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 Simon Community.

Day by day, person-to-person, we tailor what we offer to what people need. We are here to provide consistent, friendly and informed support so that people can explore options and take 'the next step' towards a positive future. We offer support across a range of service delivery points; Street Outreach teams, Housing First initiatives, Floating Support, Information Hubs, Managed Alcohol Program (MAP), Supported Accommodations, Emergency Accommodation, Rapid Access Accommodation, and our own rented properties. These services are delivered across many local authorities within Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Perth.

We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences to our team. To make a difference, we need to work flexibly, with everyday leadership and a 'can-do' approach. We want to 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. Find out more about our services here.

Our Support Services

Job Purpose

Working as a Service Coordinator within Simon Community Scotland’s Milestone service is a unique opportunity. You are operating at the intersection of acute clinical care, harm reduction, social prescribing and residential support.

Milestone is an intermediate care service designed for people experiencing homelessness who have complex health needs. To succeed here, your role must bridge the gap between the Safer Services (risk management and trauma-informed care) and the complex health issues (physical and psychosocial recovery). This is a great opportunity for the right person.

Service Delivery

This role will support the Service Lead at Milestone with the day-to-day delivery of the service and the development of our Safer Services Model at Milestone.

The Safer Services framework is about more than just physical safety. It focuses on psychological safety and reducing harm in a way that keeps the person at the centre.

Trauma-Informed Triage

Work with the Service Lead to ensure that Milestone operates within the Safer Services model, informing MDT decisions, creating holistic safety and wellbeing plans based on each person’s unique needs, and leading on activity coordination.

Harm Reduction Coordination

Lead on Naloxone training, overdose prevention education, and providing safety plans for people when they move on from Milestone. This includes social prescribing and community mapping.

Safe Transitions

Help remove the “cliff edge” of discharge by coordinating warm handovers between Milestone and community GP or harm reduction services, healthcare providers, and community-based services.

Coordinate SCS Pathways

Ensure the service is connected with all relevant Simon Community Scotland services, including Street Services, Housing First, VHS and Safer Communities, We See You, and StreetReads.

Job Summary

Community Mapping: “The Strengths-Based Approach”

In this role, community mapping isn’t just about making a list of nearby GPs. It’s about identifying the person’s strengths and community and healthcare options and people that offer connection without judgement.

• Community Mapping: You will support the team to sit with a person to create a literal or digital map of their “safe zones”. This includes identifying recovery cafes or services, libraries with digital hubs (like SCS’s Get Connected, Gambling Harms or Streetreads), or green spaces that support mental wellbeing.
• Service Landscapes: You will map the “warmest” routes to secondary care. For example, which pharmacies in Edinburgh are most supportive of those on Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST)?
• Which dental practices specialise in working with people with anxiety? Ensure the people we support are fully included in We See You and our Edinburgh Support Hub and Edinburgh Pathways Services.
• Safety Mapping: Under the “Safer Services” model, you will identify high-risk areas to avoid, helping the people we support plan transit routes that don’t pass through areas associated with previous trauma.
• Suitable Accommodation: Ensuring the person moves on to a suitable safe space, whatever that means to them.
• Expanding the Service Coordinator role to include community mapping, reintegration, and psychosocial activities turns the position from a clinical facilitator into a community connector for the guests at Milestone.
• In the Simon Community Scotland context, this means moving beyond just “getting healthy” to “staying healthy by belonging”.

Reintegration: The Warm Handover

Milestone is a temporary stay. Reintegration is the most important phase of the journey.

• The Transition Bridge: You will coordinate with partners like Cyrenians or The Access Place to ensure that when a person leaves, their health momentum doesn’t stop.
• Social Prescribing: Instead of just a medical prescription, you might “prescribe” a peer-support group or a volunteering opportunity. You will physically accompany a guest to their first session to lower the “barrier of the unknown”.
• Digital Inclusion: Utilising SCS’s Get Digital model, you’d ensure that people have the hardware and the data to manage their own health appointments and stay connected to their new community assets post-discharge.

Psychosocial Activities: Building Social Capital

Psychosocial support at Milestone focuses on the idea that recovery is easier when life is full of meaningful

alternatives to harmful activities.

• Therapeutic Connection to Nature & Arts: You might lead or coordinate sessions that allow for non-verbal expression of trauma, such as gardening or outdoor activities.
• Community and Support Groups: Facilitating groups that focus on the MAT Standards (Medication Assisted Treatment), helping people understand their rights and empowering them to take an active role in their clinical decisions.
• Life Skills for Independence: Practical psychosocial work like “Cooking for Health” on a budget or “Sleep Hygiene” workshops. These activities reduce the anxiety of returning to independent living. These will be co-designed and co-created in partnership with the people we support.

Admission

Health Outcome Focus: Acute medical stabilisation; BBV screening, attending appointments, transport and advocacy, holistic healthcare planning and safety plans.

Psychosocial/Mapping Focus:Creating a “Safety Map” & building trust.

Mid-Stay

Health Outcome Focus: Medication adherence; chronic condition management.

Psychosocial/Mapping Focus: Engaging in group activities; identifying community assets.

Discharge

Health Outcome Focus: GP registration; “Warm” clinical handover. Warm handovers for health and housing services.

Psychosocial/Mapping Focus: First visit to a community hub; digital health setup.

Post-Stay

Health Outcome Focus: Reduced A&E presentations.

Psychosocial/Mapping Focus: Enhanced community networks and engagement. Sustained social connection; peer support engagement.

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 Simon Community.

Day by day, person-to-person, we tailor what we offer to what people need. We are here to provide consistent, friendly and informed support so that people can explore options and take 'the next step' towards a positive future. We offer support across a range of service delivery points; Street Outreach teams, Housing First initiatives, Floating Support, Information Hubs, Managed Alcohol Program (MAP), Supported Accommodations, Emergency Accommodation, Rapid Access Accommodation, and our own rented properties. These services are delivered across many local authorities within Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Perth.

We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences to our team. To make a difference, we need to work flexibly, with everyday leadership and a 'can-do' approach. We want to 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. Find out more about our services here.

Our Support Services

Job Purpose

The Support Worker role is to support and engage with people to manage and recover their mental health, in line with our trauma-informed approach. You will help people with safer substance use and assist them with the process when they choose to stop. You will assist our people to build a positive network of connections to enable them to gain and sustain their own housing.

As a Support Worker, you will provide work alongside people impacted by homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges and trauma. You will provide guidance and assistance to the people we support to achieve their goals of securing safe housing and accessing the necessary support to feel secure, manage their challenges and live an independent life free from harm or abuse.

Our Preventing Migrant Homelessness programme works with people who are destitute and subject to immigration control, as well as refugees who are at risk of homelessness. You’ll be based in the community, working one to one with individuals to provide person-centred, trauma informed support, linking in with other agencies and partners as required.

You will be part of a new service being rolled out in North Ayrshire, Saffron which is currently running in Glasgow and has had some very good outcomes for young people so to take this model across another local authority will be an excellent opportunity for all involved.

You will work directly alongside our UASC service, Saffron, to provide specialised support to unaccompanied young people. Using a trauma-informed approach, you will deliver practical housing support—helping young people to adjust to living independently, navigate tenancy responsibilities, and build key life skills as they work towards sustainable, independent living. You will also collaborate closely with partner charities and external agencies to offer a safe, holistic support network tailored to the needs of the people we work alongside.

To be part of this team, you will be passionate about changing expectations and experiences of people we support, many of whom have experienced significant trauma and continue to experience exclusion, stigma and racism in Scotland. You will understand the differential impact of race on their experience of services and support. As part of our Preventing Migrant Homelessness team you’ll contribute to the development of our service, provide support to colleagues and work to improve outcomes for the people we support.

This post is part time, working 18.75 hours per week.

Days to be arranged but will be in the Monday - Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm perimeter

Job Summary

You will be passionate about supporting and changing expectations and experiences of people we support, many of whom have experienced significant trauma, exclusion and stigma.

As a Support Worker in homelessness services, you'll be instrumental in empowering individuals affected by homelessness, addiction, challenging mental health and trauma. You'll provide compassionate, person-centred support, guiding them towards securing safe and stable housing and developing tools to manage their challenges. Your role is vital in helping people access essential resources, build resilience, and ultimately live a life free from harm and abuse.

As part of our Team, you will be at the forefront of supporting people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. You will work collaboratively with partner agencies in a supportive environment. The role involves providing both practical and emotional support, helping individuals to secure accommodation, access benefits, and connect with a wide range of health, wellbeing, and advocacy services.

Our team builds strong professional relationships with local authorities, support providers, and other external partners to ensure our support is coordinated and effective. You will adopt a harm reduction approach, providing advice and Naloxone trained as needed.