At a Glance
- Tasks: Support customers in their daily lives and help them achieve independence.
- Company: Riverside, a housing association dedicated to enhancing communities.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension, 25 days holiday, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a commitment to diversity and guaranteed interviews for disabled applicants.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in customer-facing roles and basic IT skills required.
The predicted salary is between 26227 - 26227 £ per year.
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £26,227.50 per annum
Working Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Rolling rota system including alternate weekends and bank holidays
Location: The Quays, Sittingbourne, Kent
If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter.
The difference you will make as a Support Assistant:
- You will be key in the day-to-day running of one of our supported housing services.
- The priority in your role includes the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our accommodation, including our customers.
- Working with people who have a range of needs, you could be doing any number of things, from supporting customers in conversations with calls from their GP, Social Services, or benefits teams to dealing with the emergency services when the need arises.
- You’ll log all incidents to make sure we have an accurate record of events.
- When a customer leaves, you will clean and prepare their room, ready for the next occupant.
About you:
- Experience of working with people in a customer facing environment.
- An understanding of supporting vulnerable people – this could include having your own lived experience of homelessness or drug or alcohol addiction.
- Basic administrative and IT skills and attention to detail are required to maintain records and in-house systems.
Why Riverside?
At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.
Working with us, you’ll enjoy:
- Competitive pay
- Generous pension
- 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
- Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
- A wide range of benefits
Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.
Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role, they will be guaranteed an interview.
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered.
Role Profile:
Support customers using Psychologically Informed approaches and Trauma Informed Care principles to support our customers to make positive choices, develop new ways of thinking and take steps towards independence, by:
- Assisting in the planning and delivery of a range of personalised support and move-on plans.
- Understanding the risk management process and assisting the team to organise and undertake regular reviews of support and risk.
- Inspiring and motivating customers to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills.
- Assisting customers with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters.
- Assisting the team to identify and promote opportunities for employment, education and training and support customers to access them.
- Signposting customers to appropriate external support services, such as food banks and other community resources.
- Supporting customers to be ‘tenancy ready’, enabling successful move on.
- Supporting customers to be financially independent through budgeting plans and maximising income.
- Supporting and monitoring customers’ healthcare needs, ensuring appropriate contact with healthcare professionals.
- Empowering customers to move towards self-management of their medication by following Riverside’s medication procedure.
- Maintaining and updating clear, accurate and strengths-based records on the appropriate digital platform.
- Assisting in the promotion of customer involvement and consultation.
- Assisting with the delivery of a range of group work sessions.
Deliver a support service:
- Support the delivery of the referral process for new customers.
- Contribute to the delivery of a housing management service, including income collection and providing customers with tenancy-related support.
- Work with customers to maintain a safe environment, including reporting any repairs or health and safety concerns.
Support Assistant in Kent employer: Riverside Group
Riverside is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the community. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, competitive pay, generous benefits, and opportunities for personal development, Riverside fosters a supportive work culture that empowers individuals to thrive. Located in Liverpool's Speke area, the hybrid working model allows for flexibility, ensuring a balanced work-life experience for all team members.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Support Assistant in Kent
✨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 Riverside Group.
✨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 Riverside Group!
✨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 Riverside Group, 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 Riverside Group 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 Support Assistant in Kent
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 Riverside Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Riverside Group! 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 Riverside Group
✨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.
