Specialist Support Worker

Job description

We’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Theresa House and Hamlets Way service in Tower Hamlets.

£, per annum, working hours per week . Benefits include days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You’ll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Teresa House and Hamlets Way are two supported housing accommodations for adults with enduring mental health issues. Both services provide a high level of support to customers on each service. Teresa House is a fast stream service where customers are supported up to two years while Hamlets Way is a slow stream service where customers can expect support for a minimum of two to a maximum of years.
The service is under Look Ahead management since April and the buildings are owed by Notting Hill Genesis. As a support worker you will play an integral role in developing effective support and risk management plans. You will also support customers with aspects of their day-to-day living including but not excluded to; social and physical activities, medication, benefit entitlements, maintaining living standards, exploring employment, education and training opportunities.

This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.

What you’ll do:
Practice
- Undertake key working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Team Leader/Manager
- Undertake initial & continuous assessment of needs and potential risks & agree levels of support and actions
- Create support/ action plans for providing appropriate services based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available
- Provide structured support and guidance to other front line staff in their area of expertise, and to contribute to the relevant internal specialist forum
- Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local community
- Empower customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to
- Undertake all administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive tenant/ customer records to professional standards
- Encourage and enable tenants to pay their rent and to ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively in conjunction with the Housing Management team
- To adhere to Look Ahead’s Policies and Procedures
- To engage in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills
- Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as may be reasonably assigned
Liaison with Other Agencies
- To liaise with the referral agency to ensure that full information is given to enable a proper assessment to be made of future clients
- To work collaboratively with staff from the Tower Hamlets Rehabilitation and Recovery Service in performing joint assessment to determine the appropriateness of referrals to the service
- To advocate assertively to statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that clients’ needs are met
- To maintain good relationships with all involved professionals and agencies
- To maintain good liaison with the clients’ immediate community and family
- To build up and maintain contact with a full range of community workers
Housing Management
- To explain the terms of the Tenancy Agreement and to ensure that clients understand all the services within the accommodation
- If clients are moving into independent accommodation, to help make the transition and setting up of their new home
- To take lead and responsibility in setting up ways of paying for rent, utilities, bills etc.
- To provide advice and help on future housing needs
Other Duties
- To attend and participate in weekly staff meetings, meetings with other professionals and in supervision and training as required
- To work with the Staff Team on the aims and the objectives of the service
- To stay up to date with regard to development and research in the mental health field, in housing support and in welfare benefits
- To treat all information - both verbal and written - in accordance with Look Ahead’s policy on confidentiality
- To exercise responsibilities under the current Health & Safety legislation and Equal Opportunities Policy as laid down or amended by Look Ahead Housing Association
- To act at all times in accordance with the aims, philosophy and practice of the project
- To undertake any other duties consistent with the basic objectives and duties of this post

- The ability to be self servicing in the terms of computer/word processing is a requirement of this post. If the appropriate skills are not gained by the recruitment stage, appropriate training may be provided by Look Ahead

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

- Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
- Approachable and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
- Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
- Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
- Is essentially customer–focused
- Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours

What you’ll bring:

Essential:

- At least an NVQ Level in Health & Social Care, or equivalent

Desirable:

- An understanding of care-planning processes and Models of Care within mental health
- Knowledge of group and individual therapy and an understanding of risk management
- Experience in engaging vulnerable people social inclusion activities and/or resettlement ( Health, education, employment, housing management, arts, advocacy, benefits advice etc)
- Experience of supporting vulnerable people

About us:

Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over services, providing support to around customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard . We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.