Annual salary: up to £28,350.00 Welfare Support Officer South London Up to £28,350 per annum plus company car or £3,500 car allowance Full time, Up to 12 months fixed term contract, 40hrs per week About the Role: We are working with our client to bring to the UK a number of families under the Afghan Resettlement and Assistance Policy. They will initially be housed in various accommodation bases, known as the transit estate, before being moved to a settled home in the community. Mears will be securing community homes over the next 6 months and some families will move to these homes, some will move to other dispersed accommodation throughout the UK. Mears have been asked to provide integration support services to occupants during the period whilst they live in the transit estates in scope. As a Welfare Support Officer your main duties will include but not limited to ensuring service users are supported including any safeguarding and welfare issues you identify, providing practical and emotional support to service users, monitoring service users’ wellbeing and support needs and ensuring all records are updated and accurate for audit purposes. It is essential to maintain boundaries and being resilient to ensure a professional and a well-defined service is provided to always meet the needs of the service users. There is an expectation that any candidates will need to undertake OOH duties. This includes being on ‘standby’. This is paid at £30 per weekday and £50 weekend day. There may be a requirement to attend properties or/and service users during OOH. This is paid at x 1.5. Mears are committed to ensuring the onboarding of all our new colleagues goes as smoothly as possible. We want all successful candidates to have the opportunity to experience first-hand what happens in our day-to-day frontline operations. As part of your induction as one of our Welfare Support Officers, you will be required to shadow our experienced colleagues across one of our many successful contracts within Mears Housing Management across the UK. This will require you to stay away from home as part of your induction. In line with our Travel Policy we will provide accommodation for you, where you are required to travel more than 60 miles away from your home address. In addition to this, we will also provide meals for the duration of your time away and expenses incurred because of your travel can be claimed in line with our Travel Policy. Role Criteria: Experience of working with vulnerable and diverse client groups is essential Experience and understanding of safeguarding is essential Ability to identify individuals and family need and recognise the required support packages to maintain independence Experience working with mental health and or challenging behaviour is essential To communicate effectively with colleagues, local authorities, and service users Experience with record keeping and creating risk assessments Ability to work under own initiative Resilient You will be supportive, trustworthy, a good listener, approachable and empathetic to others Full UK driving license All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. Benefits we can offer you 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment. Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more Family friendly policies Choice of company car or car allowance Access to EAP Counselling sessions If you feel you have skills and experience needed, please apply via the link below. If you have any questions regarding this role please contact Beth on beth.dunfordmearsgroup.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you soon. To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points. Mears Group is a Disability Confident employer and recognises our people as our greatest asset, we hire individuality, recognising and valuing everyone is individual and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all regardless of social economic background or individual make up. Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant DBS/Security checks before employment. We are the people behind the smile At Mears we look for people who share our vision and values - to make a positive difference to the communities we serve. We do this by improving homes, improving communities and improving lives. We are proud of our business and the opportunities we provide to colleagues working across the UK. Our Values - Customers / Innovation / Teamwork / Responsibility