We’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Mental Health service in Islington. No personal care or experience is required, just the right values.

£12,428.00 per annum, working 20 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? 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.

Islington Mental Health Accommodation Pathway provides support to people living with various mental health conditions and complex needs. The service consists of a 24-hour supported accommodation service, and 3 medium-low supported accommodation services across the borough of Islington.

Support workers at Islington Menal Health Accommodation Pathway work within a multi-disciplinary team, providing support to customers with a range of mental health and support needs. This will include support with emotional, social, physical & domestic needs. You will be skilled in engaging both customers and stakeholders and have a good understanding of the needs and diversity of this client group. You will be able to demonstrate the ability to work in a therapeutic environment that at times can be challenging and provide quality, evidence-based care and risk management strategies. You will be highly motivated and committed to continuous professional development. You will be committed to supporting customers through their recovery journey and skilled in engaging them with their move-on pathway. You will work flexibly to respond to emerging needs and effectively address the needs of the customer group. This role will include working bank holidays, weekends and national holidays.

This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.

What you’ll do:

• Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Senior Support Worker/Team Leader/ Service Manager. Creatively working to engage with customers.
• Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions. Promote positive risk taking.
• Create support/action plans for providing appropriate services based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available
• Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers.
• Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities.
• Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation.
• Undertake all administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive tenant/customer records to professional standards
• Proactive development of links with local statutory and voluntary organisations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community
• Empower customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to
• Encourage and enable tenants to pay their rent and to ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively in conjunction with the Housing Management team and policies
• Undertake housing management duties in line with relevant HM contract.
• Ensure that referrals are chased proactively so that properties which can be used to house those in need are filled as efficiently as possible
• Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as may be reasonably assigned
• Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service
• Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies are adhered to at all time and to uphold all health and safety responsibilities within relevant policies and local protocols
• Adhering to all other Look Ahead’s policies and procedures Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills

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

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Approachable and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
• Flexible
• Open to feedback and self development
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
• Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
• Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
• Is essentially customer–focused
• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
• Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours

What you’ll bring:

Essential:

• Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector

Desirable:

• Experience working in mental health

About us:

Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. 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.

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.