Support Worker, Swansea Substance Misuse

**Introduction**:
**Project Description**:
The project operates across Swansea working with Service Users who will be stable and/or in treatment or recently released from Prison and engaged in relapse prevention work with the Substance Misuse Service. The service provides residential support with the aim of meeting individuals’ needs, which promote independence and lead to a sustainable move-on. The project also provides housing related support within people’s homes or in the community, with the aim of preventing homelessness and increasing independence. The project is funded through the Supporting People Programme Grant and is required to meet the Welsh Government’s National Outcomes Framework. The Framework’s four main aims are:

- Promoting Personal and Community Safety
- Promoting Independence and Control
- Promoting Economic Progress and Financial Control
- Promoting Health and Wellbeing

**Purpose of Role**:
To provide residential support that enables and empowers Service Users to address housing and/or personal difficulties, build their skills and confidence, and ultimately improve their ability to maintain their future or current accommodation. The support will not create or increase dependence. It will ‘do with’ rather than ‘do for’, so it’s likely that support will involve accompanying Service Users initially, in order to familiarise them with an activity or appointment. Support will enable people to improve their control, understanding and involvement in dealing with the issues that affect them, and assist Service Users to achieve their preferred outcomes. In addition, to assist with the housing management needs of the project ensuring the delivery of a safe, secure and effective service.

**No Agencies.**

**We do not accept unsolicited agency referrals for this position and do not consider any applicants, to have been introduced to us via agency.**

**Main Duties, Responsibilities and Person Profile**:
**Main Duties and Responsibilities**

**1. To provide support to the residents of the project.**

a) To ensure that Service Users are aware of the mission, aims and objectives, policies and procedures of the projects and the duties, responsibilities and obligations of staff.

b) To ensure that all Service Users are treated fairly and afforded equality of opportunity.

d) To support Service Users with particular reference to:

- Assisting with the delivery of project inductions to new Service Users.
- Carrying out the day to day tasks and activities of Service Users’ support plans.
- Providing information, advice and guidance that enable Service users to make informed decisions about their needs and support.
- Enabling Service Users to have a means of expressing their views and that this expression receives appropriate consideration.
- Actively involving Service Users in their support
- Actively involving Service Users in the project and/or organisation.
- Assisting with referrals to and liaising with relevant agencies and individuals with or on behalf of Service Users.
- Assisting Senior Support Workers (SSW) in reviewing needs and support plans and updating the relevant records with authorisation from a SSW.
- Assisting SSW in reviewing risk assessments and updating relevant records with the authorisation, or in the absence, of a SSW.
- Discussing and observing Service User’s levels of control, understanding and involvement (CU&I) and updating the relevant records with authorisation from a SSW.
- Representing and advocating with/for Service Users.
- Assisting with a realistic, manageable and controlled planned service withdrawal.

e) To maintain accurate and up to date records of Service Users’ issues and support according to procedure.

f) To maintain regular communication with Senior Support Workers relating to the need for changes to Service Users’ needs and risk assessments and support plans.

g) To ensure that the service standards set out in the organisational document ‘Great Expectations’ are met or exceeded.

**2. To assist in monitoring the effectiveness of the projects**.

a) To assist with the gathering of information relating to objectives and targets.

b) To ensure that records of Service Users accessing the service are maintained.

c) To provide statistics and other information as requested.

**3. To assist with the project’s housing management functions.**

a) To assist with the induction of Service Users into project and provide and explain the required information.

b) To assist with the issuing of occupancy agreements in line with current legislation/procedure.

d) To collect service charges and rent (where appropriate).

e) To assist with facilitating residents’ house meetings.

f) To address and report maintenance issues in line with the Maintenance Policy.

g) To assist with Health and Safety monitoring and checks in line with legislation, policy, and organisational requirements.

h) To ensure good standards of cleanliness and hygiene are ma