Welfare Support Officer Full Time NEW

Annual salary: up to £29,857.00Welfare Support Officer Location: InverclydeSalary up to £29,856.80 per annum Including company vehicle and fuel card or £3,500 company car allowanceContract: Full time – Permanent, 40hrs per week, Monday to FridayMears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers whilst their claim is being assessed in three regions: Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. At the end of May 2021 Mears had over 19000 service users across the three regions. 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.About The RoleDue to contract expansion, we are seeking for a Welfare Support Officer to join our team. This is an exciting position that works exclusively to support Asylum seekers going through their right to work Asylum application process with the home office. The ideal candidate will be resilient, trustworthy, caring, a people person and extremely empathetic to others. As a Welfare Support Officer every day is different, no day is the same. Although this role comes with it challenges it is an extremely rewarding role.Role CriteriaSupport service users at various stages of their asylum application processAddress safeguarding and welfare issues appropriately, escalating concerns when necessaryProvide both practical and emotional support to service usersMonitor wellbeing and identify support needs for individuals and familiesEnsure accurate record-keeping for Home Office audits and complianceCarry out risk assessments and update support plans regularlyMaintain professional boundaries while providing a supportive and empathetic serviceAssist service users with accessing healthcare, education, and community servicesSignpost to external agencies and support networks where appropriateAccompany service users to appointments or interviews where requiredPromote independence and resilience by encouraging service users to develop life skillsWork collaboratively with colleagues, local authorities, and partner organisationsRespond quickly and calmly to crisis situations to ensure safety and supportContribute to service improvements by sharing feedback and best practiceSupport equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of service deliveryExperience working with vulnerable and diverse client groupsStrong understanding of safeguarding practices and proceduresAbility to identify needs and put in place appropriate support packages to promote independenceExperience supporting people with mental health issues and/or challenging behaviourEffective communication skills with colleagues, service users, and local authoritiesExperience with record keeping, case management, and risk assessmentsAbility to work independently, manage time effectively, and prioritise tasksResilient, supportive, trustworthy, approachable, empathetic, and a good listenerFlexible and willing to travel as requiredAbility to remain calm and professional in difficult or emotional situationsGood IT skills for updating case notes and maintaining accurate recordsCommitment to confidentiality and data protectionFull UK driving licenceBenefits We Can Offer You25 days annual leave plus bank holidaysAnnual 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 moreFamily friendly policiesCompany Vehicle and Fuel CardAccess to EAP Counselling sessionsTo drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points.All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a Background, Identity, Security clearance & BPSS check. 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.Apply below or to discuss your application further; contact:Beth Dunford (beth.dunford@mearsgroup.co.uk)If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.