Welfare Support Officer in Dumfries

Location: Dumfries and Galloway. Salary up to £29,856.80 per annum including a company vehicle and fuel card or £3,500 company car allowance. Contract: Full time – 6 month FTC, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers while their claims are being assessed in three regions: Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Mears partners with central and local government, registered providers, tenants, landlords and investors to find solutions to homelessness, provide more social and affordable housing, and create specialist housing for people with care needs.

Responsibilities

• Support service users at various stages of their asylum application process
• Address safeguarding and welfare issues appropriately, escalating concerns when necessary
• Provide both practical and emotional support to service users
• Monitor wellbeing and identify support needs for individuals and families
• Ensure accurate record-keeping for Home Office audits and compliance
• Carry out risk assessments and update support plans regularly
• Maintain professional boundaries while providing a supportive and empathetic service
• Assist service users with accessing healthcare, education, and community services
• Signpost to external agencies and support networks where appropriate
• Accompany service users to appointments or interviews where required
• Promote independence and resilience by encouraging service users to develop life skills
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, local authorities, and partner organisations
• Respond quickly and calmly to crisis situations to ensure safety and support
• Contribute to service improvements by sharing feedback and best practice
• Support equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery

Experience

• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Strong understanding of safeguarding practices and procedures
• Ability to identify needs and put in place appropriate support packages to promote independence
• Experience supporting people with mental health issues and/or challenging behaviour
• Effective communication skills with colleagues, service users, and local authorities
• Experience with record keeping, case management, and risk assessments
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and prioritise tasks
• Resilient, supportive, trustworthy, approachable, empathetic, and a good listener
• Flexible and willing to travel as required
• Ability to remain calm and professional in difficult or emotional situations
• Good IT skills for updating case notes and maintaining accurate records
• Commitment to confidentiality and data protection
• Full UK driving licence

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day – a thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work
• Volunteering Leave – paid volunteering in the community
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards – discounts and schemes
• Family friendly policies
• Company Vehicle and Fuel Card
• Access to EAP Counselling sessions

To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21, have held your licence for more than 3 months, and have fewer than 9 points. All our roles require entitlement to work within the UK; Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a Background, Identity, Security clearance & BPSS check. We will require identification documents, Proof of Address, References, a valid passport and proof that you have lived in the UK for the last 5 years.

If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way. 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. We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). We also hold an Endorsement Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers. In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is optional and will not impact your ability to apply.