At a Glance
- Tasks: Help communities tackle homelessness and bad housing through advice and advocacy.
- Company: Join Shelter Scotland, a leading charity fighting for housing rights.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible working, and various employee perks.
- Other info: Be part of a passionate team committed to social justice and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives and drive systemic change.
- Qualifications: Experience in advice work and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Job Description
Do you have some experience of advice work, preferably with a focus on housing issues, and a real desire to advance your specialist level knowledge? Then join Shelter Scotland as a Housing Rights Worker and you could soon be playing a vital role in helping to identify and resolve the homelessness and bad housing issues facing local communities.
About the Team: Community Team
There are three Community Teams - North, West and East. These teams of housing rights workers engage with and activate communities in delivering insight and evidence and targeted interventions, to address local issues and contribute towards the Shelter Scotland Housing Emergency campaign for structural change. We work to the three equal parts of our Community Purpose:
- We challenge bad practice: In the face of Scotland’s housing emergency, we will hold local duty bearers to account and defend people’s rights.
- We build capacity: The supply issues at the heart of the Housing Emergency in Scotland create an unsustainable demand for housing services in Shelter Scotland, across the sector and in sectors traditionally beyond housing. We build capacity within affected organisations and groups to respond with and for the people they support.
- We strengthen our case for change: We work closely with our Comms and Advocacy colleagues by providing useful insights and context about what is happening locally. We create opportunities for people with lived experience of housing and homelessness to lend us stories which bring the real issues behind the statistics to life.
Our North Team covers regions from Fife northwards and operates out of our two regional offices in Dundee and Aberdeen with the team spread across these locations.
About the role
In our North Community Team, we are engaged in our local communities to understand the housing issues people are facing to gather insight and evidence around the broken system, and we apply our expertise to work toward solutions. We seek to work with and within communities to build capacity and drive action around housing rights and the housing emergency. Lived experience of the housing emergency is at the heart of everything we do.
About you
Already with some relevant experience, you’re used to working with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, have great time management skills and enjoy collaborating with people from other teams and organisations. The ability to listen to, engage and empower individuals and communities will be key. So will your willingness to challenge practice and hold people to account – including influencing decision makers. Adept at presenting information and arguments in clear and compelling ways, you have a real enthusiasm for delivering workshops and presentations too. What’s more, you’re a creative problem solver with an innate ability to gather evidence and identify insights, issues and trends and are proficient using Word, Excel, email, the internet and in-house CRM systems.
Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
Shelter Scotland helps thousands of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
About the team
Our three Communities Teams are responsible for identifying, investigating and intervening in housing and homelessness practice issues. We engage with our local communities to understand the issues people are facing and apply expert housing knowledge, insight and analysis to identify solutions to them. As well as providing advice and advocacy for individuals, we also use our insight, relationships and influence to drive systemic change, always ensuring that lived experience is at the heart of everything we do.
About Shelter Scotland
Shelter Scotland is Scotland’s national housing and homelessness charity. Our vision is of a home for everyone in Scotland. For over 50 years, the way we drive change has remained the same. We advise and support people in housing need today and use the insight we gain to inform our campaigns to change tomorrow. We also raise professional standards for those working in Scotland’s housing and homelessness sector by offering a broad range of training courses.
Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday thousands of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.
We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.
We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.
Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter Scotland. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.
Safeguarding statement
Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter Scotland is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.
Shelter Scotland does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
Housing Rights Worker - Shelter Scotland in Aberdeen employer: Shelter
Shelter Scotland is an exceptional employer dedicated to tackling the housing emergency in Scotland, offering a supportive work culture that values inclusivity and personal growth. With benefits such as 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family-friendly policies, and opportunities for flexible working, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact in their communities while developing their professional skills. Join us in our mission to ensure that everyone has a safe home, and be part of a team that champions social justice and drives systemic change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Rights Worker - Shelter Scotland in Aberdeen
✨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 Shelter.
✨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 Shelter!
✨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 Shelter, 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 Shelter 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 Housing Rights Worker - Shelter Scotland in Aberdeen
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 Shelter:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Shelter! 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 Shelter
✨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.
