Support Worker

Support Worker
We\’re looking for a compassionate, adaptable and resilient Support Worker to join our Mental Health Service in Newham.
£28,000.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Want to feel like you\’re making a difference? You\’ll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That\’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren\’t token gestures – we\’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• A generous pension – we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff\’s commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
The Newham Mental Health Team, based at Flying Angel, operates weekdays from 9am to 5pm, offering support to individuals with low to medium mental health needs both in the building and the community. They work with other professionals to help those with complex needs, aiming to create a safe and supportive environment tailored to each person\’s unique circumstances and aspirations.
As part of this team, Support Workers assist customers with complex mental health issues, including those with histories of substance use, trauma, non-engagement, criminal justice connections, and personality disorders. They help customers develop independent living skills, manage tenancies, and engage in the community. Support Workers carry a caseload and collaborate to create effective, recovery-oriented support and risk management plans. Their flexible support includes physical, domestic, emotional, and social assistance, promoting social inclusion, vocational opportunities, recovery, self-advocacy, and empowerment.
What you\’ll do:

• Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere
• Carrying out holistic assessments of new customers which incorporate relevant statutory referral information
• Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
• Create support plans for providing appropriate services based on on-going assessment and reflecting the services and resources available to enable customer to progress in their recovery
• Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of \’positive risk taking
• Provide support and access to relevant services to enable customers to continue their recovery and empower customers to self-manage their medication regimes through individual re-enablement programmes and informed decision making
• Undertake support work in partnership with external stakeholders to compliment their interventions
• Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes
• Demonstrate strong commitment to the functioning of the staff team and to support colleagues in providing a high level of service and safety to customers
• Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service
• Adhering to lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues
• Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times e.g. fire risk assessments, fire alarm checks etc.
• Being responsible for the handover of key information between staff.
• Provide structured support and guidance to other front line staff in their area of expertise
• To lead groups and activities – offering a range of appropriate therapeutic and recovery focused interactions and activities
• Adhering to all other Look Ahead\’s policies and procedures. Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills
• Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/ Manager

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
• Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
• Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
• Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you\’ll bring:
Essential:
A good understanding of mental health issues and how it affects people and experience of supporting customers to manage this and lead independent lives.
Desirable:
NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent with some or equivalent sector work experience
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.