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.

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

Key Responsibilities

Our values support:

- Warmth and positive regard

- Inclusion and participation

- Innovation and personalisation of care and support

- Ambition

- Partnership

- Learning and leadership

Your key responsibilities to support those values will be:

- Developing honest and open relationships with our community that foster trust

- Using our training and reflective practice to develop additional skills to support and respond appropriately to our community who have experienced trauma

- Working with people in our community with a wide range of experiences and cultural backgrounds with dignity, respect and kindness

- Working as part of a team with a range of experiences and knowledge to the benefit of our community

- Supporting our community to influence their care and support to meet their goals - Fostering connection, hope, a positive identity and meaning in life and a sense of control for our community

- Working with other teams in SCS and with partners to support good outcomes for our community

- Seeking opportunities that will make a difference to our community

- Ensuring that our places reflect the respect we hold for our community

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications:

Essential:

- SVQ 3 social care or willing to work towards

- SSSC Registered or willing to become so

Desirable:

- Trauma informed practice

- Assist/MHFA/SafeTalk trained

- Naloxone trained

- Mental health or addictions qualifications

Experience

Essential:

- Experience of providing support to people with a range of challenges including homelessness, mental ill health and addictions

- Experience of working in a fast paced environment which requires quick decision making

Desirable:

- Lived experience of homelessness

- Experience of working with a range of agencies as a team

- Networking and connecting skills

Knowledge and Skills

Essential:

- Experience of working with people with a variety of individual and cultural beliefs

- Ability to use empathy and relational skills to build positive relationships with our community and colleagues

- Understanding of and ability to work within ethical and relational boundaries

Desirable:

- Knowledge and understanding of homelessness, addictions and mental health

- Understanding of services that support homelessness,addictions and mental health

- Evidence of good communication skills, written, verbal and digital

Personal

Essential:

- Able to lead by example.

- A team player.

- A desire to learn and to develop innovative practice

- Honest, ethical and keen to overcome obstacles

- Flexible, responsive

About Simon Community Scotland

People are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Day-by-day, person-to-person, we tailor what we offer to what people need. We’re here to provide consistent, friendly and informed support so that people can explore options 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’ spirit. We want to make it easy, make it right, and make it happen – not only for the people we support, but also for each other. Our #OneTeam ethos is core to who we are, and it means caring for and supporting each other regardless of our role, service or location. This is how we roll. We want people who share these values to join us and become a part of the Simon Community Scotland family.

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.

Job Role

Working in pairs and supported by a team of volunteers, our RSVP Street Outreach Team has a 365 day presence across Glasgow City Centre. The team provides practical and emotional support to people who are currently or are at risk of sleeping rough in Glasgow including those who are/have been subject to immigration control. This includes refused asylum seekers, people awaiting settlement under the EUSS, and recently granted refugees.

We support people to access accommodation, engage with health and wellbeing services as well as a wide range of support services.

The team work to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with a range of external partners (local authorities, support providers, emergency services, the home office etc) to ensure the support we provide is co-ordinated and minimises the number of nights an individual sleeps rough.

We adopt a harm reduction approach in our practice and an element of this includes providing harm reduction equipment, advice and Naloxone. Full training is provided.

This service primarily engages with people in Glasgow City Centre, however, we also support people in the South and West of the City. We are supported by our volunteer led StreetCycles Service to engage with and support these individuals.

The 3 teams within RSVP (The Access HUB, Street Outreach Team & Intensive Outreach Support Service) work closely together to provide joined-up, cohesive support for the Individuals we support. These roles require the flexibility to work across all RSVP services if necessary and availability to work shifts 7 days per week, 365 days per year.

These roles also require a level of visibility, promotion of Simon Community Scotland, interaction with members of the public and the ability to walk a number of miles in all weather conditions.