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- Tasks: Support customers with care and promote their wellbeing in a safe environment.
- Company: Riverside is a housing association dedicated to enhancing lives and revitalising communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, personal development opportunities, and a diverse, inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while working in a supportive team that values your input.
- Qualifications: Compassionate individuals with good communication skills and a positive attitude are encouraged to apply.
- Other info: Flexible working hours required; training and continuous development provided.
Salary: £12.63 per hour
Working Hours: As and when required
Location: The Victoria Project, Cambridge
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. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.
The difference you will make as a Relief Worker
You will provide a high quality, customer-oriented service and understand that all actions should be customer-led. Under the direction of the scheme manager and support team, you will assist in providing care and support to customers. You will assist in maintaining and promoting the dignity of all individuals to improve their health and wellbeing in a safe and appropriate environment.
About you
- Experience of working with people from various backgrounds and sectors of society (this could be friends, family, professional experience, children)
- Compassion, patience, and empathy
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Flexibility to cover shifts, sometimes at short notice
- Approachable with a positive attitude
- Excellent team player who can work flexibly to meet business requirements
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. We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.
Working with us, you’ll enjoy:
- 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 (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.
Role Profile
We use 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
- Clean and prepare customer rooms as appropriate
- Resolve difficult and challenging situations in a sensitive and informed way, balancing the needs of the individual with the safety of the service
- Ensure customer safety by following local safeguarding procedures, recognising, and acting on any risks and escalating appropriately
- Contribute to and maintain local partnerships to ensure availability of a holistic range of support for customers
- Carry out day-to-day administration and operational duties
- Maintaining and updating financial administration systems including rent accounts, invoices, petty cash, and banking
- Assist in collating and submitting information returns on funding, health & safety, and performance
- Act as point of contact on the phone, reception, and deal with a range of enquiries
Other Information
You will be required to work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours. Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary. Ensure customers are safe at all times - carrying out all of your duties within Riverside’s Policy and Procedure framework, health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR opportunities, cash handling, etc. Deliver your role in line with Riverside company values – “Our Riverside Way”. Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and reflecting practice sessions. Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely. From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager.
Person specification
- An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs
- Experience of working in a team and communicating positively with other people
- Experience of being able to organise tasks and plan accordingly whilst dealing with people
- Be a team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and have a resilient, can-do attitude.
- Able to use initiative and have confidence to make decisions
- Basic administrative and IT skills to maintain records
- Experience of working with vulnerable and diverse customer groups or individuals with complex needs
- Personal lived experience of either homelessness, rough sleeping, mental health issues or substance misuse
Relief Worker employer: Riverside
Contact Detail:
Riverside Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Relief Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Riverside's values and mission. Understanding their commitment to diversity and inclusion will help you align your approach during interviews, showcasing how your personal values resonate with theirs.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any relevant experience you have in supporting vulnerable individuals. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've demonstrated compassion, patience, and effective communication in past roles or situations.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your flexibility and adaptability. Since the role requires covering shifts at short notice, think of instances where you've successfully managed unexpected changes in your work schedule.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to demonstrate your teamwork skills. Reflect on experiences where you've collaborated with others to achieve a common goal, especially in challenging environments, as this is crucial for the Relief Worker position.
We think you need these skills to ace Relief Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience, especially any work with diverse or vulnerable groups. Emphasise skills like communication, empathy, and teamwork, as these are crucial for the Relief Worker role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for helping others and your understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your suitability for the role.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your skills that align with the job description, such as flexibility, patience, and the ability to work under pressure. Mention any relevant training or certifications that could enhance your application.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
How to prepare for a job interview at Riverside
✨Show Your Compassion
As a Relief Worker, demonstrating compassion and empathy is crucial. Be prepared to share examples from your past experiences where you've shown understanding and support to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
✨Highlight Teamwork Skills
Riverside values teamwork highly. During the interview, discuss your experiences working in teams, how you contribute positively, and any specific instances where you helped resolve conflicts or supported colleagues.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle challenging situations. Think of examples where you've successfully navigated difficult circumstances while maintaining customer dignity and safety.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility
Flexibility is key in this role. Be ready to discuss your availability and willingness to cover shifts at short notice. Share any previous experiences where you adapted quickly to changing circumstances or requirements.