking to work. Being upfront about your schedule will help us see how you fit into the team at Homeless Link.
How to prepare for a job interview at Homeless Link
✨Show Your Passion for Helping Others
In social work, it's all about your commitment to making a difference. Be ready to share specific experiences that highlight your passion for helping others, whether that's through volunteering, placements, or personal stories. We want to see that genuine drive during your chat with Homeless Link.
✨Know Your Social Work Theories
You might be quizzed on social work theories or models that inform your practice, like the person-in-environment approach. Brush up on these concepts and be prepared to discuss how you'd apply them in a practical setting. This could be a game changer in your interview for a Support Practitioner Runcorn Part Time at Homeless Link.
✨Flexibility and Availability are Key
As you're going for a part-time role, highlight your flexibility and how it would fit with the organisation's needs. Have examples ready that demonstrate your availability for various shifts or urgent situations—that's just gold for a social work role.
✨Prepare for a Situation-Based Discussion
Expect scenario-based questions where you'll need to demonstrate how you'd handle specific situations with clients or stakeholders. Think of a couple of real-life scenarios you've encountered and articulate your thought process. This will show Homeless Link that you're ready to hit the ground running in the Support Practitioner Runcorn Part Time role.