Night Link Worker

Closing date: N/A

Job Title:

Night Link Worker

Responsible to:

Service Manager

Responsible for:

N/A

Hours of Work:

19.5 hours average per week – 2 shifts on, 6 shifts off

Location:

YMCA Together Alt Bank House

Salary and benefits:

  • £10,809 per annum
  • 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays per annum, pro rata
  • Paid Medicash support
  • Birthday day
  • Charity day of your choice
  • Well-being hours
  • Cycle To Work Scheme
  • Refer a Friend Scheme
  • Christmas Voucher
  • Company Pension Scheme 4%
  • Funded Training Opportunities

YMCA Together is a registered charity and company Limited by Guarantee. We were founded in 1846
and so we build on a long history of providing a place for people experiencing challenging times in
their lives.

YMCA Together is a truly value driven organisation.

Our vision is that everyone should feel safe, understood, empowered and positive for their future. We
meet our vision by working within our values of Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness.
These SHREK values run through all that we do from recruitment to how we work alongside people in
our services to our partnership approach with other providers.

Our clear vision and values come together to help us in our mission to inspire and support people to
change their lives by instilling hope, valuing the person and maximising potential.

Job Purpose

To be a supportive point of contact throughout the night to the people who use our services. To
manage the safety of residents and the building providing harm reduction advice and compassionate
care.

Duties and responsibilities
• To work as part of the Night Link Worker Team
• To provide accommodation-based support to people within a psychologically informed
environment that is underpinned with a Trauma Informed Care approach on waking night
shifts
• Assist with welfare & room checks and support residents in the management of their room
and relationships with others and to report any health and safety issues
• Assist the Support Worker with new resident welcome as required into the service which may
include and HB applications risk assessments of residents
• Motivate and support residents so they realise their goals
• Encourage involvement and participation amongst residents in the running and shaping of the
service
• To conduct Mainstay assessments, if and where needed
• To maintain and update residents’ electronic records and rent payments on YMCA internal
Housing Management System (DAVE)
• Provide clear and accurate information in respect of all residents in line with agreed
procedures such as daily handovers ensuring that appropriate information is communicated
with the support team
• Coordinate the additional Sit Up beds as and when required.

Specific Duties

• To monitor residents emotional & mental wellbeing
• To socially engage with residents outside of designated timetabled activities to reduce social
isolation & promote inclusion
• Carry out induction, if needed to new residents of the service
• Complete the welcome process to the service – which may include supporting with the
preparation of food & drink
• Undertake initial needs & risk assessments
• Preparation of room prior to move in being completed
• Completion of housing benefit application and Onward Homes License Agreement
• Complete, if needed, the induction process for referrals to ABH Sit Up service.
• Carry out evening welfare checks during every shift
• To deal promptly with all serious incidents, complaints and safeguarding/abuse disclosures
• To creatively support and engage with residents that have a wide range of complex and
challenging support needs
• Encourage and inform residents about any planned activities and encourage to take part in
those activities
• To monitor rent & personal service charge payments using housing management systems
• To support & facilitate residents move-on from the service
• Assisting service users in managing personal hygiene and of their room
• To support in the turning around & cleaning of void rooms within limited timescales

Health and Safety

• To liaise with all emergency services when necessary
• At all times ensure the safety of yourself and others on the premises in which you work
• To conduct night Health and Safety checks
• To report, log and communicate all incidents to the appropriate people in line with YMCA
Together / Onward Homes license agreement
• Tackle any nuisance caused by residents’ behavior or their visitors, including the
consequences of continuing with anti-social behavior
• Conduct welfare checks as specified during the shift
• Attend to the fire panel in the event of the fire alarms being activated and the recording and
following up of information
• Ensure adherence to YMCA Together visitor’s policy and procedure
• To adhere to all risk management protocols
• Ensure that risk assessments are updated
• Assisting service users in their personal hygiene and cleanliness of their room
• Conduct cluster, welfare and observation checks as specified throughout the shift
• Ensure that all communal and outside areas are secured, clean and tidy
• Cleaning and general tidying of the following areas; main office, reception area, main lobby,
staff kitchen, communal kitchen and facilities along with additional cleaning as required at
weekends
• Completion of daily task sheet and handovers.

Teamwork

• To share information and expertise with the team, covering absence, and working together
to provide a high-quality service
• To contribute to the formulation of policy and procedures in relation to support services
• To attend and participate in regular team meetings to ensure good communication.

Professional Practice and Development

• Attend regular supervision sessions with the Line Manager in accordance with the
supervision contract
• Maintain good professional practice and ensure ongoing development, through use of
supervision and training
• Respect the confidentiality of residents using the service and be responsible for the security
of personal and confidential information
• Carry out all these duties within the organisation’s safety guidelines
• Ensure personal records are correctly maintained
• Ensure effective communication with staff within YMCA Together
• Work flexibly to meet the changing needs of the organisation
• Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably requested
• Flexible and positive approach with all team members
• To be committed to learning and personal development both as an individual and as part of
a team Observe and ensure compliance with the Service Code of Conduct, to include professional
boundaries and the confidentiality of information at all times
• Ensure adherence to YMCA ‘Visitors’ procedure
• Dealing promptly with all complaints in line with YMCA policies and procedures
• Uphold and nurture YMCA’s Equal Opportunities policy of anti-discrimination across all
services

It is recognised that the organisation is operating in a dynamic environment and as such this job
description may be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect evolving needs of the business
and changing nature of the job.

Person Specification – Night Link Worker

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to level 2 or equivalent qualification

Desirable

  •  NVQ in Customer Service
  • Qualification in Welfare Rights
  • Qualification in IT such as CLAIT, ECDL, ITQ

Experiences

Essential

  • A minimum of one year’s experience of working within a hostel setting or similar setting
  • Relevant experience in homelessness, housing, health or offending
  • A minimum of one year’s experience in dealing with front-line or customer service needs
  • Working experience of maintaining up to date electronic records and calendars

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a psychologically informed environment (PIE)
  • Experience of Trauma Informed Care and of working in a therapeutic environment

Knowledge

Essential

  • A working knowledge of providing support
  • A working knowledge of Health & Safety issues within a hostel setting
  • A clear understanding of dealing with customers who have complex and challenging behavioural needs
  • Knowledge of safeguarding protocols
  • Working knowledge of providing support in accordance with the YMCA’s equality and diversity strategy and policy

Desirable

  • Knowledge of working with a housing management IT system, databases and spreadsheets
  • Awareness of the barriers that members may display when accessing services
  • Awareness of Benefit system, universal credit and welfare reform

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to conduct accurate risk assessments with vulnerable people
  • Computer literate, competent in working with Microsoft word, outlook, windows
  • Excellent communication, engagement, interviewing, assessment and interpersonal skills
  • Excellent administration skills and the ability to accurately and concisely record information and write reports
  • Ability and willingness to work unsupervised

Desirable

  • Ability to encourage involvement and participation with regard to activities amongst customers

Behaviour/ Attributes

Essential

  • Committed to improving the lives of homeless vulnerable people with complex needs
  • Committed to own personal development and CPD planning
  • Creative and dynamic approach with the ability to “think outside of the box” when providing solutions
  • Energetic, highly motivated with a reputation of being held in high regard by peers
  • Excellent interpersonal/ communication skills
  •  Excellent negotiation/ mediation skills
  •  Committed to own career development
  • Ability to work within & have commitment to YMCA ethos, philosophy and SHREK values, Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness
  • Commitment to promoting equality and diversity across the service
  • Energetic, dynamic and self-motivated

If you would like to apply for this role please click here APPLY NOW

To download a copy of our application form, please click HERE

If you would like to apply not directly through the website, please email your completed application form to recruitment@ymcatogether.org.uk

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