Specialist Support Worker - Housing Lead - Hackney, London

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Homelessness Social Care Service in Hackney. £31,068.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Six week rolling rota including early and late shifts and some weekends.

Want to feel in control of your career? 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. 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.

What you'll do:

• Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and external partners, creating a positive atmosphere
• Leading on care packages and transition plans for customers when exiting the service
• 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
• Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
• Undertake support work in partnership with external stakeholders to compliment their interventions
• Adhering to lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues
• Being responsible for the handover of key information between shifts
• 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
• To uphold all health and safety responsibilities within relevant policies and local protocols
• Adhere to all the policies and procedures of Look Ahead Care & Support plus those specific to the project including any statutory requirements

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:

• Embraces a Psychologically Informed approach
• Is capable of maintaining unconditional positive regard
• A strong specialist support worker with excellent interpersonal skills
• Socially adept, networks widely, well connected in sector, influential
• At ease in directing others, is assertive and independent minded, will challenge others, and skilled in resolving conflict
• Drives change, enjoys dynamic diverse environments and demonstrates entrepreneurialism, creativity and innovation
• Demonstrates significant confidence and high levels of self-esteem
• Demonstrates significant levels of emotional resilience and a positive attitude
• Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
• Is passionate and enthusiastic about the business
• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experiences of using services.

What you'll bring:

• Essential: Up to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in a relevant area (e.g. psychology, Health and Social Care, Mental Health) OR experience in the social care/charity sector.
• Experience building and developing strong professional partnerships with external providers aligned to their specialism.

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.