Support Worker

Do you have a demonstrable interest and knowledge of homelessness and housing legislation and welfare benefits, plus a real desire to help others? Then join Shelter as a Support Worker in our Homeless Prevention and Resettlement Service and you could soon be playing a vital role in standing up to the housing emergency.

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.

About the team

We specialise in emergency homelessness work, intensive support to children and families and people experiencing domestic abuse, and/or multiple disadvantage and have been providing housing advice and support to the people of Sheffield for over 20 years. We take a holistic approach to help people to deal with interrelated issues that can impact their ability to get and keep a home, so they can thrive within the community. These include high intensity support, legal representation, practical DIY assistance and specialist housing, employment training and welfare benefits advice. The clients we help have a range of issues include physical and mental health conditions, drug and alcohol use, income and money management and domestic abuse.

About the role

You will help clients to maintain independence and to thrive, by offering practical assistance, support, advice, advocacy, coaching and encouragement to enable households to resettle and to prevent homelessness. All our Support Workers hold a ‘caseload’ of households and are responsible for developing outcome focused support plans, managing any risks and continually assessing need. Shelter staff are highly knowledgeable and capable and we provide our staff with a range of training opportunities, in subjects such as: housing and homeless legislation; benefits and welfare; safeguarding and risk management.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About you

You will need a relevant background that includes experience of housing, homelessness and welfare benefits law and supporting people who are vulnerable and/or have multiple and complex needs. 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 is important too. If you have experience of using case managements systems this is an advantage, but not essential. 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.

Drop in session

We would also like to invite any interested candidates to an informal drop-in session to hear more about the role before they apply, which will be held in the Sheffield Hub, 33 – 37 Hereford Street, Sheffield S1 4PP on Tuesday 9th July 2024 between 2pm - 3.30pm. For more information about who to contact, see advert on Shelter's website.  

For candidates unable to make that date, we are also happy to speak on the phone prior to application to explain details of the role further if interested.

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.

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.