At a Glance
- Tasks: Support older customers to live independently and safely in their homes.
- Company: Join a friendly team at LiveWest making a real difference every day.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26 days of annual leave, plus other great perks.
- Other info: Field-based role with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make meaningful connections and see the positive impact of your work.
- Qualifications: Customer service experience and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Do you thrive on building meaningful relationships and making a real difference in people’s daily lives? As an Independent Living Officer, you’ll play a key role in helping older customers live safely, securely and independently within our Independent Living schemes. You’ll be a familiar and trusted presence on site, ensuring the scheme is well‑managed, welcoming and compliant, while offering low‑level support, guidance and signposting to help customers thrive in their homes.
You’ll be the first point of contact for customers, working closely with colleagues and local partners to deliver a friendly, consistent and customer‑focused service. From supporting new customers to settle in, to maintaining safe communal spaces, you’ll help create positive environments where customers feel supported, included and able to enjoy life in their community.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure the scheme is safe, clean and well maintained, overseeing contractors and monitoring standards.
- Carry out regular health and safety checks, fire safety inspections and scheme risk assessments, keeping accurate records.
- Provide advice and signposting to customers, including support to access external agencies, alarms and wellbeing services.
- Welcome new customers, complete scheme inductions and assist with basic support or benefit‑related queries.
- Help customers understand their tenancy responsibilities, addressing low‑level breaches and escalating concerns where necessary.
- Build strong relationships with colleagues and local partners to support community activities and a positive living environment.
- Support customers to maintain their tenancy, offering low‑level support around budgeting, accessing benefits and managing their home.
- Work collaboratively to identify improvements and new ways of working to enhance services for customers.
Why Join LiveWest: You’ll be part of a friendly, supportive team that makes a meaningful difference every day. In this role, you’ll have the autonomy to build strong relationships with customers, take initiative and shape how services are delivered within your schemes. If you’re passionate about helping people live well and want a role where you can see the positive impact of your work, this is a great opportunity.
This role is full time, permanent, on a 37‑hour per week schedule. It is field based across Mid‑West Cornwall (Truro, Camborne, St Ives) with occasional travel to other areas, such as Plymouth, to cover duties. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups. Appointment to this role is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
About The Candidate
To be successful in this role you will have the essential skills and experience for a level 1 role and the following specific skills and experience.
Essential
- Experience in a customer‑facing role focused on delivering excellent customer service.
- Ability to work independently with high levels of resilience and autonomy.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with customers and partners.
- Ability to take initiative, solve problems and resolve issues at first contact.
- Understanding of professional boundaries and ability to work sensitively with older customers.
- Good literacy, numeracy and general IT skills.
- CIH Level 3 qualification or equivalent experience.
- Full, valid UK driving licence.
Desirable
- Experience working in the social housing sector or with registered providers.
- Understanding of issues affecting older people and local service provision.
Please note: This role is not eligible for CoS. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the role without requiring a CoS.
Reward and Benefits
Generous Annual Leave: Start with 26 days, plus
Independent Living Officer employer: LiveWest
Livewest is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its staff, offering a supportive work culture where flexibility and teamwork are at the forefront. Employees benefit from generous annual leave, pension contributions, and health benefits, alongside opportunities for personal and professional growth within the rewarding field of youth support in the beautiful setting of West Cornwall.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Independent Living Officer
✨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 LiveWest.
✨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 LiveWest!
✨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 LiveWest, 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 LiveWest 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 Independent Living Officer
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 LiveWest:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to LiveWest! 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 LiveWest
✨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.
