Support Worker

Job Title: Support Worker

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £26,549.63 per annum (£27,722.51 per annum after 18 months of successful performance)

Working Hours: 37.5 Hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

Location: Booker House, Swindon

Application Note: Please attach a current CV and covering letter. Riverside recruits to potential, not just skills, so we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the essential criteria.

The difference you will make as a Support Worker

You will work from one of our supported services, providing support to our customers in variety of ways – connecting them with employability coaches, helping them manage money, signing up for benefits or moving on to a more permanent home. Your role includes boosting confidence, supporting their journey, keeping detailed records, and handling administrative tasks. The role can be tough, but many find it incredibly rewarding. You will need resilience, empathy, and the ability to leave work at work.

About you

• Experience working with vulnerable people.
• Experience delivering structured support and risk management.
• Team player with a caring, empathetic nature, resilient and can‑do attitude.
• Understanding of supporting vulnerable people – lived experience of homelessness or drug/alcohol addiction is desirable.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including lone working outside normal office hours.

Why Riverside?

Riverside is a housing association with a 90‑year history of revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities. We own or manage over 75,000 homes across the UK and work in homelessness services, social care, employment support, and retirement living. Working with us you’ll enjoy competitive pay, generous pension, 28 days holidays plus bank holidays, flexible working options, investment in learning, and a wide range of benefits.

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside

We are inclusive. Riverside values diversity in all its forms, fostering a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role, they will be guaranteed an interview.

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered

Role Profile

Supporting Customers

• Lead on co‑producing bespoke support and move‑on plans, involving key stakeholders.
• Organise and carry out regular planned reviews of support and risk plans.
• Engage customers to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills.
• Assist customers with day‑to‑day support and tenancy‑related matters.
• Identify and promote opportunities for employment, education, and training.
• Signpost customers to appropriate external support services (e.g., food banks).
• Support customers to be ‘tenancy ready’ and to become financially independent through budgeting.
• Support and monitor customers’ healthcare needs and medication management.
• Lead on support initiatives including group work.
• Ensure safety by following local safeguarding procedures and escalating risks.
• Record and update customer information accurately on the digital platform.

Service Delivery

• Facilitate referral process into the service and assess potential new customers.
• Contribute to the delivery of housing management, including income collection and tenancy support.
• Work with customers to maintain a safe environment, reporting repairs and health and safety concerns.
• Clean and prepare rooms as appropriate.
• Resolve difficult situations sensitively, balancing individual needs with safety responsibilities.
• Develop and maintain local partnerships to provide holistic support.
• Carry out day‑to‑day administration and operational duties.

Other Information

• Flexible working hours outside normal office hours.
• Travel to different properties within the defined area as required.
• Use the Lone Worker system as necessary.
• Ensure customers are safe at all times, following Riverside’s policies and procedures.
• Deliver your role in line with Riverside company values – “Our Riverside Way.”
• Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and reflective practice sessions.
• Undertake regular training and continuous development.
• From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties in consultation with your Line Manager.

Person Specification

Essential

• An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs.
• Experience delivering structured support and risk management.
• Be a team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and resilient, can‑do attitude.
• Previous experience in positively resolving incidents.
• Demonstrate initiative and confidence to make and act on decisions.
• Competent administrative and IT skills to produce reports and communications.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Psychological or Trauma Informed approaches to support.
• Experience working in challenging environments, with the ability to plan, prioritise, organise tasks to achieve results.
• Knowledge of current benefit systems.
• Experience working in a care and support environment.

About Us

Riverside is one of the UK’s leading not‑for‑profit social housing and regeneration organisations, owning or managing around 75,000 homes from Irvine to Kent. We are a leading provider of supported housing services, particularly for those affected by homelessness, and our track record of transforming lives and revitalising neighbourhoods dates back over 90 years. We have plans to build over 15,000 affordable homes over the next decade.