Support Worker - Housing First

Weymouth Office

Grade 3 - £31,133 plus £869 Essential Car User Allowance per annum

Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Fixed term contract until 30 September 2026

Closing date: Sunday 20th October 2024 at 11.30 pm

Are you a client-focused, proactive and compassionate individual with a proven track record of working with vulnerable people who have multiple disadvantages?  If so, Shelter has an exciting opportunity - Support Worker - Housing First to join our team and play a central role in delivering our vital support projects.

About the role

You will work closely with the Housing First team, colleagues and accommodation providers, to place clients directly into homes in places they want to be. Then you will work with them to develop outcome-focused support plans that reflect their personal strengths and goals, to make sure that they can sustain their accommodation and thrive in their community.

You will coordinate support around your clients and act as a key worker to help them sustain their accommodation and move forward with their lives. This will mean coordinating interventions provided by other agencies so that the right support is provided at the right time, to enable the service user to progress on their journey to recovery.  Giving full advice on different issues such as homelessness and housing options, tenancy issues e.g. dampness and disrepair, welfare and housing benefits, debt and employment is also a key aspect of the role. You will need to visit clients in their homes or community locations which could be anywhere in Dorset.

About you

You will need a relevant background that includes experience of housing, homelessness and welfare benefits law and experience supporting people who are vulnerable and/or have multiple disadvantage. Through this you will have a good working knowledge of safeguarding frameworks. Proficiency using a range of IT tools to carry out your work, including Microsoft Office applications and case management systems. The role will need you to visit clients in their homes so you will need a valid driving licence and be willing to use your vehicle for work purposes - for which an essential car user allowance will be paid.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own. 

About the team 

You will be part of the Dorset Hub which has offices in Poole and Weymouth and will link in with other Shelter teams, including the community advice and legal teams. We offer specialist housing advice and legal representation as well as housing workshops and lived experience activities in the community. Working alongside the wider Weymouth Team - Intensive Floating Support and Reach Out drug and alcohol team, you will take a multi-agency approach working closely with other organisations such as housing, health and social care to get the best outcomes for our clients.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

How to apply

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit a CV and responses to the ‘About You’ section of the job description of no more than 350 words each.

Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviours below throughout your responses:

• We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset
• We are open to risk and learning from our experiences

Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.