Sessional Night-Time Support Worker

Sessional Night-Time Support Worker

Below you will find the full job description and person specification. To apply, please email your CV and covering letter to Alastair Paylor, Centre Manager: paylor@emmanuelhouse.org.uk.

Sessional Night-Time Support Worker – job overview

We are looking for Sessional Night-Time Support Workers to provide cover for our Nottingham City Centre Night Shelter. As such, sessions will be offered on an ad-hoc basis.

Sessional Support Workers carry out important roles in our services, supporting service users, team colleagues and volunteers. You will work in our Night Shelter alongside experienced colleagues who will support you into the role as you gain experience and knowledge about the needs of people who are homeless, other services, and about the homelessness sector as a whole. Some staff who begin as sessional workers continue into roles with more responsibility and on occasions develop expertise in chosen areas of interest.

NOTE: Please be aware that the venue is only accessible via stairs.

What we offer:

• A good induction into your role and training that will enable you to feel you are making a

positive contribution.

Opportunity to progress in the homelessness sector.

Fair pay is reviewed annually.

• A friendly and supportive team and working environment.

Paid annual leave plus bank holidays in proportion to the time you work.

Experience that will enable you to go into full-time contracted work in the sector.

Free refreshments.

• A rewarding work experience.

Job Description

Job Title: Sessional Night-Time Support Worker

Reports to: Accommodation Manager and Accommodation Coordinator.

Salary: £13.48 per hour with enhancement of £1.01 per hour for hours worked between 10pm and 6am.

Working hours: A minimum of one 12.5-hour shift per week.

Tenure: Ongoing

Location: Emmanuel House Support Centre

Purpose:

To provide night-time support to meet the basic needs of people who have been rough sleeping and are homeless.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Service Delivery

Ensure service users can access basic services.

Listen and be attentive to the stories and requests of people using the night shelter.

• Provide information that service users may need to access services the following day.

Casework Management

• Ensure information relevant to supporting service users is recorded and communicated appropriately.

Organisational Responsibilities

Contribute to the successful delivery of Emmanuel House’s services for people who are vulnerable and homeless.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Service Delivery

Support people who have been rough sleeping with short term emergency accommodation in the

shelter as part of their way out of rough sleeping.

1. Register and check-in people arriving to use the shelter.

2. Listen, be attentive and respond to people when they are speaking to you, including in a busy environment.

3. Positively encourage guests to address challenges they may experience in accessing services they need.

4. Help service users to name and work towards individual goals that will contribute to finding a permanent solution out of homelessness.

5. Be a proactive member of the team, always being aware of the support that other staff, volunteers and guests may need.

6. Build relationships of trust with rough sleepers accessing the emergency accommodation.

7. Provide information to service users that will help them access the services they need.

8. Work with volunteers and other members of staff to meet the needs of service users.

9. Be available for staff cover.

10. When necessary, serve food and ensure the shelter area is clean and tidy at the end of a session.

11. Contribute to making the shelter a place where people are cared for and cared about, providing kindness and being responsive to their needs.

Resource Management

12. Be knowledgeable about the resources in the shelter that can be used to provide useful information for guests.

13. Keep accurate records of work done with guests.

14. Develop positive working relationships with guests.

15. Use the IT system to accurately record and report information.

16. Work alongside volunteers ensuring they feel supported and confident in their role.

Organisational Responsibilities

17. Participate in staff management and support systems in line with Emmanuel House’s policies and procedures, including induction, supervision, appraisal and training.

18. Maintain a safe and appropriate physical environment in line with Health and Safety policy.

19. Be available to work flexibly including covering Monday to Sunday 8pm – 8.30am including cover at weekends.

20. Carry out other duties as your line manager should require in keeping with the responsibility of the post.

21. Adhere to the policies and procedures of Emmanuel House.

22. Be committed to the development of the best possible practice.

23. Undertake training and supervision as directed and be committed to your own professional development.

24. Take responsibility for the implementation of Emmanuel House’s Equality and Diversity policy, confidentiality policy, GDPR and safeguarding policies.

Person Specification - knowledge, skills and experience

E = essential D = desirable

E - Able to listen well.

E - Able to work with challenging behaviour and confrontation.

E - Able to work on your own initiative in the context of a team and busy environment.

E - An understanding of and commitment to confidentiality and professional boundaries.

E - Have good IT skills and be confident in using a range of Microsoft programmes and be able to learn new systems.

E - Able to maintain accurate records and write reports.

E - An understanding of equal opportunities and how they can be applied within Emmanuel House Support Centre services.

E - Able to effectively manage your time and workload.

E - Availability to work flexibly.

E - Able to maintain a realistic and optimistic outlook when working with people who come from challenging backgrounds and, when for guests, hope seems distant.

D - An understanding of the issues affecting homeless people, based on your own experience of homelessness, professional work or voluntary experience.

D - Relevant recent experience, paid or voluntary, working with rough sleepers, vulnerably housed people or other adults with support needs.

D - Basic knowledge of statutory services that vulnerable adults may need to access.