Welfare Worker

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**Post: Welfare Worker - Part Time**
(35 or 30 Hours over 5 days a week + half an hour lunch break)

**Salary**: £20187 FTE

**Location**:St Wilfrid’s Centre

**Job purpose**:To provide help, support, advice and guidance to clients at the Centre, to ensure that vulnerable people have a safe place to go to and that they receive help to maintain wellbeing. To work closely and effectively with all staff and volunteers at St Wilfrid’s Centre and agencies to deliver the best possible level of support to individuals attending.

Please note that person appointed to this particular role will be expected to facilitate the Women’s Group.

**Responsible to**:Welfare Manager

**WELFARE WORKER**
1. Greet and engage with clients attending the Centre to ensure that they feel welcome and included within the Centre.

2. Provide support to clients in response to issues that individuals may raise and deal with these empathetically and appropriately in accordance with the Centre’s policies.

3. Work closely with other Welfare Workers, staff and volunteers within the Centre, liaising on any concerns or issues with particular clients and seeking advice on best ways to deal with matters where needed.

4. Run and lead activities within the Centre, making the experience enjoyable and encouraging clients to participate.

5. Listen to and help clients with concerns around finances, DWP, health, housing, social care and the criminal justice system.

6. Liaise with external agencies and organisations i.e. city council, social care, probation, prevention, other charities, GPs, NHS and anyone else involved in the care of clients, to arrange the best possible outcomes for clients.

7. Befriend clients in the Centre and promote a good atmosphere and positive relationships amongst staff, clients and volunteers.

8. Meet with rough sleepers and casual callers to the Centre, assisting them with their immediate and further welfare needs, providing appropriate support eg food, shower, clothes and facilitating them to access further support from other relevant agencies.

9. Process referrals and prospective new clients, asking appropriate questions to ascertain their needs and determine whether St Wilfrid’s is the appropriate service for them.

10. Act as ‘named worker’ to specified clients, to promote engagement and facilitate continuity.
11. Monitor and record clients’ progress and any issues entering relevant information on the client information system.
12. Take on a lead in the welfare team for specific issues eg. Homelessness, mental health, learning disabilities, substance misuse, attending relevant meetings and training to promote best practice and keep staff updated on all relevant information.

13. Working with others at the Centre, ensure that the Centre is safe and clean for clients and that any issues are dealt with quickly and appropriately.

14. Deal with any clothing/food donations and prepare food parcels, sorting and allocating as appropriate

15. To provide cover for the cafe and kitchen when required, to ensure meal and drink provision.

All staff are expected to:
**General Requirements**

a. Work towards and support the Centre’s aims, ethos and the objectives outlined in the current Service and Development Plan.

b. Contribute to the Centre’s programme of activities and events.

c. Support and contribute to the Centre’s responsibility for safeguarding adults.

d. Work within the Health and Safety policy to ensure a safe working environment for staff, clients, volunteers and visitors.

e. Promote equality of opportunity for all client, staff and volunteers.

f. Maintain confidentiality and observe data protection and associated guidelines where appropriate.

g. Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with clients, volunteers, colleagues and outside contacts (following the guidelines outlined in the Code of Conduct)

h. Stand in for absent colleagues in the delivery of services and/or completion of tasks on or off site, when requested by the Director or Line Manager.

a. Remain calm and employ tact and diplomacy in difficult/sensitive situations and demonstrate patience and empathy to help others feel at ease and build trust

b. Engage actively in the Development Review process, appraising their own work against agreed priorities and objectives

c. Endorse the Christian values of the Centre

d. Understand and comply with all other relevant Centre policies.

e. Undertake any necessary training associated with the duties of the post.

f. Carry out any other duties commensurate the role, as reasonably required by the Director.

**Person Specification**

**WELFARE WORKER**

**Skills, Knowledge and Attributes Required**

Knowledge and understanding of good ethical practice in dealing with vulnerable clients and Essential mental health issues.

Good written and spoken language skills to be able to engage and con