Housing Support Worker

**Role: Housing Support Worker**
**Organisation**:Support When It Matters (SWIM)
**Hours**:12 - 36 hours per week on a shift pattern basis.
**Job Type: Permanent, full time.**
**Location: Hackney and Newham Locations**
**Salary: £13.15 per hour**

**Shift Pattern**:Various Shifts Patterns, including Waking Nights and Day Shifts.

**Support When It Matters** (SWIM) is a London-based Community Interest Company that empowers people from African, Caribbean, Asian and other Minority Ethnic backgrounds to improve their health, well-being, and life chances. SWIM is commissioned by healthcare trusts and London councils to help marginalise communities to stabilise their health, housing, finances, and relationships with others. We give them support, mentoring and signposting to wrap around services so they can play a full part in society as a valued contributor.

**What we want you to do?**

As a Housing Support worker you will hold a caseload of clients, providing supporting planning and key working support to residents living in SWIM Supported Accommodation homes. These residents may have a history of substance misuse, mental health or offending behaviour. These residents need support in settling back into the community and improving their independent living skills in order for them to move onto long term independent living.

The role will focus on supporting residents with their independent living skills, universal credit and housing benefit claims, alongside key work interventions, group work and linking clients to specialist agencies, such as substance misuse, mental health services, welfare rights, advocacy, medical and legal services as appropriate.

You may be required to drug test and breathalyse residents and ensure they are complaint with the rules of the home.

You will support residents in their abstinence journey whilst providing culturally sensitive support.

As a support worker, you’ll have the chance to make a real difference to the lives of the people we support.

**Why SWIM?**

Our people bring our vision to life. So, if you are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to support others to fulfilling their potential, here at SWIM we don't just offer you a job - we offer you a career.

**Essential Requirements**:

- Experience of working with people who have committed offences.
- Experience of working with a wide variety of people who have experienced a range of social/personal difficulties.
- Experience of working with diverse communities including promoting equality and valuing diversity.
- Experience of working with individuals and groups to motivate and change offending behaviour.
- An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English.
- Experience of offer in 1-1 and group interventions to people who have committed offences.
- Experience in supporting with UC and HB claims.

**Post holder will be required to demonstrate: -**
- Knowledge and understanding of the work of the Criminal Justice System and the Probation Service.
- A working knowledge of relevant legislation and National Standards.
- A knowledge of the benefits system and assisting residents with housing benefit and UC claims.
- Knowledge of Evidence Based Practice and risk/needs assessment tools.
- Knowledge and interest of personality difficulties and a willingness to develop this knowledge.
- Capability of reflective practice.
- Capability of collaborating with multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral risk management plans
- Eligibility to have Security Vetting to “Enhanced Level”.
- Ability to gather and manage data.
- Good IT Microsoft office Skills.

**Responsibilities, Activities & Duties**

As a recovery home support worker you will be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities set out below.

The duties/responsibilities listed below describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive.

The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Significant adjustments may require re-examination under Job Evaluation and shall be discussed in the first instance with the Job Holder.
- To provide professional advice and assessment, including written reports to courts, the Parole Board, other criminal justice agencies and partner organisations.
- To use computer-based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales.
- To attend professional meetings.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues, maintain effective team relationships and provide professional guidance and support.
- Effective communication (establishing rapport with others, listening effectively, handling challenging situations with clients, communicating confidently with direct reports, colleagues, managers, and medical professionals).
- Delivering positive outcomes (planning own time to deliver defined outcomes, modelling personal accountability, pla