At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable adults to live fulfilling lives through community-based care.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Hounslow, a diverse and inclusive council.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in an innovative service.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while shaping the future of social care.
- Qualifications: Experience in social care and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 40182 - 42060 £ per year.
About us at Hounslow
We’d love you to join us at the London Borough of Hounslow! Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. We are an outstanding council, serving an outstanding borough. With brilliant, visionary leadership, a dynamic Cabinet and a can-do culture, we’ve built strong partnerships which have transformed how we serve one of London’s most diverse boroughs. Hounslow is the world in one place and full of potential. We are stepping up for our residents like never before.
About our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
We live by five core values: Lead with Heart, Do New, Pass on the Power, Harness the Mix and Be a Rock. All our work has equality, diversity and inclusion at its very heart, best articulated in “Harness the Mix”. It's about breaking down barriers between our parts and people and unlocking the problem-solving power of our amazing mix of minds. We serve a diverse community, we have a diverse workforce and we are committed to being an inclusive employer.
We work hard to create representation across our workforce and leadership community, we have thriving employee network groups and our learning and development programmes help us lead, model and breathe ways of working that eliminate inequality, inequity, injustice and bias. As part of this and under our commitments as a Disability Confident Employer, we make reasonable adjustments to accommodate our candidates. There’s space for you to tell us what you need within our application form.
Our Benefits
If you join us, you’ll have access to a range of employee benefits.
About The Role
Are you passionate about person-centred social care and committed to helping people live meaningful, connected lives within their communities? Shared Lives Hounslow is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Shared Lives Co-ordinator to join our growing team and help expand this innovative provision across the borough. Shared Lives is often described as a form of adult fostering. It is a person-centred, community-based alternative to supported living or residential care, where adults who need support live as part of a Shared Lives Carer's household. At its heart, Shared Lives is about relationships, belonging, and enabling people to live fulfilling lives through shared experiences, routines and community connections. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a developing Hounslow service and play a key role in shaping its future. Working closely with carers, residents, local authority colleagues, health partners and community organisations, you will help deliver high-quality, outcome-focused support to vulnerable adults across Hounslow.
About Shared Lives Hounslow
The people we support are individuals first and foremost. They have their own aspirations, interests and ambitions. Our role is not to fit people into services, but to support them to live their fullest lives. As we continue to develop and grow our in-house Shared Lives provision, we are looking for someone who shares our vision for excellent adult social care and who is committed to delivering positive outcomes for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism, with the potential for the model to expand across other care groups in the future.
Key Responsibilities
- Recruit, assess, train and support Shared Lives Carers.
- Work directly with residents using Shared Lives services, ensuring their needs, goals and outcomes remain central to all support planning.
- Identify and facilitate suitable Shared Lives placements.
- Promote the Shared Lives model across Hounslow and with partner organisations.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across Adult Social Care, health services and community organisations.
- Monitor and support the quality of Shared Lives arrangements.
- Help develop and embed the service, demonstrating the positive impact of community-based, relationship-focused support.
About You
We are looking for an organised, proactive and solution-focused individual who is passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable adults. You will:
- Have demonstrable experience of working within a related field.
- Have demonstrable understanding of person-centred and strengths-based approaches to support.
- Be able to build effective relationships with carers, residents, professionals and partner agencies.
- Demonstrate strong organisational and communication skills.
- Have the ability to achieve positive change through a systems-based approach to problem-solving.
- Be committed to promoting independence, choice, inclusion and wellbeing.
What We Offer
In return, you can expect:
- The opportunity to be part of an innovative and growing service.
- A supportive and welcoming team environment.
- Comprehensive induction and training programme.
- Ongoing professional development opportunities.
- A competitive employment package.
- The chance to make a genuine difference to the lives of vulnerable adults across Hounslow.
Join Us
This is a unique opportunity for the right candidate to take their career to the next level while helping to shape the future of Shared Lives in Hounslow. If you share our vision of excellent social care practice and believe in the power of relationships, community and belonging, we would love to hear from you.
About The Team You’ll Be Working In
At Shared Lives, we value diversity in its broadest sense and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. We believe a diverse workforce strengthens our understanding of the communities we serve and enables us to deliver high-quality, person-centred services. Our Shared Lives approach promotes choice, independence, and inclusion, enabling individuals to live fulfilling lives within their local communities. You will be passionate about empowering people to achieve their goals and committed to delivering positive outcomes for vulnerable adults.
Essential for The Role:
- An Enhanced DBS Check is required for this role.
Don’t meet every single requirement? We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they think they can’t tick every box. At Hounslow, we realise the ‘perfect candidate’ doesn’t exist. So, if you can do most of what we’re looking for, go ahead and apply. You may be just the right candidate for the job or be perfect for one of our other roles!
This post is considered by the authority to be a customer-facing position; as such, it falls within the scope of the Code of Practice on English language requirements for public sector workers. The council, therefore, has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements.
Shared Lives Coordinator in London employer: London Borough of Hounslow
The Heathland School in Hounslow is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that values collaboration and professional growth. Employees benefit from a dynamic environment where they can develop their skills while contributing to the educational success of students. With a focus on meaningful work and community engagement, this role as Executive PA to the Headteacher provides a unique opportunity to make a significant impact within the school.
Contact Details:
London Borough of Hounslow Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Shared Lives Coordinator in London
✨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 London Borough of Hounslow.
✨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 London Borough of Hounslow!
✨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 London Borough of Hounslow, 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 London Borough of Hounslow 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 Shared Lives Coordinator in London
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 London Borough of Hounslow:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to London Borough of Hounslow! 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 London Borough of Hounslow
✨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.
