Weekend Support Worker (One Year Fixed-Term Contract)

Job Title:                    Weekend Support Worker (One Year Fixed-Term Contract)

Accountable to:        Hostel Manager

Salary:                        £14,786.66 pro-rata

Department:             Skainos Square, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast

Hours of work:          2 posts - 22.5hrs per week.  1 post - 15hrs per week.  Rotation shift pattern involving working weekends and a Friday or Monday. Reasonable hours outside of this may be required to fulfil the duties of this position

Expenses:                  An allowance is paid in respect of mileage undertaken in the course of business

Leave:                         20 days plus 12 statutory days (pro-rata depending on hours worked per week)

Pension:                     National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) Pension Scheme

Health Care:              An employee health care plan is available after successful probation

Date:                           June 2015

Probation:                  This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period

Background

East Belfast Mission has operated as a charity since 1985. Working to renew and transform the East Belfast community, EBM offers a range of services and works in partnership with other charities, organisations, churches and funding bodies.

Hosford is the homeless project of East Belfast Mission providing support and shelter for the last 20 years. We provide two main services:

Homeless hostel accommodation

We have a total of twenty six beds for single men and women aged between 17- 65.

Our accommodation is of a high standard and involves several different options (including move on apartments) depending on the needs of our clients.  We also offer twenty–four hour support and a support worker to help clients move to independent accommodation

Tenancy Support Service

 Practical and emotional help for those living independently but encountering problems and homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless.

 Our aim is to prevent homelessness. We do this by helping people to develop their skills and their ability to deal with everyday problems. We can visit people in their homes or in the community and our support lasts up to 2 years.

Throughout our service Hosford aims to:

• Provide a safe and caring environment for people to rebuild their lives and recover from the traumas they have experienced.
• Support people to make positive changes
• Encourage personal development and achievement of goals.

 Job purpose

The Weekend Support Worker will work as part of the team to provide an effective 24 hour case management support service (accommodation, transition into the community and within the community) as required.

Main Responsibilities and Accountabilities

 Ensure the needs of Service Users, within the hostel and community are effectively met.  Promoting independence through support, development and progression.

• To meet key performance indicators to support the achievement of the departmental plan as required by Supporting People
• To provide support and advice to service users
• To work creatively and proactively to remove barriers to clients achieving independence and managing their own tenancy
• To support clients to increase their independent living skills
• To manage risk within the service appropriately and to apply a harm reduction approach
• To liaise effectively with Keyworkers and Management re the needs and risk of clients to ensure the best support possible is provided.
• To ensure that the Referral, Acceptance and Induction process for residents is undertaken in accordance with EBM Procedures
• To liaise with external agencies where appropriate, to ensure the co-ordination and integration of services, and maximise opportunities
•  To contribute to the harmonious inter-action with and between Service Users, dealing appropriately with disruptive and/or abusive behaviour, concerns they raise, complaints and grievances, notifying the Hostel Manager of any actions or issues
• To record and maintain accurate written records and ensure all databases are kept up to date with accurate and reliable data in line with legal obligations
• To maintain the confidentiality of information in line with organisational and legislative requirements
• To advise the Hostel Manager of issues or concerns which may impinge on the smooth running of the service

Creating a positive and homely atmosphere at the service throughout the weekend

• To work with service users and staff to ensure the hostel is a positive environment
• To have a flexible and proactive approach which is responsive to clients’ needs.
• To help create; house meals, film nights, games etc. as appropriate depending on the needs of clients

 Performance management

• To participate in regular supervision to: receive support, increase knowledge, identify training needs, evaluate work performance, aid and assess professional development
• To attend staff development programmes, training courses, seminars and workshops as required.

Effective monitoring and management of organisational resources

• To ensure the effective and efficient use of organisational resources at all time
• To monitor and advise on levels of stocks
•  To effectively maintain all recording systems employed by the service, including financial transactions and petty cash
•  To support fundraising activities as required

Ensure all Health and Safety and the Promotion of Good Housekeeping Practices

• To contribute at all times to the physical cleanliness and general condition of the hostel
• To adhere to the EBM Health and Safety Policy at all times
•  To record and report any defects and or accidents in the hostel
•  To act as Fire Warden and/or First Aid Person if designated.
•  To support the undertaking of Health and Safety risk assessments, as appropriate and the implementation of any agreed actions.
• To ensure awareness and adherence to the Lone Working Policy

Participate in the shift system and the On Call Rota

• To participate in the shift rota, to ensure adequate staffing levels

Other Responsibilities

• To be responsible for the hostel in the absence of the management in accordance with agreed parameters.
• To prepare and submit reports as requested to Hostel Manager and Homeless Manager
• To attend and contribute to regular staff meetings as required
• To contribute to promoting an environment where equality of opportunity, anti-discriminatory practice, diversity, individual rights and choice are promoted in accordance with EBM principles, policies and procedures.
•  To promote EBM’s mission, values, aims and objectives and ensure all organisational Policies and Procedures and Staff Code of Practice are followed at all times.
• To carry out all other reasonable duties as may be from time to time.

 PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Criteria

Essential/

Desirable

Qualifications

NVQ Level 3 in a relevant vocational area e.g. care, housing, or equivalent

D

Experience

6 months relevant experience in working with people in specialist housing, residential work, floating support or another supportive environment

Understanding of the Social Security Benefits Systems

Understanding of the Voluntary Sector

E

D

D

Knowledge &

Skills

A clear understanding of the role of a Support Worker

A clear understanding of the needs of the Service User Group

Ability to promote independent living skills and independence for service users to be self-managing

An ability to manage risk, use a harm reduction approach, and deal with incidents

The skills and ability to create a homely, safe, and welcoming environment

Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work in a changing environment where sound judgment is required

Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team

Good computer skills – ability to use Microsoft suite of packages

An understanding of the Quality Assessment Framework of Supporting People

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

Other

A clear understanding of the ethos of the East Belfast Mission

E

Required Competencies

• Building relationships: The ability to build and maintain effective relationships with clients/stakeholders (both internal and external) to support organisational goals
• Change and resilience: The ability to adapt and respond positively in a changing environment to remain effective
• Analysis and decision making: The ability to gather and analyse the appropriate data/information to generate solutions to enable effective decision making
• Teamwork and communication: The ability to work and communicate effectively with others as part of a team as opposed to working competitively
• Professional development: The technical expertise required for successful job performance, with the motivation to enhance the personal and professional development of self and others
• Leadership: The ability to accept responsibility for decisions, motivating and supporting others to achieve goals
• Focus on outcomes: The ability to plan and organise work efforts to achieve results and accomplish goals
• Initiative and excellence: The ability and tendency to take action in response to immediate challenges or to think ahead in response to future challenges, whilst promoting excellence

Additional Notes

This Role Profile is an accurate reflection of the job as at the time of review.  As with any position, the role may be subject to change to meet the needs of the post.  All prospective changes will be discussed with the post-holder as part of the organisation’s performance management arrangements.

This position gives the post holder access to children and/or young people and vulnerable adults and will therefore be required to disclose details of any criminal convictions, including spent, bind-over orders and cautions in accordance with the Access NI Vetting and Baring Scheme and our organisation’s Children and Vulnerable Adult’s Protection Policy and Procedure.  An AccessNI check will be carried out, and in applying for this position, you are in agreement for the organisation to carry out this necessary check.

East Belfast Mission is an Equal Opportunities Employer