At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead safeguarding efforts and support vulnerable tenants in a community-focused housing association.
- Company: Southway, a community-driven housing association in Greater Manchester.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent pension scheme, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to continuous improvement and community wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while promoting safety and independence.
- Qualifications: Experience in safeguarding and support for adults or families in social housing.
The predicted salary is between 42084 - 42084 £ per year.
Location: Didsbury, Manchester
Salary: £42,084
Full time: 35 hours per week
Fixed term contract: 18 months
About Us
Southway owns over 6,500 homes in Greater Manchester and is a community-focused housing association with a vision to provide excellent customer service and quality homes, where communities thrive. Southway strives for continuous improvement led by customers, communities and colleagues. It is a member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter and is guided by its REACH values of Respect, Equity, Ambition, Compassion and Honesty.
About the role
This Safeguarding and Support Coordinator is a specialist role responsible for coordinating and leading Southway's response to safeguarding concerns and support case planning. Working across the organisation, you will provide expert guidance on safeguarding, vulnerability, hoarding and self-neglect, helping to ensure tenants can live safely, independently and sustainably in their homes. You will manage complex and high-risk cases, work closely with statutory and community partners, and act as Southway's safeguarding lead in a range of multi-agency settings. The role will also support service development by embedding trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches across Housing Management and Support services and support continuous improvement through training, quality assurance and learning from casework.
What you will be doing:
- Coordinate, triage and manage safeguarding concerns, providing specialist advice and guidance across the organisation.
- Assess and oversee complex or high-risk safeguarding cases, ensuring timely intervention and effective risk management.
- Work with local authorities, health services, support agencies and community partners to secure positive outcomes for tenants.
- Lead and represent Southway at safeguarding, multi-agency and risk-management meetings.
- Deliver safeguarding training and support colleagues to embed trauma-informed and strengths-based practice.
- Assess and manage hoarding and self-neglect cases, carrying out home visits and developing action plans that support tenancy sustainment.
- Produce reports, performance information and case studies.
- Support responses to complaints, MP and Councillor enquiries, and Housing Ombudsman investigations, ensuring learning is captured and implemented.
About you
We are looking for a compassionate and resilient professional with experience of working with adults with care and support needs, children or families living in social housing, community safety, health or social care environments. You will have a strong understanding of safeguarding practice and be confident assessing and managing risk, making sound decisions and leading complex casework. You will be skilled at building relationships with tenants, colleagues and partner agencies, and able to influence, challenge and collaborate to achieve the best outcomes. You will be highly organised, able to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate case records. Experience of delivering training, working in multi-agency settings and supporting service improvement would be advantageous. Most importantly, you will share our values and be committed to delivering a high-quality, customer-focused service that promotes safety, wellbeing and independence.
In return, we offer a 35-hour working week, a competitive salary, an excellent contributory pension scheme, and 25 days' annual leave, increasing to 30 days over time. You will be part of a supportive, values-led organisation that is committed to helping its customers and colleagues thrive.
Closing Date: Monday 27 July
Interview Date: Wednesday 5 August
For an informal discussion please contact Claire Davies, on 0161 448 4212, or e-mail.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from suitably skilled people from all sectors of the community. All applicants who have a disability or are ex armed forces that meet the minimum essential criteria for the post will be invited to interview. If you have a disability or are ex armed forces, please tell us about this on your application form and please let us know about any special arrangements you would like us to make if you are invited in for an interview.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Safeguarding and Support Coordinator in Didsbury
✨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 Southway Housing Trust.
✨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 Southway Housing Trust!
✨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 Southway Housing Trust, 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 Southway Housing Trust 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 Safeguarding and Support Coordinator in Didsbury
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 Southway Housing Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southway Housing Trust! 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 Southway Housing Trust
✨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.
