Support Practitioner Wernham House

**About Us**:
First started by Aberdeen University students as a soup kitchen, Aberdeen Cyrenians now put the needs of North East Scotland's most vulnerable and socially excluded people first — leading at the frontline of service, care and influence for 50+ years.

Aberdeen Cyrenians work continuously to shift perceptions and change the outlook on homelessness and vulnerability in society — the reality often differs drastically from the 'labels' that people use when thinking of those who need support. Not accepting the current perception of homelessness is something that underpins Aberdeen Cyrenians' work. Our approach puts the reality of these situations front and centre.

This reality reminds us that anyone can find themselves in difficulty, and Aberdeen Cyrenians exist to support anyone and everyone — whether they're living on the street, at high financial risk, in an abusive living situation, struggling with mental health issues, struggling with substance addiction or involved in the justice system. Our core values support a mission that prioritises close assistance, unique care and standing steadfastly by people in the midst of their most vulnerable moments.

It's the passion and integrity of Aberdeen Cyrenians that makes us a formidable force against homelessness, abuse, violence and social exclusion — we make a lifechanging difference when working alongside the people who need their support the most.

**Join our team and make a real difference every day**:
Working at Aberdeen Cyrenians, you will be helping vulnerable people, who are often at the margins of society, every single day. You will be helping them to build a positive future, resolve their current issues and move towards positive outcomes.

In addition to competitive rates of pay, we offer both on the job and formal training, support achieving professional qualifications and good career prospects.

You can expect the following working for us:

- Comprehensive training through our online Learning Management System
- Opportunity to pursue on the job qualifications and career progression
- Industry leading systems and technology - we use an amazing apps to support our care at home services and case management systems, which helps us to ensure paperwork is streamlined and as much time as possible is spent with the service user
- Online timesheets and expenses paid weekly
- We are a Living Wage Foundation accredited employer - pay is reviewed annually each April
- Benefits including Bike to Work Scheme and retail discounts
- Employee Assistance programme offering confidential support 24/7/365
- Mileage paid at the national rate
- A warm and friendly team environment where everyone is valued.

Nothing we achieve would be possible without our employees - that's why we're as committed to their careers and professional development as they are.

**About Wernham House**:
Wernham House is a residential and respite care accommodation service for adults who have alcohol and substance use problems and mental health issues. It provides care, support and accommodation for 17 individuals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a dedicated team of Support Practitioners.

**Position**:
**Job Title**: Support Practitioner

**Responsible to**: Service Manager

**Responsible for**:Relief Workers, Volunteers, Contracted staff

**Salary**: SCP 21-28 £22,116 - £27,000

**Hours of Work**: 39hrs per week - Shift Work

**Contract Type**: Permanent

**SSC registration level**: Practitioner

**Main responsibilities**: To be proactive in the support and delivery of a holistic, flexible, person-centred care home and respite service.

**Requirements**:
**Job Activities**
- Form, develop, sustain and maintain relationships with service users through which the other job activities can be accomplished.
- Assess and review service users’ strengths and needs through accurate & appropriate information gathering.
- Ensure that the basic needs of service users are addressed and met (food, shelter, warmth, bathing, clothing, etc.).
- Support service users with substance misuse/mental health issues using harm minimisation approach and recovery models
- Intervene in a crisis to effectively pre-empt and/or de-escalate accidents and incidents.
- Engage in partnership working by liaising/working with a range of agencies on behalf of services users including social work, housing, health, police, courts, utility companies, debt agencies, Department for Work & Pensions and other voluntary sector organisations
- Ensure that services users’ views remain paramount and that potential obstacles such as literacy & numeracy are assessed and addressed.
- Advocate on service users’ behalf and generally assist with communication issues
- Work with service users to tackle debts, budget and maximise their income
- Provide emotional and practical support to service users
- Assist in protecting service users from risk of abuse and work with other agencies in the regard.
- Plan/participate and