Job Description

Annual salary: up to \xc2\xa327,000.00

Welfare Support Officer

Inverclyde

\xc2\xa327,000 per annum + Overtime

Permanent

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers whilst their claim is being assessed. In May 2021, Mears had over 19000 service users across five regions: Northwest, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Mears work in partnership with central and local Government, registered providers, tenants, landlords and investors to find solutions to homelessness, provide more social and affordable housing and create specialist housing for people with care needs.

Mears are currently recruiting a Welfare Support Officer to continue to develop and support service users through the asylum process. As a Welfare Support Officer, you will be working alongside our Housing business, within the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract. This role forms part of the front-line delivery to our service users who may potentially be vulnerable or have a special housing need. Your role is to ensure service users are assessed at various stages, support needs identified and follow through to meet their needs.

Key Responsibilities \xe2\x80\x93 Welfare Support Officer

• Ensure service users are supported at various stages of their Asylum application process including any safeguarding and welfare issues.
• Provide practical and emotional support to service users, monitoring service users\xe2\x80\x99 wellbeing and support needs and ensuring all records are updated and accurate for home office audit purposes.
• Identify individuals and family needs and recognise the required support packages to maintain independence.
• Maintain boundaries and being resilient to ensure a professional and a well-defined service is provided to always meet the needs of the service users.

Qualifications & Requirements \xe2\x80\x93 Welfare Support Officer

• Experience of working with vulnerable and diverse client groups.
• Experience and understanding of safeguarding.
• Ability to work under your own initiative.
• Be supportive, trustworthy, a good listener, approachable and empathetic to others.
• Full UK driving license.

What We Can Offer \xe2\x80\x93 Welfare Support Officer

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Overtime rate outside core hours and on weekends
• Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more
• Company Vehicle and Fuel Card
• Access to EAP which includes counselling sessions
• Access to additional training such as mental health first aid/fire marshal training/ safeguarding level 2

If you feel you have skills and experience needed, please apply below via the link. If you have any further questions, please contact Michael Farrell on Michael.farrell@mearsgroup.co.uk or 07354901492, quoting the job reference number for further information. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a DBS & BPSS check, as well as Security Clearance. For these checks to be completed, we will require from you the relevant identification, including Proof of Address, References, a valid passport and proof that you have lived in the UK for the last 5 years.

To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points.

Mears Group is a Disability Confident employer and recognises our people as our greatest asset, we hire individuality, recognising and valuing everyone is individual and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all regardless of social economic background or individual make up.

Please note that all our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship and all our roles are subject to relevant DBS/Security checks either before or upon commencement of employment.

Mears Group