Job Title: Support Worker
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £26,549.63 (£27,722.51 is achieved after 18 months successful performance in the role)
Working Hours: Full Time – 37.5 Hours
Working Pattern: Rolling rota including alternate weekends 7am- 10 pm
Location: Lily Smith House, Maidstone, Kent
If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.
Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.
The difference you will make as a Support Worker
You will be working from one of our supported services providing support to our customers in a variety of ways. For example, connecting them with employability coaches and other support agencies, helping them manage their money, signing up for benefits or to move on to a more permanent home.
It will be your job to help boost their confidence and support them on their journey as they rebuild their lives. Through all of this you will need to keep records of everything, so there is some admin to do. At times this role is tough, but most of the time it can be incredibly rewarding. You will need to be resilient, empathetic, and able to leave your work at work and not take it home with you.
About you
We are looking for someone with:
1. Experience of working with vulnerable people
2. Experience of delivering structured support and risk management
3. To be a team player with a caring and empathetic nature with a resilient, can-do attitude, able to work as part of a team
4. An understanding of supporting vulnerable people – this could include having your own lived experience of homelessness or drug or alcohol addiction.
5. Ability to work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours and may include lone working
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:
6. Competitive pay & generous pension
7. 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
8. Flexible working options available
9. Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
10. 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.
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered
Role Profile
Supporting Customers:
We use Psychologically Informed approaches and Trauma Informed Care principles to support our customers to develop new ways of thinking and to make steps towards independence, by:
11. Leading on Co-producing bespoke support and move-on plans, involving key stakeholders (. family/other support providers), where appropriate
12. Organising and carrying out regular planned reviews of support and risk plans, or following an incident/significant change in a customer’s circumstances
13. Engaging customers to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills
14. Assisting customers with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters
15. Identifying and promoting opportunities for employment, education and training and supporting customers to remove barriers to accessing these opportunities
16. Signposting customers to appropriate external support services, including interventions such as food banks and other community resources
17. Supporting customers to be ‘tenancy ready’ to enable successful move on
18. Supporting customers to be financially independent through budgeting plans and maximising income
19. Supporting and monitoring customers’ healthcare needs, ensuring appropriate contact with healthcare professionals
20. Empowering customers to move towards self-management of their medication by following the medication procedure
21. Leading on support initiatives including Group Work
22. Ensure the safety of our customers by following local safeguarding procedures, recognizing and acting on any significant risk, and escalating appropriately
23. Record and update clear, factual, accurate, strengths based customer information on the local or appropriate digital platform
Service Delivery:
24. Facilitate the referral process into the service and assess potential new customers
25. Contribute to the delivery of a housing management service, including income collection and providing customers with tenancy-related support
26. Work with customers to maintain a safe environment by reporting repairs and health and safety concerns
27. Clean and prepare rooms as appropriate
28. Resolve difficult and challenging situations in a sensitive and informed way, balancing the needs of the individual with responsibilities for the safety of the service
29. Develop and maintain local partnerships to provide a holistic range of support for customer
30. Carry out day-to-day administration and operational duties
31. Other Information:
32. You will be required to work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours
33. You will be required to travel to different properties within the defined area as and when required
34. Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary
35. Ensure customers are safe at all times - carrying out all of your duties within Riverside’s Policy and Procedure Policy and Procedure framework. health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR opportunities, cash handling, etc
36. Deliver your role in line with Riverside company values – “Our Riverside Way”
37. Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and reflecting practice sessions
38. Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely
39. From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager
Person specification
Essential
40. An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs
41. Experience of delivering structured support and risk management
42. Be a team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and have a resilient, can-do attitude
43. Previous experience in positively resolving incidents
44. Demonstrate initiative and confidence to make and act on decisions
45. Competent administrative and IT skills (to be able to produce reports and other communications)
Desirable
46. Knowledge of Psychological or Trauma Informed approaches to support
47. Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise, organise tasks to achieve results
48. Knowledge of current benefit systems
49. Experience of working in a care and support environment