Specialist Support Worker

Job Title: Specialist Support Worker

Contract Type: Fixed term Contract for 12 months

Salary: £30,302.64 per annum (£31,238.97 per annum is achieved after 18 months successful performance in the role)

Working Hours: 37.5 Hours per week

Working Pattern: 7.5 hours/day, Monday to Friday. Exact times to be worked dependent on case work needs.

Location: The Victoria Project, Cambridge

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.

The difference you will make as a Specialist Support Worker

You will work collaboratively as part of a team to deliver an outstanding service and a range of practical and emotional asset-based approaches to support. With a real focus on customer engagement and co production within the service, you will link customers with external services to offer a comprehensive engagement offer tailored to their needs. The role will also include carrying a small caseload of our more complex customers ensuring high quality, asset-based support.

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• Recent experience of support work, risk management and managing caseloads and working with vulnerable and diverse customer groups
• Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise tasks to achieve results

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we're a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we've been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you'll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.

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 (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.

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

Role Profile

• As the Specialist Support Worker you will support the Service Manager with planning within the service, this could include delegating case management, or supporting the service to run effectively
• Actively connect, engage, influence, and develop relationships with a range of local services and stakeholders to enable customers to access the full range of community resources and regularly update colleagues about how to access external services
• Attend networking events, other support services and forums promoting our Psychologically Informed Framework and Trauma Informed ways of working
• Understand local pathways and services to ensure there is a consistent, asset-based support approach for all customers
• Produce reports and other written documentation as required to support service delivery
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, safeguarding all our customers
• Develop, co-ordinate and deliver a 'group-based activities' programme for the service
• Share specialist knowledge with colleagues and wider teams to ensure both customers and services are supported in line with latest best practice
• Follow health & safety and safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure the overall safety and security of all customers
• Keep accurate and timely records of specific activities

Supporting colleagues

• Support and provide guidance to team members around your specialism - this could include coaching, upskilling or mentoring other colleagues
• Provide specialist advice for colleagues through structured guidance to meet targets in support planning, delivery, safeguarding, risk assessments or other interventions
• Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs, potential risks and goals and agree levels of support and actions

Supporting customers

We employ an asset-based approach including Psychologically Informed approaches and Trauma Informed Care principles to support our customers to develop new ways of thinking and to take steps towards independence, you will be key in delivering this approach to customers

You will:

• Lead on co-produced, bespoke customer support and move-on plans, involving all key stakeholders (e.g. family, other support providers)
• Complete regular reviews of support and risk assessments for customers
• Identify and promote opportunities for and support customers to gain appropriate access to relevant external support services
• Ensure the safety of our customers by following local safeguarding procedures, recognising, and acting on any significant risks and escalating appropriately
• Record and update clear, factual, accurate, strengths-based customer information on the appropriate digital platforms
• Be reactive to support needs as they arise and be able to take the lead on working in a multi-disciplinary way

Other Information

• You will be required to work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours
• You will be required to travel to different properties within the defined area as and when required
• Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary
• Ensure customers are safe at all times - carrying out all of your duties within Riverside's Policy and Procedure Policy and Procedure framework e.g. health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR opportunities, cash handling, etc
• Deliver your role in line with the Riverside company values – "Our Riverside Way"
• Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and reflective practice sessions
• Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely
• From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager

Person Specification

Essential

• Recent experience of support work, risk management and managing caseloads and working with vulnerable and diverse customer groups
• Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise tasks to achieve results
• Experience of building effective relationships with customers and stakeholders
• Knowledge and proven continuous personal development of working with vulnerable adults utilising "specialist knowledge"
• Be a team player with a caring, empathic, supportive, flexible and resilient 'can-do' attitude
• Ability to listen and communicate clearly, encourage feedback and reflection, empower, motivate, and gain improvements
• Have conflict resolution skills and be confident and consistent when making decisions
• Experience of reviewing, monitoring, and evaluating outcomes in the delivery of support services
• Competent IT skills, including using databases, producing reports and other communications and analysing key outcomes data to understand and drive service improvements

Desirable

• Experience of coaching, training or mentoring techniques
• A recognised, recent, formal care, support, or housing qualification
• Experience of reflective practice and identifying best practices and sharing information to upskill individuals