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- Tasks: Support individuals experiencing homelessness to find accommodation and improve their wellbeing.
- Company: Join a leading provider of housing support services in Sussex with over 50 years of experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, health cashback scheme, interest-free loans, and 25 days paid holiday.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by helping them overcome homelessness and trauma.
- Qualifications: Empathy, understanding, and a full driving licence are essential; training provided for all.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with early morning shifts and excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 27942 - 27942 £ per year.
Location: Office base in Hastings (covering Hastings/Rother)
Salary: £27,942 per year (plus £1,000 essential car user allowance, £800 Rough Sleepers Allowance and Unsociable Hours shift allowance)
Hours: 37 per week. The working pattern includes two early morning shifts, starting at 5.00am (Summer) or 6.00am (Winter) Monday - Friday. Other working days are 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday - Friday.
What you'll be doing:
Are you passionate about ending the cycle of rough sleeping for people who are experiencing homelessness? Are you interested in a career in housing support, mental health recovery and wellbeing development? Southdowns Outreach and Move On teams support those who are rough sleeping to move away from homelessness by accessing accommodation options. As a Housing Support Specialist you'll work alongside a multiagency team, supporting people who have experienced the trauma of homelessness, to make positive and lasting changes in their lives. You'll provide early morning street outreach to people sleeping rough in Hastings/Rother, combined with move on / tenancy support as your clients take steps away from homelessness and into accommodation. You'll provide flexible, trauma-informed support, focusing on ending rough sleeping by identifying the support each person needs. This may include support with substance dependency, mental and physical health needs, domestic abuse, current or historical offending.
We welcome applications from candidates with previous experience in roles such as Support Worker, Outreach Worker, Community Specialist, Case Manager, Social Worker, Housing Support Worker, Social Care Prescriber, Community Health Worker, Community Outreach Coordinator or Care Coordinator. However, this is not essential and we will provide a full induction and training programme for all successful candidates.
Perks and benefits:
- Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
- Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
- Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
- Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
- Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
- 25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.
- Rough Sleepers Allowance - £800 per year.
- Essential car user allowance - £1,000 per year.
- Unsociable hours allowance - an extra £4.40 per shift.
Skills, knowledge and experience:
What you need for the role:
- Available to work unsociable hours (2 early morning shifts per week starting at 5am or 6am)
- A personalised care approach, with empathy and understanding
- An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be paid for by Southdown
- A full driving Licence is essential along with access to your own car or a car insured for you
What would be nice:
- Knowledge of complex and diverse support needs relating to homelessness, mental health and substance misuse
- Awareness of the causes of rough sleeping and the barriers preventing people who are rough sleeping from engaging in services
- Experience working in a supported housing or homelessness setting
- Experience supporting individuals with complex mental health needs
Training:
Our award winning in house training team will help you to gain valuable qualifications, continually develop your skills and build a great career with the largest provider of housing, care and support in Sussex.
How to apply:
Please click on the Apply Now button and fill out our simple one-page application form. Please note, if we receive a large number of applications then this position may close before the advertised application closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Housing Support Specialist in Hastings employer: Southdown
Contact Detail:
Southdown Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Support Specialist in Hastings
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Southdown and understand their mission in tackling homelessness. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips about the role and the company culture, which can give you an edge in your application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those early morning shifts! If you're applying for the Housing Support Specialist role, practice discussing your flexibility and readiness to work unsociable hours. It shows you're committed and ready to jump in!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it’s super easy – just fill out that one-page form and you’re good to go!
We think you need these skills to ace Housing Support Specialist in Hastings
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your passion for helping those experiencing homelessness shine through. We want to see your genuine interest in making a difference and how you relate to the role of a Housing Support Specialist.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have, even if it’s not directly in housing support. We love seeing how skills from roles like Support Worker or Outreach Worker can translate into this position, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your sentences are easy to read and get straight to the heart of what makes you a great fit for the role.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the position early if we get a lot of applications, so jump on our website and apply as soon as you can to avoid missing out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southdown
✨Know Your Stuff
Familiarise yourself with the key issues surrounding homelessness and rough sleeping. Understand the support needs of individuals in these situations, as well as the services available to them. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your passion for the role and your commitment to making a difference.
✨Show Empathy and Understanding
During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you would approach working with vulnerable individuals. Share examples from your past experiences where you've shown empathy and provided support. This will highlight your personalised care approach, which is crucial for a Housing Support Specialist.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that present hypothetical situations related to homelessness and support work. Think about how you would handle various challenges, such as dealing with substance dependency or mental health issues. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility
Since the role involves unsociable hours, make sure to express your willingness to work early mornings and adapt to changing schedules. Share any previous experiences where you've successfully managed flexible working hours, as this will show your commitment to the role and its demands.
