At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable individuals facing homelessness with compassion and tailored guidance.
- Company: Join Spires, a grassroots charity making a real difference in South London.
- Benefits: Enjoy 35 days annual leave, pension contributions, and life insurance.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while gaining valuable experience in social care.
- Qualifications: Experience working with vulnerable people and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 22050 - 26950 £ per year.
This is an exciting time to join Spires and play an integral part in delivering our new Croydon Day Centre, which we are delivering in partnership with Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) and CAYSH, with the support of MHCLG’s Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund.
About us: Spires is a grassroots South London charity working with people impacted by homelessness to lead lives of greater stability. Our support workers provide non-judgemental and tailored advice and guidance to adults who are currently facing homelessness or are at risk. We support people to secure housing that is sustainable, suitable for their needs, so they leave homelessness behind for good.
Part 1: The Role
This role sits within our Housing and Homelessness (H&H) team. The post holder’s work will centre around three days a week at the Croydon Day Centre, with two days working in the community, which will include working from our refugee drop-in delivery in partnership with Croydon Refugee Day Centre (CRDC). The post holder will also work at our H&H services in Lambeth and Wandsworth on occasion, and colleagues from those services will also support the running of the Croydon Day Centre. The post holder will work from our Stockwell Office on Wednesdays.
Part 2: Key duties and responsibilities
- Service Delivery & Support: Welcome and engage service users in a non-judgemental, compassionate manner. Provide basic needs support such as clothing, and access to a safe space. Offer advice, advocacy and signposting on housing, health services and other support agencies. Conduct assessments of need and develop personalised support plans.
- Case Management: Maintain accurate, confidential records of interactions and support plans. Liaise with housing teams, healthcare providers, social services, and other partners to coordinate support. Monitor individuals’ progress and update plans as required.
- Centre Operations: Assist with daily tasks such as setting up service areas, distributing supplies, and managing donations. Ensure safeguarding procedures and organisational policies are always followed.
- Crisis Support: Identify signs of crisis, risk, or safeguarding concerns and respond appropriately. Support individuals experiencing emotional distress, mental health issues or substance misuse challenges.
- General: Be proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance, and in identifying and acting upon areas for improvement and development. Undertake other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by more senior members of staff, including session cover. Attend and participate in staff and team meetings and other meetings as required.
This job description covers the current range of duties and will be reviewed from time to time. It is Spires’ aim to reach agreement on changes, but if agreement is not possible, Spires reserves the right to change this job description.
Part 3: Person specification
Essential experience: Working with vulnerable and socially excluded people, particularly people experiencing homelessness or insecure accommodation and associated culture – drugs, alcohol, violence, mental and physical ill-health. Managing a caseload, needs assessment, planned support, key working, goal setting and advocacy. Experience of challenging appropriately and maintaining clear and appropriate boundaries. Networking and effectively liaising with specialist service providers or agencies to establish and/or improve access to services for clients.
Desirable experience: Working with volunteers. Working in the charity sector and/or a day centre environment.
Essential knowledge: Sound understanding of the issues faced by homeless or vulnerably housed people and the difficulties they experience in accessing services that are fully responsive to their needs. Good understanding of safeguarding practices in a social care and/or day centre environment. Good understanding of confidentiality and working with sensitive information. Working knowledge of health and social care services.
Desirable knowledge: A relevant NVQ2/3 or equivalent qualification in a relevant field.
Essential skills and personal qualities: Excellent written and spoken communication skills. Information and relationship management skills. Ability to effectively manage time, work under pressure and balance competing priorities to meet deadlines. IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and databases. Non-judgemental with the ability to empathise.
Part 4: Summary of terms and conditions of service
Location: The postholder will be an employee of The Spires Centre. This post is based at Elmfield House 5 Stockwell Mews SW9 9GX. However, the post holder will be working across Spires’ drop-ins in Lambeth, Wandsworth and Croydon.
Probation: This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period.
Notice: This post is subject to a four-week notice period.
Annual leave: The annual leave entitlement is 35 days per year pro rata, made up of eight bank and public holidays and 27 days annual leave. The 27 days annual leave is normally split between 24 ‘bookable’ days and three closure days that fall between Christmas and the New Year.
Pension: The Spires Centre will contribute 5% of annual salary for those who qualify for our group pension plan.
Other benefits: The Spires Centre will provide life and income protection insurance for those who qualify for our group plans.
Expenses: The role may require travel. Out-of-pocket expenses will be paid when incurred in accordance with our expenses policy.
Safeguarding: The postholder will adhere to The Spires Centre’s safeguarding policy for vulnerable adults. This post is also subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Support Worker in London employer: Ygam
Spires is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its staff. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer comprehensive training and development opportunities, alongside generous benefits such as 35 days of annual leave and a pension contribution. Working in Croydon, you will be part of a passionate team committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable individuals, ensuring that your role as a Support Worker is both rewarding and fulfilling.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Support Worker in London
✨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 Ygam.
✨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 Ygam!
✨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 Ygam, 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 Ygam 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 Support Worker in London
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 Ygam:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Ygam! 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 Ygam
✨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.
