Resettlement Support Worker

About the role

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is a new, unitary council offering innovative and creative ways of enabling its people, and a place to live, work and thrive. The role of Resettlement Support Worker will provide the opportunity for the right candidates to advise, guide, and support in accessing services for vulnerable individuals and families who settle in West Northamptonshire, primarily under the Government's Afghan and Ukrainian resettlement schemes.

In the role you will assess the immediate and ongoing needs of Afghan and Ukrainian nationals and provide initial and ongoing advice, guidance and practical support to individuals and their families in order to:

• address their health and wellbeing needs and access to services,
• supporting them with integration into the UK and the local community
• work with specialist support, voluntary, statutory, or healthcare agencies where appropriate.

This is an exciting opportunity for anyone that is empathetic and wants to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable refugees who will need help integrating into communities by helping Afghan families newly resettling into life in the UK, to access integration support within West Northamptonshire and also those Ukrainian families arriving to West Northamptonshire, to settle and empower them to live independently.

The post holders will be mobile, able to visit the homes of host residents in and around Northampton, Daventry, Towcester and Brackley. Also to support Afghan families in their homes and working from locations in the community and in the office.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (Please refer to Job Description / Person Specification for further information)

• Assist with referrals to relevant services / agencies consistent with specific processes / protocols, having identified client’s individual and specific support needs
• Client risk assessments such as DBS checks on host families
• Client’s ongoing support plans
• Maintaining appropriate and accurate client records (in addition to other requirements as directed by DLUHC and the Home Office)
• Reporting urgent issues when they arise
• Travel to accommodation to carry out visits and make initial safeguarding assessments to satisfy the council that there is no serious safeguarding or welfare concerns and that once arrived, the guest(s) are well.
• Conduct on an ongoing basis regular review meetings with families and individuals either during home visits, or at an agreed meeting location to ensure that needs are met and all relevant services are accessed.

What will you be doing?

Providing advice, guidance and access to support services for vulnerable individuals and families to settle in West Northamptonshire, who may be experiencing a range of issues with complex needs.

Giving practical and emotional support to families and individuals to enable them to adapt to life in the UK and feel safe and secure within their new homes.

Working with clients to provide effective integration and orientation support to resettle in West Northamptonshire in areas which include but are not limited to:

• access to benefits
• access to health services
• assistance with finding school places for children
• help with post 16 education, employment, and training

Delivering the service to all individuals fairly and without discrimination.

About you

You will need:

• Proven ability to conduct visits, assess circumstances and support needs in accordance with policy and legislation and provide advice, guidance, and housing related support to clients.
• Proven ability to proactively manage and prioritise a case load where clients have complex and multiple needs.
• The ability to engage with a wide range of clients with a variety of support needs and be able to work with them to ensure they are integrated into local communities and wider UK systems and society.
• A full driving licence and access to own vehicle to use for work purposes to travel around the county.

About us

We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.