Grow Support Assistant

**Job Title**:GROW Support Assistant
**Contract Type**:12 Month Fixed Term Contract
**Salary**: £24,627 per annum
**Working Hours**:37.5 hours per week
**Working Pattern**:7am - 3pm, 8am - 4pm & 1pm - 9pm rolling rota including weekends and bank holidays
**Location**: The Stages Academy, Middlesbrough

**The difference you will make as a GROW Support Assistant**

Our “Giving Real Opportunities of Work Programme (GROW)” provides employment opportunities to individuals with lived experience of multiple disadvantage (including but not limited to; homelessness, the criminal justice system, mental ill-health and substance misuse) or those with limited experience of work.

You will work in a homeless service and be supported by a Front-Line Service Team throughout the programme.

This is an entry level role which will give you specialised support, training and practical work experience with a structured training programme. The aim is to be successful in developing the required level of skill to progress and secure future employment opportunities.

You will work collaboratively as part of a committed team delivering an outstanding service. You will put customers first and empower them to achieve their goals and aspirations. You will undertake a range of tasks that contribute to the safe and effective delivery of the day-to-day service.

**About you**

We are looking for someone with:

- Lived experience of multiple disadvantage (including but not limited to; homelessness, the criminal justice system, mental ill-health and substance misuse) or limited work experience
- An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs

**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.

**Role Profile**

We use Psychologically Informed approaches and Trauma Informed Care principles to support our customers to make positive choices, develop new ways of thinking and take steps towards independence, by:

- Assisting in the planning and delivery of a range of personalised support and move-on plans
- Understanding the risk management process and assisting the team to organise and undertake regular reviews of support and risk
- Inspiring and motivating customers to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills
- Assisting customers with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters
- Assisting the team to identify and promote opportunities for employment, education and training and support customers to access them
- Signposting customers to appropriate external support services, such as food banks and other community resources
- Supporting customers to be ‘tenancy ready’, enabling successful move on
- Supporting customers to be financially independent through budgeting plans and maximising income
- Supporting and monitoring customers’ healthcare needs, ensuring appropriate contact with healthcare professionals
- Empowering customers to move towards self-management of their medication by following Riverside’s medication procedure
- Maintaining and updating clear, accurate and strengths-based records on the appropriate digital platform
- Assisting in the promotion of customer involvement and consultation
- Assisting with the delivery of a range of group work sessions

**Deliver a support service**:

- Support the delivery of the referral process for new customers
- Contribute to the delivery of a housing management service, including income collection and providing customers with tenancy-related support
- Work with customers to maintain a safe environment, including reporting any repairs or health and safety concerns
- Clean and prepare customer rooms as appro