Support Worker

Dear Applicant

Thank you for showing an interest in working for Emmaus Hastings & Rother. We are looking for a Support Worker to join our team.

This post is responsible for supporting the day to day running of the Emmaus Hastings & Rother community.

If you are flexible and able to work in a fast changing environment alongside people with complex needs and have a positive “can do” attitude we would love to hear from you. You will be joining a friendly and enthusiastic team who are passionate about what they do and a charity at an exciting point of its development.

Zach Hurst

Community Manager - Emmaus Hastings & Rother

**About Emmaus**

**Our vision: A world in which everyone has a home and a sense of belonging**

Emmaus is a homelessness charity with a difference. We don’t just give people a bed for the night; we offer a home, meaningful work and a sense of belonging.

For many people who have experienced homelessness, losing their self-esteem can be the most damaging part of their experience. Being on your own, with no support around you, can be soul destroying, leaving you feeling worthless.

Finding your way out of that situation isn’t easy, particularly when the only options available are temporary fixes, offering a bed for the night but little to occupy your days.

Emmaus is different because it provides a home for as long as someone needs it, in an Emmaus community. This gives people the opportunity to take stock of their lives, deal with any issues they might have, and often re-establish relationships with loved ones.

“Companion” is the name given to those who live in an Emmaus community and work in the social enterprise, where they support themselves and one another. There are currently over 800 companions living at 30 Emmaus communities across the UK.

Rather than relying on benefits, Emmaus uses social enterprise to generate revenue that pays for companions' home, food and upkeep, as well as providing a small weekly allowance. This is key to restoring feelings of self-worth, showing companions that their actions make a real difference, both to their own life, and the lives of others.

**How it works**

Unlike a lot of provision for homeless people, Emmaus communities offer a home for as long as someone needs it. This includes a room of their own, food, clothing and a small weekly allowance.

In return, we ask:

- that companions work for 40 hours per week, or give as much time as they are able, in the community's social enterprise;
- that they behave in a respectful way towards one another;
- that no alcohol or illegal drugs are used on the premises;
- that they sign off all benefits, with the exception of housing benefit.

**About Emmaus Hastings & Rother**

The group that became Emmaus Hastings & Rother was formed in 2005 with the support of the existing Emmaus Brighton & Hove community. In 2009 we purchased our site on the northern edge of Hastings and opened our social enterprise business, based on the Emmaus model for the collection, refurbishment and resale of donated furniture and household goods. Originally run by volunteers, the business is now run by staff, companions and volunteers and includes a second shop in Bexhill. With a turnover approaching £300k pa, as well as providing work for our companions, the business is the basis for the community’s target of financial self-sufficiency.

Planning consent for development of the site, including construction of the accommodation for a 23-member community was obtained ahead of purchase. We opened the first phase of the accommodation block, housing nine companions and a staff flat, in July 2011 making Hastings & Rother the 21st Emmaus Community in the UK. A year later we added six more rooms taking capacity to 15 and in the summer of 2014 opened the third phase, adding the final eight rooms to bring the community to its design size of 23. In 2021 we celebrated our tenth anniversary as a community.

During the lockdown periods of recent years, community members invested time into renovating and updating the site. Experience at other communities and through the lockdowns point to an expansion of online sales and increased recovery of gift-aid on donated furniture & other goods as areas with the potential for significant growth, but at Whitworth Road we also have the unique opportunity that will come with the opening of the much-delayed Queensway Gateway road, which will convert us from being hidden at the end of a cul-de-sac to being on a busy traffic route.

Job title:
Support Worker

Reports to:
Community Manager

**Location**:
Emmaus Hastings & Rother

Hours of work:
Part-time: 22.5 hours (3 days) per week

Overall Purpose of the Job

To provide support to Companions who need help both emotionally and practically using a person-centred approach, so the they can live and work in the Emmaus Community, develop life skills and realise their full potential to move on when they are ready.

Abide by Emmaus’ ethos; mission; st