Support Worker

Introduction

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 homeless 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 the people that we support.

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

As a residential support worker you will: 

 - support the development of life skills and homemaking in preparation for a tenancy,

- provide emotional support,

- help to reduce harm caused by homelessness and trauma.

Job Purpose

As a support worker it will be your job to work with a team to:

 - Help people in our community to manage and recover their mental health

 - Support people who use drugs and alcohol to do so as safely as possible

 - Support people who choose to reduce or stop their drug and alcohol use to do so safely

 - Help people in our community to build a positive network of connections that will help them to gain and sustain their own housing

 - Provide emotional and practical support to our community

 - Any other duties directed by your service lead

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

Person 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 addictions qualifications

Experience

Essential:

 - Experience of providing support to people with a range of challenges including homelessness, mental ill health and addictions

- Experience of 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

 Desirable:

 - Knowledge and understanding of homelessness, addictions and mental health

- Understanding of services that support homelessness,addictions and mental health

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

Personal

 Essential:

 - Able to lead by example.

- A team player.

- A desire to learn and to develop innovative practice

- Honest, ethical and keen to overcome obstacles

- Flexible, responsive