LOCATION:
Pullar House 35 Kinnoull Street Perth, PH1 5GD
SALARY:
£33,261 - £36,508 per year
CONTRACT TYPE:
Temporary
POSITION TYPE:
Full Time
HOURS:
36 hours per week
Support Officer (Fixed Term until 31 March PKC13108
£ 33,261 - £36,508
Pullar House, Perth
We have an exciting opportunity for a Support Officer post based within our Central Support Team in Pullar House, Kinnoull Street, Perth.
The role has the ability to make a positive difference to the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and people seeking sanctuary in Perth and Kinross through varied resettlement routes.
This Support Officer role will support the Resettlement Co-ordinator in Perth & Kinross Council in day-to-day support duties. You will also at times work closely with colleagues in the wider Support Team such as Locality Support Officers and Greyfriars Support Officers.
This role will involve support and assistance through a combination of collaborative work with staff based in other Services to deliver the safe and sustainable resettlement and integration of displaced people in Perth and Kinross. To also provide practical support and guidance to prevent homelessness through the provision of person-centred housing support; to assist and support households to settle into permanent accommodation and minimise repeat homelessness.
You will provide advice and support in relation to the following areas:
* Accommodation - such as housing tenancy support to assist tenancy sustainment; advice about rent arrears; advice on household maintenance; advice on maintaining a property in good repair
* Health - such as finding and registering with a GP; accessing other services and agencies for the benefit of health and wellbeing; a listening ear and support through a crisis; signposting to other services and specialist agencies who provide particular types of support, e.g. Scottish Refugee Council, Women's Aid, The Scottish Association for Mental Health, Citizens Advice Bureau.
* Safety and security- such as advice on reporting repairs; advice about home security; support for those affected by different forms of trauma and abuse.
* Social, Economic and Wellbeing- such as support to claim different types of benefits; help filling in forms; referrals to Welfare Rights services to maximise income; support when dealing with the Department for Work and Pensions; assistance and support with Council Tax and issues with utility bills/providers; access to education and ESOL; advice on fuel poverty; support to address underlying issues that may be affecting personal confidence or behaviour; general advice on cooking and nutrition; integration support
* Employment and Meaningful Activity- support to access a range of activities such as voluntary work; work with careers services to provide advice and access to training and employment
Skills & Experience Required
You should have experience of working in a housing/housing support setting.
You should have experience of working with customers on a one-to-one basis using a person-centred approach. You will deal with a variety of customers- some of whom will have a diverse range of complex needs and trauma.
Perth and Kinross has been granted official status as a Council of Sanctuary. It is important that you have an awareness of the challenges that refugees and other displaced people may be faced with during their journey to resettle in a new country and integrate with new cultures.
We are looking for a people-person who is enthusiastic, innovative and creative.
You will be able to communicate effectively with customers to build relationships. You will also work closely with a range of internal colleagues and external agencies to provide a multi-agency approach and identify the best possible solutions/outcomes for individual clients.
You should be a resilient, tenacious individual who can deal with the challenges and hurdles you may encounter, and you should have strength of character and be solution-focused to work with individuals to help them achieve their goals and outcomes.
You will have a non-judgemental attitude, be empathetic and sensitive to customers' needs. You will understand and have an awareness of the wellbeing and individual needs of people.
You should be highly organised and have the ability to prioritise your own workload.
You will be required to use various computer systems and databases to keep accurate records and produce support plans and as such, you will need to have good digital skills. A knowledge of other languages and use of language line would be beneficial to the role.
You should have a good awareness of Health and Safety Legislation including lone working and keeping yourself safe.
You should be registered with or are required to register with the Scottish Social Services Council within 3 months of commencing employment and are responsible for maintaining your annual membership. The successful candidate will be required to complete a PVG as there requires to be a fitness to practice when working with vulnerable individuals.
You should have SVQ3 in Social Services and Healthcare (or equivalent in a relevant discipline) or a willingness to work towards it.
You will generally be required to work standard office hours- 5 days per week- Monday to Friday 8.45-5pm. It is essential that the successful candidate is flexible in terms of their working hours as there may be times where there is a requirement to work at evenings or weekends.
A full, clean UK driving licence is preferred for this role as you will be required to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross.
Working at Perth & Kinross Council
Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours.