Reports to: / Community Manager / Date: / December 2017
Job Purpose:
The Senior Support Worker supports the Community Manager in managing all activities associated with Companions and their welfare and wellbeing in compliance with our Emmaus ethos, mission, strategic aims, organisational objectives, policies and procedures.
The Senior Support Worker is expected to work closely with the Business Manager and his team regarding the performance and welfare of Companions during their working week.
Job Dimensions:
· Community Home Budget: approx. £350,000
· Number of Companions: up to 22
· Staff Managed : None
· 40 hour week, but flexibility is required.
· Starting salary c £20-21,000 p.a. depending upon experience
Organisation Chart:
Principal Accountabilities: The Senior Support Worker is expected to assist, and sometimes deputise for, the Community Manager in the following duties:
· Builds a sense of Community, growing the Community in a stable and positive manner. It is envisaged that the Community Manager and Deputy Community Manager operate a rota of being on-call.
· Effectively assists the Community Manager to build good working relations with BCBC, V2C, HMP Parc and other organisations that would appropriately refer people for consideration to become Companions in the Community.
· Ensures that Companions join the Community within admission guidelines, taking the lead role in offering or declining places in the Community.
· Ensures Companions are welcomed, supported and inducted into all aspects of the Community and fully understand the implications of joining the Community.
· Ensures all Companions have in place personal development plans that maximise their opportunity to achieve life plans.
· Ensures that the Community home is run in accordance with Emmaus South Wales policies and procedures and the Emmaus ethos.
· Collaborates with the Business Manager and shop managers, ensuring Companions are working to the best of their ability in their work assignments & that individual development plans are incorporated into support plans.
· Implements Companion disciplinary procedures so that just outcomes are achieved and Community stability is maintained.
· Ensures that all approved policies and procedures relating to Companion management are implemented.
· Ensures that effective systems and administration are delivered relating to Companions joining, personal development and departure.
· Ensures the development of solidarity activity within the Community, locally and internationally.
· Ensures the Community is a “good neighbour” to those living near Nant Lais and is active in PACT.
· Ensures the Community home is maintained and that Health & Safety policies are implemented.
· Participates in meetings to add value to management decisions, particularly on Companion matters.
· Assists the Community Manager to ensure adequate cover so that the Community home operates safely at all times.
· Ensures volunteers are successfully recruited supervised to support the Community operation.
· Participates in the development of the annual budget for the Community and contributes to strategies that enhance the creative development of Community life and the well-being of Companions.
· Undertakes any other duties as required by the Community Manager including additional duties and responsibilities to cover for holidays and absences. Participates in the 24/7 emergency cover schedule.
· Observes confidentiality & data-protection management of all files and information relating to companions.
Special Requirements
· Participates in national and international Emmaus training and meetings,
· Works to achieve the right balance between the charity’s primary purposes an effective social enterprise.
· Assists in the negotiation and administration of Housing Benefit.
· Participates in and supports solidarity.
· Leads the Community by example by demonstrating appropriate behaviour and participating in all aspects of Community life.
· Learns and engages with the Emmaus ethos as presented in the Universal Manifesto[1] and embodied in the history and experience of all involved in Emmaus.
· Because Emmaus works with vulnerable people, the Senior Support Worker must ensure where appropriate, volunteers are subject to enhanced DBS/CRB checks.
· The Community Manager & Senior Support Worker will provide on-call cover for the Community.
Person Specification: Senior Support WorkerEssential / Desirable
Experience
· Confident and competent people manager
· Team building, coaching, supervision
· Working with and relating to a diverse range of people, some vulnerable and at all times maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
· Financial management and budget responsibility
· Facilities management / · Working with people with challenging behaviour
· Previous experience in the care of vulnerable people
· Volunteer management
· Public relations
· Retail / commercial management
Knowledge & Commitment
· Knowledge and understanding of homelessness issues
· Risk assessment and management
· Professional boundaries
· Confidentiality
· Demonstration of a belief in and, the ability to adopt and work within Emmaus principles / · Residential management
· Housing benefit
· Health & Safety: food handling and hygiene, working with violence and aggression, manual handling, risk assessments, first aid
· Mental illness & addictions
· Data protection
· Familiarity with social enterprise
Education / Professional Certification
· Evidence of continuing education and personal development. / · Degree in related field
· Qualification in Counselling skills, Social Care or similar.
Skills
· Effective written and verbal communication
· Effective listening
· Leadership
· Conflict resolution capability
· Ability to remain calm cope under extreme pressure
· Results focussed
· Work prioritisation and planning
· Participative management style; ability to enable and empower rather than direct
· Effective administration, organisation, and time management
· IT Skills, Email and Internet / · Welsh speaker
· Mediation
· Facilitation
· Public speaking
· Microsoft Word and Excel
Personal Characteristics
· A belief in the potential of each individual and an understanding of the importance of community life in helping an individual to achieve their potential
· Effective team player, with the ability to lead, work and delegate
· Ability to work effectively under pressure
· Demonstrates initiative and a flexible approach
· Empathetic and understanding of a wide range of needs and experiences
· Awareness and acceptance of own limitations
· Confidence to take on and resolve difficult and frequently sensitive issues
· Commitment to environmental sustainability and social development
· Able to welcome people into the community without prejudice
· Willing and able to work unsocial hours
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[1] The English version of the Universal Manifesto is available at http://emmaus-international.org/ under ‘Our Publications’