Support Worker - Rapid Access Accommodation
You will have the opportunity to support people in seeing their value and creating hope for their future.
About Simon Community Scotland
Simon Community Scotland is the largest provider of homelessness services in Scotland.
Our vision is for everyone to have a safe place to live with access to the support they need. Every day we help make positive things happen for people facing extremely difficult circumstances.
Everything we do is about and for people: the people we support, our staff, our partners and everyone affected by homelessness.
Our values are built into every area of activity and tell the story of how people remain at the heart of the Simon Community.
Job Summary
The Simon Community is Scotland's leading homeless charity. We are creative and innovative. We get things done with care and compassion that make a difference to our community, being true to our values. We are a community of staff, volunteers and the people that we support.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about changing expectations and experiences of people we support, many of whom have experienced significant trauma, exclusion and stigma. They often engage in risk taking behaviours that put their physical and mental health, and their lives at risk. Despite the challenges they face they have incredible resilience, survival skills and a wicked sense of humour. They know what a good, and not so good service looks like.
In our Rapid Access Accommodation projects we work with people who have current and previous experiences of rough sleeping into their own tenancies or move on accommodation to support them in fostering safety, choice and control in their lives. You’ll be based in an accommodation setting, working one to one with individuals to provide person-centred, trauma informed support linking in with other agencies and partners as required.
Job Purpose
As a support worker it will be your job to work with a team on key activities including:
- Help people in our community to manage and recover their mental health
- Support people who use drugs and alcohol to do so as safely as possible, or to reduce or stop their use in a safe way
- Help people in our community to build a positive network of connections that will help them to gain and sustain their own housing
- Provide emotional and practical support to our community
- Supporting those we work with to access housing and other services as may required including healthcare, support for substance use and social inclusion
- Developing effective relationships with those we support by listening, interacting and responding to their needs and requirements
- Ability and willingness to meet people where they are at - physically, emotionally, socially - to build stickable relationships
- Working effectively with internal and external partners to maximise the effectiveness of support available to those we work with
- Maintaining accurate case notes and records
- Any other related activities as directed by your Service Lead which may arise as the role develops
Key Responsibilities
Our values support:
- Warmth and positive regard
- Inclusion and participation
- Innovation and personalisation of care and support
- Ambition
- Partnership
- Learning and leadership
- Developing honest and open relationships with our community that foster trust
- Using our training and reflective practice to develop additional skills to support and respond appropriately to our community who have experienced trauma
- Working with people in our community with a wide range of experiences and cultural backgrounds with dignity, respect and kindness
- Working as part of a team with a range of experiences and knowledge to the benefit of our community
- Supporting our community to influence their care and support to meet their goals - Fostering connection, hope, a positive identity and meaning in life and a sense of control for our community
- Working with other teams in SCS and with partners to support good outcomes for our community
- Seeking opportunities that will make a difference to our community
- Ensuring that our places reflect the respect we hold for our community
- Frontline staff must be registered with SSSC
Hours are 37.5 per week on a rota basis - it's a 7 day service between 8am-8pm weekdays and 8am-4pm weekends, but no night shift cover is required
Person Specification
Training and qualifications:
Essential:
- SVQ 3 social care or willing to work towards
- SSSC Registered or willing to become so
Desirable:
- Trauma informed practice
- Assist / MHFA / SafeTalk trained
- Naloxone trained
- Mental Health or Substance Use qualifications
Experience:
Essential:
- Providing support to people with a range of experiences including homelessness,
mental ill health and/or substance use
- Working in a fast paced environment which requires quick decision making
Desirable:
- Lived experience of homelessness
- Experience of working with a range of agencies as a team
- Networking and connecting skills
Knowledge and Skills:
Essential:
- Experience of working with people with a variety of individual and cultural beliefs
- Ability to use empathy and relational skills to build positive relationships with our community and colleagues
- Understanding of, and ability to work within, ethical and relational boundaries
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Desire to reflect, learn and develop innovate practice
Desirable:
- Knowledge and understanding of homelessness, addictions and mental health
- Understanding of services that support homelessness, substance use and mental health
- Evidence of good communication skills; written, verbal and digital
Personal:
Essential:
- Being a positive person who leads by example
- Have a willingness to learn and adapt to each situation
- Honest, ethical and committed to our values at SCS
- Department
- Staff
- Locations
- Edinburgh
- Yearly salary
- £22,953 - £25,094
- Employment type
- Full-time
- Reports to
- Service Lead
- Hours per week
- 37.5
About Simon Community Scotland
Visit the Simon Community Scotland Website for more information.
Check out our Job Opportunities and Volunteer Opportunities.
Support Worker - Rapid Access Accommodation
You will have the opportunity to support people in seeing their value and creating hope for their future.
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