Support Worker

Simon Community Scotland is the largest provider of homelessness services in Scotland.

Our vision is for everyone to have a safe place to live with access to the support they need. Every day we help make positive things happen for people facing extremely difficult circumstances.

Everything we do is about and for people: the people we support, our staff, our partners and everyone affected by homelessness.

Our values are built into every area of activity and tell the story of how people remain at the heart of the Simon Community.

Job Summary

The Simon Community is Scotland's leading homelessness charity. We are creative and innovative. We get things done with care and compassion that make a difference to our community, being true to our values. We are a community of staff, volunteers, and people that we support.

We are looking for someone passionate about changing the expectations and experiences of people we support, many of whom have experienced significant trauma, exclusion, and stigma. They often engage in risk-taking behaviors that put their physical and mental health, and their lives at risk. Despite their challenges, they have incredible resilience, survival skills, and a wicked sense of humor. They know what a good, and not-so-good service looks like.

Creating strong partnership relationships is essential in order to offer the best options for the people we support and help them link in with services they may have struggled to access in the past.

Our Edinburgh street team responds to people who are rough sleeping, meeting them where they are at and providing that crucial first link into care. The team is out and about in all weathers on foot, bike, and car reaching out to all areas of Edinburgh. Supporting someone through the initial first steps on the journey from rough sleeping to more settled arrangements is challenging but incredibly rewarding and with this role, you will have the opportunity to work with those who are most far removed from society and show them that they matter.

Job Purpose

Key activities will include:

• Assertive outreach meeting people where they are rough sleeping or begging
• Developing effective relationships with those we support by listening, interacting, and responding to their needs and requirements. 
• Working in a small team to regularly map the city and provide clear up to date information on city wide rough sleeping.
• Ability and willingness to meet people where they are at - physically, emotionally, psychologically, nutritionally, socially - to build safe and stickable relationships.
• Working effectively with internal and external partners to provide support and access to services including, but not limited to: holistic healthcare, accommodation, support for substance use, and social inclusion
• Maintaining accurate case notes and records, including concerning program evaluation. Digital proficiency is essential.
• Working with people to find solutions to their homelessness cases and supporting them to engage with the relevant agencies. 
• Working in a harm reduction and trauma-informed model.
• Other such related activities which may arise as the role develops.

Key Responsibilities

Our values support:

 - Warmth and positive regard

 - Inclusion and participation

 - Innovation and personalisation of care and support

 - Ambition

 - Partnership

 - Learning and leadership

Your key responsibilities to support those values will be:

 - Developing honest and open relationships with our community that foster trust

 - Using our training and reflective practice to develop additional skills to support and respond appropriately to our community who have experienced trauma

 - Working with people in our community with a wide range of experiences and cultural backgrounds with dignity, respect and kindness

 - Working as part of a team with a range of experiences and knowledge to the benefit of our community

 - Supporting our community to influence their care and support to meet their goals - Fostering connection, hope, a positive identity and meaning in life and a sense of control for our community

 - Working with other teams in SCS and with partners to support good outcomes for our community

 - Seeking opportunities that will make a difference to our community

 - Ensuring that our places reflect the respect we hold for our community

Personal Specification

Training and qualifications:

Essential:

- SVQ 3 social care or willing to work towards

- SSSC Registered or willing to become so

Desirable:

- Trauma informed practice

- Assist / MHFA / SafeTalk trained

- Naloxone trained

- Mental Health or Substance Use qualifications

Experience:

Essential:

- Providing support to people with a range of experiences including homelessness,

mental ill health and/or substance use

- Working in a fast paced environment which requires quick decision making

Desirable:

- Lived experience of homelessness

- Experience of working with a range of agencies as a team

- Networking and connecting skills

Knowledge and Skills:

Essential:

- Experience of working with people with a variety of individual and cultural beliefs

- Ability to use empathy and relational skills to build positive relationships with our community and colleagues

- Understanding of, and ability to work within, ethical and relational boundaries

- Ability to work independently and as part of a team

- Desire to reflect, learn and develop innovate practice

Desirable:

- Knowledge and understanding of homelessness, addictions and mental health

- Understanding of services that support homelessness, substance use and mental health

- Evidence of good communication skills; written, verbal and digital

Personal:

Essential:

- Being a positive person who leads by example

- Have a willingness to learn and adapt to each situation

- Honest, ethical and committed to our values at SCS

Benefits of being on our Our Team

Pro rata these include:

• 35 days holiday increasing to 38 after 5 years of service
•  2 per annum wellbeing days for frontline staff
•  Contributory pension scheme (4%)
•  Cycle to work scheme
•  Specialised training and development platform
•  Access to confidential staff counselling
•  Refer a Friend scheme
•  Health Care Plan
•  Holiday buy and sell scheme
•  Death in Service benefit scheme