At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals at risk of homelessness to find and maintain suitable housing.
- Company: Join South Gloucestershire Council, dedicated to making a difference in the community.
- Benefits: Generous leave, wellbeing support, staff discounts, and flexible work options.
- Other info: Hybrid role with opportunities for professional development and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by helping people secure stable homes and improve their lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing support and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
As a Housing Support Worker, you will be a key member of the HomeChoice team, playing a role in helping to prevent homelessness, by supporting people to access and maintain suitable accommodation. The HomeChoice service provides a high quality, comprehensive housing access service for households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. Good housing can help to stabilise communities, reduce inequalities, improve safety and help reduce crime.
Regularly, you will provide specialist advice, housing support and resettlement services to households who are at risk of homelessness or need to access more suitable housing. As well as supporting our housing advice drop-in service, you will manage a caseload of households requiring housing related support. You will conduct initial interviews with individuals, assess and identify their requirements and monitor the household’s progress towards resolving their housing needs. It will be key for you to help people explore appropriate housing options, assist people to become tenancy ready and work closely with landlords to secure suitable properties. It will be your responsibility to ensure all information is processed in accordance with procedures, regulations and codes of practice. As required, you will undertake home and site visits and deal sympathetically with customers. Taking the lead, working with landlords and other services, to support households secure accommodation in the private rented sector.
We require you to have experience in a similar role, either in housing or a specialist environment. You will demonstrate knowledge of relevant processes and have an awareness of regulations and codes of practice. Given the nature of this role, you will be able to engage and communicate effectively with a range of customers. You will be confident in your ability to liaise with outside agencies and organisations if required. You must be able to organise and manage your own caseload.
This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Kingswood, working from home and site visits. Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) basic check is obtained. You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.
As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives, and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance. We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
Housing Support Worker in Kingswood employer: Southglos
At South Gloucestershire Council, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that values diversity and individual contributions. As a Housing Support Worker, you will benefit from generous annual leave, employee wellbeing support, and access to various staff discounts, all while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working model. We are committed to your professional growth, providing extensive training and development opportunities to help you make a meaningful impact in our community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Support Worker in Kingswood
✨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 Southglos.
✨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 Southglos!
✨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 Southglos, 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 Southglos 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 Support Worker in Kingswood
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 Southglos:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southglos! 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 Southglos
✨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.
