Welfare Support Officer
Location: Wakefield
Salary: up to £28,917 per annum
Full-time – Permanent, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Includes a company vehicle and fuel card or a £3,500 company car allowance
Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers while their claims are being assessed in three regions: Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. As of May 2021, Mears supported over 19,000 service users across these regions. We partner with central and local government, registered providers, tenants, landlords, and investors to address homelessness, increase social and affordable housing, and create specialized housing for individuals with care needs.
About the Role:
Due to contract expansion, we are seeking a Welfare Support Officer to join our team. This role involves supporting asylum seekers through their right to work and asylum application process with the Home Office. The ideal candidate will be resilient, trustworthy, caring, empathetic, and a people person. Every day offers new challenges and rewards.
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 ensure a high-quality, needs-based service.
Role Criteria:
* Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
* Understanding of safeguarding procedures
* Ability to identify support needs and maintain independence
* Experience with mental health and challenging behaviors
* Effective communication skills with colleagues, authorities, and service users
* Record keeping and risk assessment experience
* Ability to work independently
* Resilience and professionalism
* Supportive, trustworthy, empathetic, and approachable
* Flexibility and willingness to travel
* Full UK driving license
Note: All roles require the right to work in the UK; Mears does not sponsor visas. A DBS & BPSS check and Security Clearance are part of the recruitment process, requiring proof of ID, address, references, passport, and UK residence history.
To drive a Mears vehicle, candidates must be over 21, have held a 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 counseling
Apply below or contact Beth Dunford at beth.dunford@mearsgroup.co.uk for further discussion. We support applicants throughout the process and are committed to diversity and inclusion. We are a Disability Confident employer, support the Armed Forces Covenant, and promote social mobility through optional background questions during application to better understand our diverse candidate pool.
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