Housing Advice Worker Jobs in Rg40

You have a good understanding of the harm caused by alcohol and drug use to adults, young people, children, families and society and a sympathetic approach to people who misuse them.

All you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to Aquarius as a Support Worker (Community Connector – Assessment and Engagement Team)

Aquarius is a charity that helps people and communities overcome the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling. We are part of ‘One Recovery Buckinghamshire’ (ORB), a partnership between Inclusion (MPFT NHS Trust), Aquarius, and Build on Belief providing support for alcohol and drug issues across Buckinghamshire.

We are looking for one Support Worker (Community Connector – Assessment and Engagement Team) to join our team in High Wycombe.

Your challenge? To provide advice, support, advocacy and key work for recovery plans and undertake elements of assessment and case management as directed. And, all the while, we’ll expect you to operate in a way that recognises and values diversity and understands the functional model of substance use, the Recovery Agenda and the problems caused by alcohol and drug misuse.

Preferably with a NVQ 2/3 in Social Care, or willing to attain this, you are used to working to policy and procedural requirements that include child protection, vulnerable adults, confidentiality and health & safety.

We’ll also be looking for good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to maintain accurate records and fulfil data requirements. A flexible approach is important too, as is a commitment to taking a client centred approach to providing services and working in a way that recognises and values diversity.

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37 hours per week.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted. 

To apply please submit a CV and supporting statement which should clearly outline your skills and experience.

Aquarius was a subsidiary of Richmond Fellowship, with both organisations being part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. On 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship merged with Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. At the same time, Aquarius became a subsidiary of Humankind, with no impact to terms and conditions of employment. In October 2024, Humankind was renamed Waythrough to reflect the new organisation, of which Aquarius will remain a subsidiary.

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Mental Health & Money Advisor to work as part of our Advice, Information & Training Team.

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

The Mental Health and Money Advice Service is the first UK-wide service to address mental and financial health together. We aim to stop the spiral of debt and mental health issues by providing online information and advice and casework provided by telephone. The service launched in November 2017, commissioned by Mental Health UK and delivered by Rethink Mental Illness in England, Hafal in Wales, Support in Mind in Scotland and Mindwise in Northern Ireland. 

How you will make a difference

I use my existing knowledge and expertise to identify and address a range of issues and provide debt and financial capability advice to people with mental health issues. I take on case work within our remit on debt (including enhanced income maximisation), welfare benefits, mental health and financial capability issues. I develop my knowledge and experience of mental health and social care to set my advice in a meaningful context. I help clients identify the barriers that are hindering progress in dealing with their money worries and I provide help, support and advice to overcome these barriers.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

You have an understanding of drug, alcohol, and health related issues, and experience of working with adults in an addictions, housing or social care setting. All you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to Aquarius as a Complex Needs Practitioner (Recovery Worker).

Aquarius is a charity that helps people and communities overcome the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling. We are part of ‘One Recovery Buckinghamshire’ (ORB), a partnership between Inclusion (MPFT NHS Trust), Aquarius, and Build on Belief providing support for alcohol and drug issues across Buckinghamshire.

We are looking for two Complex Needs Practitioners (Recovery Worker) to join our team in High Wycombe. 

You will:

• Engage people in a variety of interventions, using a person-centred approach, empowering them to reduce risk, increase resilience and achieve positive outcomes.
• Work flexibly across the community and withing our multi-agency partnership settings. Your caseload will include a mixture of community and multi-agency referral pathways including health and social care.
• Work with people to address holistic support needs across all aspects of the person’s wellbeing. This could include diverse work related to knife crime, 5 step family work, exploitation, physical and emotional health as well as substance misuse.

To succeed, you’ll:

• Have a qualification in health/social care, youth and community work (e.g. NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies).  Alternatively, we’ll consider candidates with experience of working in the substance misuse field with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care.
• Be an energetic and confident self-starter.
• Have experience of liaising with voluntary and statutory agencies and health professionals and engaging effectively with clients in a variety of settings.
• Have a flexible approach, excellent record keeping and report writing skills and a willingness to work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings, on an outreach basis, with a central hub base at our head office.

In return for your skills and enthusiasm, this role comes with some really great benefits and excellent training and development opportunities. Benefits include:

• 32 days holiday + bank holidays
• Cultural celebration day
• Access to blue light card discounts
• Flexible working

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37 hours per week.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted. 

Learning and development is important to us, and we are pleased to be able to offer a wide range of apprenticeships. We hire apprentices into specific roles as well as offering apprenticeships to the workforce. Anyone can apply to undertake an apprenticeship relevant to the role as long as they are in a permanent post and have successfully passed probation.

Aquarius was a subsidiary of Richmond Fellowship, with both organisations being part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. On 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship merged with Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. At the same time, Aquarius became a subsidiary of Humankind, with no impact to terms and conditions of employment. In October 2024, Humankind was renamed Waythrough to reflect the new organisation, of which Aquarius will remain a subsidiary.

Hybrid role - predominantly working in the community and home based, with some expectations of office visit every now and again.

You have a QCF in Advice & Guidance (Level 3) or equivalent, plus a proven ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety. You’d also like to be part of an organisation that counts on the professionalism, insight, expertise and passion of its staff to inspire individual recovery for the people they work with. Welcome to Waythrough as a WorkWell Coach.

WorkWell is an exciting new government/DWP initiative to get people back to work. As well as providing work placement support, it will also address and support any physical or mental health needs via a Mental Health Provider and Physical Health Advisor who form part of the team. The pilot in Surrey will be going live in December and aims to empower people to take control of their health, wellbeing and any impacts this is having on their employment via referral to a WorkWell Coach. That’s where you come in.

Working as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) and other community hubs, your challenge will be to provide a supportive environment that enables each individual to identify their health and wellbeing concerns and the impact these are having on their employment. That will involve taking a strengths-based approach, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and, together with the individual, producing a personalised and holistic support plan that aims to help the individual thrive at work. We’ll also rely on you to work alongside a multi-disciplinary team of physical activity, mental health and skills and employment advisors to provide direct interventions and connect individuals to diverse community-based support, thus ensuring they are able to maintain their health, wellbeing and employment in the longer term.

To succeed, you’ll need a good understanding of motivational coaching and interview skills, the ability to organise, plan and prioritise and a real commitment to develop. Familiar with office IT systems, you have good word processing skills and know how to use emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports. Just as important is a proactive and flexible approach plus the ability to listen to, and empathise with, people from all backgrounds and provide person centred support in a non-judgemental way. Put simply, you’re committed to reducing health inequalities and able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, thus motivating others to reach their potential. 

In return for your skills and enthusiasm, this role comes with some really great benefits and excellent training and development opportunities.

Due to the nature of the role, a driver and access to a car are essential.

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37.5 hours per week.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted. 

On 1st June 2024, Richmond Fellowship, part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence merged with Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. In October 2024, Humankind was renamed Waythrough to reflect the new organisation.

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  

• Salary: £41,170 
• 35 hours per week (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) 
• Permanent
• Home-based 
• Closing date: Sunday 8 December, 11.59pm
• Interviews: Thursday 12 December, via Teams

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced social worker to join our Central Support & Social Care Team in the role of Senior Practitioner.

The Central Support & Social Care Team is a home-based team providing phone and digital support to children and young people with cancer across the UK. The team works alongside our social work teams in hospitals to deliver tailored support. 

This role will manage the strand of the team's work that delivers support to those assessed to have lower-level needs. This is carried out through regular phone-based contact, and provision of an inbound service providing advice and support to young people with cancer, their families and those in their networks. 

This is an exciting time to join the team as we look to grow and maximise the potential of volunteers within the team.

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application an enhanced criminal record check will be completed. This role is also subject to a Social Worker Registration. 

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy.

The role involves: 

• Practice management of our care navigators (unqualified workers) and volunteers who deliver services in line with the organisation's service specifications
• Responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the strand of our service for those assessed to have lower-level needs. This includes  scheduling planned outbound calls ensuring they meet the contact needs and preferences of young people and families, and accepting new referrals from our social care teams across the UK
• Oversight of incoming enquiries, through webchat, phone and email
• Providing reflective practice and development opportunities to our care navigators 
• Fostering and maintaining good working relationships with key stakeholders within the organisation, and professionals & medical staff across the UK
• Working with our volunteer lead to grow and maximise the potential of volunteers in the team

What do I need? 

We would love to hear from you if you have: 

• A recognised professional social work qualification 
• A minimum 3 years experience of working with children and young people in a social work setting, including assessment and care planning 
• Experience of managing safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults - legislation, procedures and best practice
• Experience of supervising staff, students or volunteers in a social care setting
• Ability to work virtually using video conferencing to build effective relationships with stakeholders 
• Understanding of oppression and the barriers that marginalised people face, and strong commitment to deliver anti-oppressive practice
• The skills to champion the service and appropriately challenge yourself, teams and partner agencies where necessary.

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully - those please note that a social work qualification is an essential requirement. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Wellbeing days: four days a year to do what works for you – from catching up on training to going for a walk
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.