Support Worker: Hopetoun Women Only RA Accommodation (Edinburgh)

About Simon Community Scotland

Simon Community Scotland is the largest provider of homelessness services in Scotland. Our vision is for everyone to have a safe place to live with access to the support they need. Every day we help make positive things happen for people facing extremely difficult circumstances. Everything we do is about and for people: the people we support, our staff, our partners and everyone affected by homelessness. Our values are built into every area of activity and tell the story of how people remain at the heart of the Simon Community.

Job Summary

The Simon Community is Scotland's leading homeless charity. We are creative and innovative. We get things done with care and compassion that make a difference to our community, being true to our values. We are a community of staff, volunteers and the people that we support. We are looking for someone who is passionate about changing expectations and experiences of people we support, many of whom have experienced significant trauma, exclusion and stigma. They often engage in risk taking behaviours that put their physical and mental health, and their lives at risk. Despite the challenges they face they have incredible resilience, survival skills and a wicked sense of humour. They know what a good, and not so good service looks like.

In our Rapid Access Accommodation projects we work with people who have current and previous experiences of rough sleeping into their own tenancies or move on accommodation to support them in fostering safety, choice and control in their lives. You’ll be based in a women’s accommodation setting, working one to one with individuals to provide person-centered, trauma informed support linking in with other agencies and partners as required.

As a residential support worker you will:

• Support the development of life skills and homemaking in preparation for moving on to a safe space, providing emotional support, and helping to reduce harm caused by homelessness and trauma.

We are presently seeking a full time Support Worker to cover shifts within our Edinburgh Women’s Rapid Access accommodation services.

Job Purpose

As a support worker it will be your job to work with a team on key activities including:

• Help people in our community to manage and recover their mental health
• Support people who use drugs and alcohol to do so as safely as possible, or to reduce or stop their use in a safe way
• Help people in our community to build a positive network of connections that will help them to gain and sustain their own housing
• Provide emotional and practical support to our community
• Supporting those we work with to access housing and other services as may require including healthcare, support for substance use and social inclusion
• Developing effective relationships with those we support by listening, interacting and responding to their needs and requirements
• Ability and willingness to meet people where they are at - physically, emotionally, socially - to build stickable relationships
• Working effectively with internal and external partners to maximise the effectiveness of support available to those we work with
• Maintaining accurate case notes and records
• Any other related activities as directed by your Service Lead which may arise as the role develops

Key Responsibilities

Your key responsibilities to support those values will be:

• Developing honest and open relationships with our community that foster trust
• Using our training and reflective practice to develop additional skills to support and respond appropriately to our community who have experienced trauma
• Working with people in our community with a wide range of experiences and cultural backgrounds with dignity, respect and kindness
• Working as part of a team with a range of experiences and knowledge to the benefit of our community
• Supporting our community to influence their care and support to meet their goals
• Fostering connection, hope, a positive identity and meaning in life and a sense of control for our community
• Working with other teams in SCS and with partners to support good outcomes for our community
• Seeking opportunities that will make a difference to our community
• Ensuring that our places reflect the respect we hold for our community

Frontline staff must be registered with SSSC and uphold the standards and values of the SSSC Code of Practice.

Person Specification

Training and qualifications:

• Essential: SVQ 3 social care or willing to work towards; SSSC Registered or willing to become so
• Desirable: Trauma informed practice; Assist / MHFA / SafeTalk trained; Naloxone trained; Mental Health or Substance Use qualifications

Experience:

• Essential: Providing support to people with a range of experiences including homelessness, mental ill health and/or substance use; Working in a fast paced environment which requires quick decision making
• Desirable: Lived experience of homelessness; Experience of working with a range of agencies as a team; Networking and connecting skills

Knowledge and Skills:

• Essential: Experience of working with people with a variety of individual and cultural beliefs; Ability to use empathy and relational skills to build positive relationships with our community and colleagues; Understanding of, and ability to work within, ethical and relational boundaries; Ability to work independently and as part of a team; Desire to reflect, learn and develop innovate practice
• Desirable: Knowledge and understanding of homelessness, addictions and mental health; Understanding of services that support homelessness, substance use and mental health; Evidence of good communication skills; written, verbal and digital

Personal:

• Essential: Being a positive person who leads by example; Have a willingness to learn and adapt to each situation; Honest, ethical and committed to our values at SCS

Please note that in accordance with The Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1, Paragraph 1), this post is open to women only.