Remote Night Support Worker – Shap

Responsible to:

Service Manager

Responsible for:

N/A

Hours of Work:

Full time posts – 38.6 hours average per week – 4 shifts on, 4 shifts off on a rolling basis

Part time posts – 17.5 hours average per week – 7pm to midnight, 4 on and 4 off on a rolling basis

Location:

YMCA Together – based from 24 hour provision and across Liverpool

Salary and benefits:

• Full time £24,086, Part time £10,920
• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Paid Medicash support
• Birthday day off
• Charity day of your choice
• Well-being Hours
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Company Pension Scheme 4%
• Funded Training Opportunities

Shortlisting and Interview Dates

Shortlisting week commencing 21st May 2024

Interview/Assessment day 28th May

YMCA Together is a registered charity and company Limited by Guarantee. We were founded in 1846 and so we build on a long history of providing a place for people experiencing challenging times in their lives.

YMCA Together is a truly value driven organisation.

Our vision is that everyone should feel safe, understood, empowered and positive for their future. We meet our vision by working within our values of Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness. These SHREK values run through all that we do from recruitment to how we work alongside people in our services to our partnership approach with other providers.

Our clear vision and values come together to help us in our mission to inspire and support people to change their lives by instilling hope, valuing the person and maximising potential.

Job Purpose

This service will provide support to vulnerable young people (age 18-25) who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping with medium to high support needs. As a Support Worker you will be focused around facilitating recovery, self-development and preparing for independent living. The aim of the support is to ensure that young people are supported and empowered to make positive choices about their life and to develop the tools required to live a life free from homelessness. As a Support Worker you be expected to have specific skills and experience of working with young people and engage them using range of tools, language and platforms that are familiar to young people e.g. technology, social media etc.

As a Night Support Worker you will recognise that the people that we work alongside have often experienced trauma and will work in a way which understands this. You will work alongside our Assistant Psychologist for people that require it. As a night worker you will be expected to make visits to the people we support and be on hand to help manage any other ad hoc enquires and needs. You will work closely with the allocated Support Workers to ensure that support is constant on a 24-hour basis and that support plans are created and kept to. You will carry a caseload of up to 2 young people as a secondary case owner.

Due to the nature of this role, you will need to have a driving license with full access to a car.

Duties and Responsibilities

• To maintain and update resident’s electronic records and rent payments on DAVE Housing Management System
• Provide clear and accurate information in respect of all service users in line with agreed procedures such as daily handovers ensuring that appropriate information is communicated with the team.
• To work as part of the Night Support Team and be based at one of our 24-hour provisions.
• Ensure that service users have a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities during their time within the service.
• Support service users to achieve their goals and targets as defined/ agreed within their support plans and empower them to reach their aims .
• Manage, update, and communicate service users risk assessments in line with YMCA Together policy and procedure.
• Ensure service users shape their own support and understand the purpose of the support provided.
• To maintain and update resident’s electronic records and rent payments on DAVE Housing Management System
• Provide clear and accurate information in respect of all service users in line with agreed procedures such as daily handovers ensuring that appropriate information is communicated with the team.
• Support all service users with future tenancy planning ensuing that everyone has the skills to live independently away from a supported housing pathway.
• Motivate and challenge service users so they realise their goals.
• Liaise between service users and external agencies regarding the provision of specialised support when appropriate.
• Encourage involvement and participation among service users in the running and shaping of the wider service provided by planning and attending regular service user meetings and forums.
• Deal promptly with all complaints and protection from abuse disclosures.
• Demonstrate creativity in overcoming obstacles and a commitment to working with and providing support to vulnerable people.

Specific Duties

• Carry out evening welfare checks in during every shift in service users own home.
• Carry out induction to all new residents of the service.
• Completion of housing benefit application and YMCA Together License Agreement
• To deal promptly with all serious incidents, complaints, and safeguarding/abuse disclosures
• To creatively support and engage with all service users that may have a history of non-engagement.
• To support & facilitate service users move-on from the service.
• To ensure the smooth handling of support on a 24-hour basis.
• To support staff in the Hostel that you are based in with all aspects of their role when not supporting SHAP service users.

Health and Safety

• To liaise with all emergency services when necessary
• Adhere to lone working policy and procedures.
• Ensure at all times the safety of yourself and others on the premises in which you work
• To report, log and communicate all incidents to the appropriate people in line with YMCA Togethers license agreement.
• Tackle any ASB caused by service users or visitors within the community that they live in
• Conduct welfare checks as specified during the shift.
• To adhere to all risk management protocols
• Ensure that risk assessments are updated.

Teamwork

• To share information and expertise with the team, covering absence, and working together to provide a high-quality service
• To contribute to the formulation of policy and procedures in relation to support services
• To attend and participate in regular team meetings to ensure good communication.

Professional Practice and Development

• Attend regular supervision sessions with the Line Manager in accordance with the supervision contract
• Maintain good professional practice and ensure ongoing development, through use of supervision and training
• Respect the confidentiality of residents using the service and be responsible for the security of personal and confidential information
• Carry out all these duties within the organisation’s safety guidelines
• Ensure personal records are correctly maintained
• Ensure effective communication with staff within YMCA Together
• Work flexibly to meet the changing needs of the organisation
• Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably requested
• Flexible and positive approach with all team members
• To be committed to learning and personal development both as an individual and as part of a team
• Observe and ensure compliance with the Service Code of Conduct, to include professional boundaries and the confidentiality of information at all times
• Ensure adherence to YMCA ‘Visitors’ procedure
• Dealing promptly with all complaints in line with YMCA policies and procedures
• Uphold and nurture YMCA’s Equal Opportunities policy of anti-discrimination across all services

It is recognised that the organisation is operating in a dynamic environment and as such this job description may be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect evolving needs of the business and changing nature of the job.

Person Specification – Remote Night Support worker – SHAP

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualification or working experience in homelessness, Tenancy management and supporting vulnerable people.

Desirable

• Qualifications or experience of working with young people
• Qualification in Welfare Rights
• Qualification in IT such as CLAIT, ECDL, ITQ

Experiences

Essential

• A minimum of one year’s experience of working within a hostel setting or similar setting
• Relevant experience in homelessness, housing, health or offending
• A minimum of one year’s experience in dealing with front-line or customer service needs
• Working experience of maintaining up to date electronic records and calendars

Desirable

• Experience of working within a psychologically informed environment (PIE)
• Experience of Trauma Informed Care and of working in a therapeutic environment

Knowledge

Essential

• A working knowledge of providing support
• A working knowledge of Health & Safety issues within a hostel setting
• A clear understanding of dealing with service users whose behaviour some may find challenging
• Knowledge of safeguarding protocols
• Working knowledge of providing support in accordance with the YMCA’s equality and diversity strategy and policy

Desirable

• Knowledge of working with a housing management IT system, databases and spreadsheets
• Awareness of the barriers that members may display when accessing services
• Awareness of Benefit system, universal credit and welfare reform

Skills

Essential

• Ability to conduct accurate risk assessments with vulnerable people
• Computer literate, competent in working with Microsoft word, outlook, windows
• Excellent communication, engagement, interviewing, assessment and interpersonal skills
• Excellent administration skills and the ability to accurately and concisely record information and write reports
• Ability and willingness to work unsupervised

Desirable

• Ability to encourage involvement and participation with regard to activities amongst customers

Behaviour/ Attributes

Essential

• Committed to improving the lives of homeless vulnerable people with complex needs
• Committed to own personal development and CPD planning
• Creative and dynamic approach with the ability to “think outside of the box” when providing solutions
• Energetic, highly motivated with a reputation of being held in high regard by peers
• Excellent interpersonal/ communication skills
• Excellent negotiation/ mediation skills
• Committed to own career development
• Ability to work within & have commitment to YMCA ethos, philosophy and SHREK values, Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness
• Commitment to promoting equality and diversity across the service
• Energetic, dynamic and self-motivated

If you would like to apply not directly through the website, please email your completed application form to recruitment@ymcatogether.org.uk