About Simon Community Scotland

People are at the heart of who we are and what we do. We tailor our support to what people need. We offer consistent and informed support so that people can exploreoptions and take ‘the next step’ towards a positive future. We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences to our team – including those who have lived through homelessness. To make a difference we need to work flexibly, with everyday-leadership, humour and a ‘can do’ attitude. We want to make it easy, make it right, and make it happen.

The Simon Community is Scotland's leading homeless charity. We are creative and innovative. We get things done with care and compassion that make a difference to our community, being true to our values. We form a community; of staff, volunteers and the people that we support.

Job Summary

Simon Community Scotland is working collaboratively with the University of Edinburgh to recruit 400 people from sites across Scotland to the Phoenix for severe and multiple disadvantage study. You will be working in various sites across Edinburgh to support the research team and the people we support that are participating in the study.

We are looking for someone with a non-judgemental approach that will be embedded in one of our new exciting projects: Beggars and Choices or Creating Safer Communities. These projects engage with people who are homeless, roofless or street begging across the city. The work will take place wherever people are at; on the streets, in services or community settings as required.

Job Purpose

• Support people rough sleeping, begging and or engaged in harmful street lifestyles to access the services and support they need
• Offer assertive outreach to people facing homelessness and rooflessness
• Offer trauma informed care offering a holistic healthcare model
• Bring services to people that are unable to engage in building based services
• Identify eligible participants to the study and liaise with the research team regarding this
• Conduct face-to-face interviews with participants supporting the research team
• Reduce barriers for people that are facing multiple marginalisation through offering a person centred, trauma informed relational model of care

About Simon Community Scotland

Simon Community Scotland is the largest provider of homelessness services in Scotland.

Our vision is for everyone to have a safe place to live with access to the support they need. Every day we help make positive things happen for people facing extremely difficult circumstances.

Everything we do is about and for people: the people we support, our staff, our partners and everyone affected by homelessness.

Our values are built into every area of activity and tell the story of how people remain at the heart of the Simon Community.

Job Summary

The Simon Community is Scotland's leading homeless charity. We are creative and innovative. We get things done with care and compassion that make a difference to our community, being true to our values. We are a community of staff, volunteers and the people that we support.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about changing expectations and experiences of people we support, many of whom have experienced significant trauma, exclusion and stigma. They often engage in risk taking behaviours that put their physical and mental health, and their lives at risk. Despite the challenges they face they have incredible resilience, survival skills and a wicked sense of humour. They know what a good, and not so good service looks like.

As a residential support worker you will:

- support the development of life skills and homemaking in preparation for a tenancy,

- provide emotional support,

- help to reduce harm caused by homelessness and trauma.

There is a rolling rota including night shifts and / or sleepovers.

Job Purpose

As a support worker it will be your job to work with a team to:

- Help people in our community to manage and recover their mental health

- Support people who use drugs and alcohol to do so as safely as possible

- Support people who choose to reduce or stop their drug and alcohol use to do so safely

- Help people in our community to build a positive network of connections that will help them to gain and sustain their own housing

- Provide emotional and practical support to our community

- Any other duties directed by your service lead