At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals experiencing homelessness with life skills and housing-related assistance.
- Company: Join the Society of St James, a dynamic charity making a real impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25-30 days annual leave, flexible working, and comprehensive training.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team dedicated to equality and diversity.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful difference in people's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Compassionate approach and ability to handle challenging situations professionally.
The predicted salary is between 20790 - 25410 £ per year.
Working in our 24/7 intensive homelessness accommodation, you will provide critical life skills and housing-related support to individuals with complex needs.
Your core focus will be on driving key outcomes - such as improving daily living skills, boosting self-esteem, enhancing long-term health, and encouraging engagement with support services and meaningful occupation.
Your daily responsibilities will include
- Promoting Harm Reduction & Health: Facilitating harm minimisation (including needle exchange procedures and Naloxone administration) and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices.
- Teaching Basic Life Skills & Housing Management: Supporting residents with budgeting, tenancy processes, breakfast preparation, and maintaining personal/communal hygiene.
- Key-Work & Support Planning: Assisting with risk assessments, updating case notes/IT systems, logging maintenance requests, and coordinating room clearances and turnarounds.
- Providing Essential Emotional & Community
Support: Offering empathy and stability while helping residents access volunteering, training, or opportunities like selling The Big Issue.
- Maintaining Safety: Carrying out regular welfare checks, reporting safeguarding concerns, and handling incoming rent/petty cash in line with financial procedures.
- We are searching for someone with a compassionate approach who can deal with difficult or challenging behaviour calmly, effectively, and professionally.
- Communication & IT Skills: Ability to listen, build positive relationships, and maintain accurate records (case notes, handover logs, emails) using IT systems.
- Adaptability & Initiative: Able to work flexibly on a 12‑hour shift rota, respond effectively to emergencies, and manage time well within a team.
- Empathy & Awareness: A genuine sense of humor, dynamic understanding of equality and diversity, and strict adherence to professional boundaries.
- Key Domain Knowledge: Understanding of mental health, substance use, lone working, and adult safeguarding/protection.
Desirable Experience
Prior experience working with individuals with histories of homelessness, mental health problems, or substance misuse in a residential or supported housing environment.
About SSJ
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.
Make a real difference where it matters most. Come join SSJ as a Homeless Support Worker.
Benefits
- A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
- Flexible working options
- Buying additional annual leave
- Comprehensive induction and training
- Counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme
- Company cycle to work scheme
- Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie's Computers
- Electric Card Scheme
- Blue Light Card
SSJ are an equal opportunity 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.
To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Homeless Support Worker in Southampton employer: The Society of St James
The Society of St James (SSJ) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment in Southampton where you can make a real difference in the lives of individuals facing challenges with homelessness and substance use. With generous benefits such as flexible working options, comprehensive training, and a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, SSJ fosters a culture of growth and inclusivity, making it an ideal place for emerging professionals and those with lived experience to thrive in their careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Homeless Support Worker in Southampton
✨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 The 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 The 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 The 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 The 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 Homeless Support Worker in Southampton
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 The Society of St James:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to The 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 The 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.
