DATE:April 2017

POST:Night Support Worker

CONTRACT:Permanent

HOURS:37.5 per week

ROTA:3 x 12.5 Hours Waking Night Shifts per week

SALARY: £17,200pa

HOLIDAY:33 days including bank and statutory holidays

RESPONSIBLE TO:Service Manager

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An enhanced DBS check is required as this position will involve directly working with vulnerable young people or adults at risk.

BACKGROUND

Depaul UK delivers a wide range of support and housing services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. We specialise in the provision of services that; prevent homelessness, increase the resilience of those we work with and energise opportunities for employment, education, training and volunteering in the communities we work within. Our organisation reaches from Newcastle to London, Greater Manchester to Sheffield and Kent.

SUMMARY OF JOB

To work as part of a team delivering an assessment, support and move on service to vulnerable clients in supported or community based accommodation. Your work will be underpinned by the Depaul Endeavour model of assets based, psychologically informed delivery. The aim of which is to ensure that every client leaves a Depaul service with the skills and resilience to be confident and self determining in their lives.

Working under the direction, guidance and support of a manager/senior worker you will be responsible for maintaining a safe environment in the supported accommodation building at night, for covering a number of core work activities and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of clients, volunteers and staff in the service at night.

The role will have responsibility under Depaul’s commitment to successfully deliver the contracted outcomes.

KEY DELIVERABLES

  • You will ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients in the service at all times possible including using Safeguarding and emergency alert procedures as applicable,
  • You will take joint responsibility with your team members for the well being and day to day support of all clients in the services including meeting their practical and emotional needs whilst you are on shift.
  • You will support the risk and needs assessment and support planning process through assisting with keywork activities in line with client support plans as appropriate during your working hours
  • You will be the first point of contact for clients, visitors, contractors or visiting services at night.
  • You will liaise with statutory or emergency services around the safeguarding and wellbeing of clients.
  • You will be creative in your engagement with clients and personalised in your support to them.
  • You will involve clients in the decisions made about them and encourage participation in Depaul’s wider community programme of activities
  • You will encourage all clients to participate in Education, Training, Employment and Volunteering opportunities as appropriate to the development of their skills, assets and aspirations
  • You will work waking night shifts including weekend working
  • You will have responsibilities as part of the team for ensuring the health and safety of the environment for clients, staff, visitors and volunteers through regular checks, recording and reporting of information
  • You will record relevant information in support plans, risk assessments, the log book, on handover sheets and on Inform as required.
  • You will have responsibility as a member of the team for preparing the accommodation for new clients to move into and supporting the client to settle in.
  • You will carry out some basic domestic duties, assist clients to maintain a reasonable standard of cleanliness in their room
  • You will support and facilitate the work of the volunteers who add value to the work that we do
  • You will undertake further duties as commensurate to the role and identified by your line manager.
  • Maintain and update levels of knowledge and understanding of issues relevant to young people through training offered by Depaul and other agencies, as opportunities arise.
  • Promote Client Involvement by facilitating house meetings where the young people at Statham House can be involved in developing the service they receive.

What we are looking for from you – Person Specification

When completing your application form please address all the points set out below.

  • Experience of working with the client group
  • An understanding and commitment to working in an assets based way
  • An understanding of the needs of people who have experienced homelessness, poor mental health, substance use or have been Looked after Chidren
  • A knowledge and understanding of Risk Assessments and Support Planning.
  • Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills
  • Able to demonstrate clear understanding of safeguarding requirements and procedures
  • Commitment to working in a manner, which promotes diversity and equality ensuring that everyone is treated with respect and dignity and no one, suffers from discrimination.
  • Commitment to promoting an environment, which has the highest regard for the Health and Safety of others.
  • Personal and professional integrity
  • High level understanding of professional boundaries and ability to maintain boundaries
  • Effective collaborative working
  • Ability to effectively reflect on own practices for ongoing learning and development
  • Respect for the values and ethos of Depaul and its founding partners.

What we will do to support you in this role

Will provide the following resources to assist in the successful achievement of the responsibilities outlined above:

  • A full induction and training to enhance the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills required’.
  • Training in the Depaul Endeavour model
  • Continuous support and supervision including reflective practice to develop your learning and skills as a practitioner.

Vincentian Values

The Depaul Group began in the UK in 1989 at the initiative of the late Cardinal Basil Hume, as a response to the needs of the growing numbers of homeless people on the streets of London.

Vincentian values are at the heart of what we do, they focus on:

  • A commitment to rights and responsibilities
  • A focus on putting our words into action
  • Taking a wider role in civil society
  • A belief in the potential of people

You can read more about St Vincent Depaul, Depaul UK and Depaul International on our website.

THE DISCLOSURE & BARRING SERVICE – DISCLOSURE

Depaul UK aims to promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Depaul UK welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Criminal records will be taken into account for requirement purposes only when the conviction is relevant.

As Depaul UK meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013 1198’. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions.

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.

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