Support Worker – Look Ahead Care and Support, Slough

We’re looking for a compassionate and resilient Support Worker’s to join our Mental Health service located in Slough.  

£27,976.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. 

Want to feel in control of your career? You’ll feel at home here. 

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day. 

Our benefits include: 

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service 

• A generous pension – we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply) 

• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card 

• Fully paid induction programme and further training 

• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes 

• Cycle to work scheme 

• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support 

• Online wellbeing resources 

• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff’s commitment and contribution 

• Free DBS  

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship. 

To enable vulnerable people with mental health needs to maximise independent living skills and opportunities for social inclusion as wells as manage their tenancies. To support customers developing the skills needed to move on to other appropriate accommodation with lower levels of support and greater levels of independence. 

What you’ll do:  

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead. 

• Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Team Leader/ Manager 

• Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions 

• Create support/action plans for providing appropriate services based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available 

• Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation 

• Support individuals to manage their prescribed medication 

• Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local community 

• Empower customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to 

• Carry out H&S and Fire Safety checks in individual rooms as well as communal areas of the building 

• Identify and report appropriately any Safeguarding concerns 

• Promptly report and follow up maintenance issues 

• Undertake all administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive tenant/customer records to professional standards 

• Encourage and enable tenants to pay their rent and to ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively in conjunction with the Housing Management team  

• Ensure that referrals are chased proactively so that properties which can be used to house those in need are filled as efficiently as possible  

• Adhere to Look Ahead’s Policies and Procedures  

• Engage in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills  

• Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as may be reasonably assigned 

About you: 

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement 

• Approachable and open behaviour 

• Prefers working as part of a group or team but is able to work independently 

• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement 

• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised 

• Flexible 

• Takes the initiative to support colleagues if needed 

• Has good conflict management skills 

• Is capable of managing time effectively 

• Open to feedback and self development 

• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments 

• Is confident with high levels of self-esteem 

• Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication 

• Is essentially customer–focused 

• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude 

• Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours 

• Has a strong work ethic and applies it to everyday work 

What you’ll bring: 

Essential 

• NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector 

• Practical understanding of mental health conditions and how they impact the life of those affected by them 

• Excellent communication skills including a good command of spoken and written  

• Demonstrable ability to build positive professional relationships  

• Experience of working as part of a team  

• Good command of MS Office, ability to use computer and learn new systems 

Desirable 

• Experience working in mental health  

• Experience working in supported living schemes  

• Experience dealing with challenging behaviours English in both formal and informal contexts 

About us: 

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us. 

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values: 

• We focus on Excellence and innovation. 

• We are Caring and Compassionate. 

• We are Inclusive and Trusted. 

• We work in Partnership and are One-Team. 

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. 

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role. 

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date. 

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.