Night Support Assistant

Closing date: May 24th, 2023

Job Title:

Night Support Assistant x 2

Responsible to:

Team Leader

Responsible for:

N/A

Hours of Work:

38.6 hrs per week and part time hours available

Location:

YMCA Together – Safer Accommodation Domestic Abuse Service

Salary and benefits:

£21,389 per annum
33 days annual leave plus bank holidays per annum
Paid Medicash support
Birthday Day Off
Charity day of your choice
Well-being Hours
Cycle To Work Scheme
Refer a Friend Scheme
Company Pension Scheme 4%
Funded Training Opportunities

This post is only available to female applicants as an Occupational Requirement and permitted under the Equality Act 2010

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 assist in the provision of effective, high quality support services to vulnerable women facing Domestic Abuse and Violence with the aim of promoting independent living. To assist residents to engage with support activities such as; key working sessions, group work sessions, resident meetings and other activities that promote development.

Our Approach

YMCA Together operate a flexible approach with ‘elastic tolerance’ when supporting people in crisis. This allows us to swiftly build a therapeutic rapport and remove any barriers to people engaging with support.

Duties and responsibilities

To work as part of the Night Support Team
To provide an accommodation-based support service to people within a psychologically informed environment that is underpinned with a Trauma Informed Care approach on waking night shifts
Assist with 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 and with conducting 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
To maintain and update resident’s electronic records and rent payments on AMIS Housing Management System
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 team.

Specific Duties

Undertake initial needs & risk assessments
Preparation of room prior to move in being completed
Carry out induction to all new residents of the service
Completion of housing benefit application and YMCA Together License Agreement
Complete the welcome process to the service – which may include supporting with the preparation of food & drink
Carry out evening welfare checks in during every shift
To monitor residents emotional & mental wellbeing
To socially engage with residents outside of designated timetabled activities to reduce social isolation & promote inclusion
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
To monitor rent & personal service charge payments using housing management systems
To support & facilitate residents move-on from the service
Assisting service users in their 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
Ensure at all times the safety of yourself and others on the premises in which you work
To conduct nightly Health and Safety checks
To report, log and communicate all incidents to the appropriate people in line with YMCA Togethers 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
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 of their room
Conduct landing, welfare and observation checks as specified throughout the shift
Ensure that all communal and outside areas are clean and tidy
Cleaning and general tidying of the following areas; main office, reception area, main lobby, staff kitchen and facilities along with additional cleaning as required at weekends
Completion of daily task sheet after each shift.

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 Housing 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 including professional boundaries and confidentiality 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
Ensure compliance with code of conduct, including professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times.

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 Support Assistant – Safer Accommodation

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
Relevant experience in domestic abuse, homelessness, housing, health or offending
A minimum of one year’s experience in dealing with front-line 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

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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