Housing Support Worker

Housing Support Worker

Salary: £ 25,949 per annum,  

Dundee

Contract/Hours: Permanent / Full Time 37 hours – Day and Night working patterns available. 

Interviews will be held Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th October,

Benefits

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

A bit about the service

Dundee Youth Housing Service is spread across two residential sites in the city of Dundee. We can accommodate 25 young people at one time through a mixture of housing support and care at home intervention.

The Dundee Youth Housing Service, in collaboration with the Dundee City Council, fulfils its statutory duty by supporting homeless/care experienced young people aged 16 and above. The aim of the service is to engage with young people and families at the earliest opportunity. To be responsive, to prevent situations escalating, and take the pressure off the local authority front line services.

As the initial point of contact for any young person facing homelessness in the city, our service plays a crucial role. Within the strategic housing partnership, Action for Children stands as the sole organisation dedicated to preventing young individuals from becoming homeless. Our service operates 24/7.

Our primary focus is to provide temporary accommodation for young people who have been assessed as homeless. We extend our support to young individuals who are homeless and have care experience.

A bit about the role

As a Housing Support Worker, you will support young people to develop the skills, confidence and resilience needed to live independently and achieve positive outcomes. Through building trusting relationships, providing practical, emotional and social support, and working alongside families and partner agencies, you will help young people navigate challenges and work towards their individual goals.

You will play a key role in delivering person-centred support based on assessed need and risk, encouraging young people to engage in meaningful activities, develop life skills and become active members of their communities. Support may include helping young people manage household responsibilities such as cooking, budgeting, shopping and maintaining their accommodation, while promoting independence and wellbeing.

Working collaboratively with professionals and services, you will contribute to care planning, monitor progress and ensure young people's views are heard and acted upon. Ultimately, your role is to provide a safe, supportive environment that empowers young people to build positive futures and successfully transition into independent adulthood.

Working Pattern – Full Time Days

As part of this role, you will work within a 5-week rolling rota , sharing responsibility with colleagues to provide support across the service. This will involve a mixture of day shifts, evenings and weekends, with sleepovers as required. The rota is designed to ensure young people receive consistent support while offering a varied and rewarding working pattern

Working Pattern – Full Time Nights

As a Night Housing Support Worker, you will play a key role in providing overnight support and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young people across both services. You will be part of a dedicated night team, working to maintain a safe, supportive and responsive environment throughout the night.

This role provides cover across both services, and you will be assigned to a service based on operational requirements and the needs of the young people being supported. Flexibility is therefore essential, as your place of work may vary from shift to shift.

You will work a rota pattern of three nights per week, including weekends, ensuring consistent overnight support is available across the service. Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will respond to the needs of young people, complete routine health and safety checks, maintain accurate records and contribute to a safe and supportive environment that promotes positive outcomes and independence

Please clearly state in your application whether you are applying for the Housing Support Worker role or the Housing Support Night Worker role. This will help ensure your application is considered for the appropriate position.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

As a Housing Support Worker, you'll offer general counselling and support including befriending, advising on food preparation, independent living skills, housing applications and tenancy sustainment. You will signpost young people to services that are relevant to their needs, so it is essential that you have knowledge of the services that Dundee has to offer.

You'll also;

• Maintain effective working relationships and communication with colleagues, young people and families.
• Being alert to child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Participating in regular supervision sessions and practice meetings to maintain a cohesive approach.
• Ensuring familiarity and compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Working towards GIRFEC outcomes/The Promise and comply with Health and Social Care Standards and the SSSC Code of conduct.

Let's talk about you

• Must possess SVQ3 in Residential Childcare or equivalent within two years of taking up post
• Willingness to participate in relevant on the job or off-site training
• Providing support and care
• Writing notes and recording information
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to manage difficult situations
• Ability to manage caseload
• Ability to plan and organise work once directed
• Ability to use Microsoft office packages
• An understanding and appreciation of Health and safety within the workplace.
• There may be a requirement for sleepovers depending on service requirements.

Good to know

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.

Talent Pool

We know talent when we see it. But sometimes we find the right person but not for the right job. We'd love to keep your details for when the right job comes up. Let us know if you'd rather we didn't.

Contact: Jessica Jarvis at ***email_hidden*** quoting reference 13782

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.

Weactivelyencourageapplications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.

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