At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable individuals overnight, ensuring safety and facilitating their journey to stable housing.
- Company: Join a dynamic charity with over 50 years of impactful service in Hampshire.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, flexible working, and comprehensive support services.
- Other info: Be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to social change.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience with vulnerable populations and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 26035 - 31821 £ per year.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society. Join The Society of St James to work at The Registry—a high-support temporary accommodation hostel in Portsmouth—offering a wide range of support to people with histories of homelessness, substance and alcohol use, poor mental ill health, and other complex needs.
The Impact You'll Make
- Uphold Our Core Mission: Put into practice our core belief that every person is of worth, actively demonstrating a willingness to take risks to house and support the most vulnerable and socially excluded members of society.
- Facilitate Sustainable Move-Ons: Provide safe accommodation and work intensively with service users to help them overcome barriers to change and transition into suitable, long-term housing.
- Maintain Safety and Wellbeing: Oversee the smooth running of the service during overnight shifts (20:00 – 08:00), implementing risk management plans, carrying out health and safety checks, and upholding strict safeguarding protocols.
- Collaborate for Better Outcomes: Work in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies, including the PCC Housing Needs and Advice Support Team (HNAS) and Housing Management, to optimise client support.
Who We're Looking For
- A Compassionate and Mission-Driven Advocate: Someone who firmly believes in the worth of every individual and is committed to supporting socially excluded members of society.
- An Experienced and Knowledgeable Practitioner: An individual who brings existing experience and knowledge of the specific needs of vulnerable people with histories of homelessness, alcohol/substance dependency, and mental ill health.
- A Resilient Communicator: Someone who is open, approachable, honest, and capable of active listening to build trusting relationships with service users, colleagues, and external partners.
- An Initiative-Taker: A reliable team player who can use their own initiative to make sound decisions during overnight shifts, handle difficult situations calmly, and adhere to risk management plans.
- A Dedicated Overnight Support Worker: Someone ready to work a 42-hour per week, 4-on / 4-off waking night rota (20:00 – 08:00) while prioritising self-care in a high-support environment.
Essential Qualities and Skills
- Experience & Understanding of Complex Needs: Knowledge and practical experience regarding the interconnections of homelessness, mental ill health, and substance/alcohol dependency.
- Trauma-Informed & Risk Management: Familiarity with Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), trauma-informed care, harm minimisation strategies, risk assessments, and managing challenging behaviours.
- Safeguarding & Safety Protocols: Sound knowledge of adult safeguarding, health and safety regulations, lone-working procedures, and maintaining data protection and confidentiality.
- Communication & IT Proficiency: Excellent interpersonal skills combined with standard literacy and IT abilities to effectively write emails, letters, case notes, and maintain client records.
- Equality & Diversity: A clear understanding of equality and diversity principles in relation to both staff members and service clients.
- Core Competencies Alignment: Ability to demonstrate SSJ core competencies, including personal accountability, constructive conflict resolution, and commitment to organisational values.
What we can offer you:
- 25 days pro-rata annual leave plus public holidays
- Flexible working options
- Buying additional annual leave
- Comprehensive induction and training
- Counselling, financial, personal support and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
- Electric Car Scheme
- Blue Light Card
SSJ are an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life. At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union.
Waking Night Support Worker in Portsmouth employer: Society of St James
The Society of St James (SSJ) is an exceptional employer, dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable individuals across Hampshire. With a strong commitment to employee well-being, SSJ offers generous benefits such as flexible working options, comprehensive training, and support services, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture. Join us to be part of a passionate team that values your contributions and empowers you to grow while making a difference in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Waking Night Support Worker in Portsmouth
✨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 Society of St James.
✨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 Society of St James!
✨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 Society of St James, 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 Society of St James 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 Waking Night Support Worker in Portsmouth
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 Society of St James:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Society of St James! 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 Society of St James
✨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.
