Enhanced Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Enhanced Support Worker to join our Young People Service in Hounslow.

£22,120.10 per annum, working 32 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave (FTE), pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

We are recruiting for an Enhanced Support Worker to join our dynamic service and team. You will be able to creatively engage young people in order to minimise risks and increase their independence. Partnership working is at the heart of supporting our young people, and Enhanced Support Workers are required to build and maintain those relationships to coordinate the young person's support.

This role requires working on a rota pattern encompassing early shifts 07:15-15:15 and late shifts 13:45-21:45, including weekends. The service is open 365 days a year.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

Responsible for key-working a caseload assigned by the Management
Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions to professional standards
Co-develop a positive behaviour support plan with the individual that identifies triggers and actions required to enable positive risk taking through reduced risks
Support customers to claim and receive eligible benefits, deal with relevant agencies to develop life skills, budgeting, financial literacy, and managing finances effectively
Encourage tenants to pay their rent and to ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively
Motivate individuals to prepare and cook healthy meals safely, going shopping and offering guidance on buying balanced nutritious food
Enable customers to improve their skills to manage their day-to-day activities such a making telephone calls, dealing with correspondence, attending appointments and form filling
Support customers to access other services including CMHT, substance misuse agencies and/or work in partnership with other agencies as part of the support planning process
Develop and maintain links with key agencies and service providers in the local community
Lead on an area of specialism (e.g. ETE, health and wellbeing) and build partnerships and develop internal and external opportunities for service-users in this area
Support customers to maintain activities including but not limited to education, employment, training, informal accreditation and volunteering opportunities
Promote customers to develop social skills, positive and healthy relationships and keep safe in a variety of settings
Engage customers to place their voice, aspirations, and interests at the heart of service delivery Promoting inclusion, equality, diversity, and community cohesion
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

What you'll bring:

Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector
Ability to adapt to challenging environments
Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
Ability to plan, manage and evaluate outcome focused activities and support programmes
Interpersonal skills to build relationships with young people in 1:1 and group settings
Strong personal resilience and excellent teamwork skills
Understanding of the Service legal framework including the Children Act and Homelessness legislation and how to use it effectively

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values: We focus on Excellence and innovation. We are Caring and Compassionate. We are Inclusive and Trusted. We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date. We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

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