Welfare Support Officer
Location: Edinburgh
Salary: up to £28,917 per annum
Contract: Full time - 6 month fixed term, 40 hours/week, Monday to Friday
Benefits: Company vehicle and fuel card or £3,500 car allowance
Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers across Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. As of May 2021, over 19,000 service users benefit from our services. We collaborate with government bodies, landlords, and investors to address homelessness and develop social and affordable housing.
About the Role:
We are expanding our contract and seeking a Welfare Support Officer to support asylum seekers through their right to work and asylum application process with the Home Office. The ideal candidate will be empathetic, trustworthy, resilient, and a good communicator. This role offers varied daily responsibilities and is highly rewarding despite its challenges.
Main duties include supporting service users at various stages of their asylum process, addressing safeguarding and welfare issues, providing practical and emotional support, monitoring wellbeing, and maintaining accurate records for Home Office audits. Maintaining professional boundaries and resilience is essential to deliver a high-quality, supportive service.
Role Criteria:
Experience working with vulnerable and diverse groups
Understanding of safeguarding procedures
Ability to assess and support individual and family needs to promote independence
Experience with mental health and challenging behaviors
Effective communication with colleagues, authorities, and service users
Record keeping and risk assessment skills
Ability to work independently
Resilience and empathy
Flexibility and willingness to travel
Full UK driving license
Note: All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We do not sponsor visas. The recruitment process includes DBS & BPSS checks and Security Clearance, requiring proof of ID, address, references, and UK residence over the last 5 years. To operate a Mears vehicle, applicants must be over 21, have held their license for over 3 months, and have less than 9 points.
Benefits:
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Annual Mears Fun Day
Paid volunteering leave
Staff discounts through Mears Rewards
Family-friendly policies
Company vehicle and fuel card
Access to EAP counselling
To apply or for more information, contact Beth Dunford at beth.dunford@mearsgroup.co.uk. We support diversity and inclusion and are a Disability Confident employer, committed to social mobility and veteran support.
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