Enhanced Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Enhanced Support worker to join our young people service in Hounslow

£22,120 per annum, working 32 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

A Enhanced Support worker will be able to be creatively engage young people in order to minimise risks and increase their independence. Partnership working is the heart of supporting our young people and Enhanced Support Workers are required to build and maintain those relationships to coordinator the young person's support.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

- Responsible for key-working a caseload assigned by the Management
- Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions to professional standards
- Co-develop a positive behaviour support plan with the individual that identifies triggers and actions required to enable positive risk taking through reduced risks
- Support customers to engage with agreed support programme
- Support customers to claim and receive eligible benefits, deal with relevant agencies to develop life skills, budgeting, financial literacy, and managing finances effectively
- Encourage tenants to pay their rent and to ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively
- Motivate individuals to prepare and cook healthy meals safely, going shopping and offering guidance on buying balanced nutritious food

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
- An understanding of the issues facing young people
- An awareness and understanding of the social, emotional and wellbeing needs and mental health in relation to young people
- An awareness of adolescent development and relevant theories, such as attachment theory
- An awareness and understanding of child development and best practice in promoting healthy living and positive parenting skills
- An understanding of the challenges young parents face and the skills to enable them to pursue their aspirations while parenting effectively
- An understanding of the difficulties care leavers face and the skills to empower them to achieve their ambitions
- An understanding of the difficulties NEET young people face and the skills to enable them to develop a sense of responsibility and independence in the community

What you'll bring:

Essential:
- Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector
- Ability to adapt to challenging environments
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Ability to plan, manage and evaluate outcome focused activities and support programmes
- Interpersonal skills to build relationships with young people in 1:1 and group settings
- Strong personal resilience and excellent teamwork skills

Desirable:

- Understanding of the Service legal framework including the Children Act and Homelessness legislation and how to use it effectively

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full job description.