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

Want to make a Difference? Help us change lives!

Turning Point Scotland has an exciting opportunity in our Edinburgh Visiting Housing Support Service for a Lead Practitioner.

We believe that in many cases, Homelessness is entirely preventable. Where Homelessness is not or cannot be prevented, the experience should be brief and non-recurring.

About the Role

We aim to help people ‘Get a Home and Keep a Home’.

As a lead practitioner, you will:

• Provide 1:1 support and assistance to people using the service in accordance with their support plans and the service aims.
• Support may include, but is not limited to: supporting people to explore housing options; bidding on social housing through ed index; support engaging with landlords/housing officers; assisting with budgeting/ maximising income and benefit entitlement; support to develop independent living skills; support to attend to household activities and external appointments.
• Be an active member of a supportive team, passionate about the work they do.

About You

We believe having the right values of respect, compassion, inclusion and integrity is all you need to join our team. As a Lead Practitioner the support you provide will always be person centred, by involving people who know the person well, this includes family and friends, other health and Social Work professionals, Advocacy services and your fellow team members.

Whilst we very much welcome experienced practitioners, no previous working experience is needed. You will be provided with all of the training, support and equipment required to successfully fulfil your role.

About Us

Our Edinburgh Visiting Housing Support Service supports people in the North-East and South-East of Edinburgh who are either Homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or have recently moved into settled accommodation following a period of homelessness.

The support we provide is always person centred, we do this by involving people who know the person well, this includes family and friends, other health and Social Work professionals, Advocacy services and our own staff members.

Turning Point Scotland offers a Salary Matching opportunity within the pay points of the role and based on experience.

Please note that IT skills are required for all our vacancies.

Where applicable, successful candidates will be required to register with the SSSC within 6 months of start date.

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

The Organisation

• See glasgowdisabledscouts.org Within key pre-agreed areas, you will have delegated authority to get on with things as you see fit but you will need to establish, from an early stage, effective working relationships with key volunteers.
• - a Scout Group, and registered charity - based in Glasgow Southside, supporting girls, boys and young adults - aged 6 to 25 - with disabilities and life limiting conditions
• We meet across the city of Glasgow – every Monday evening - with exciting programmes, focused on increasing independence, building confidence, gaining skills for life and most importantly of all, having fun!
• All of our young people have some form of additional support needs, and we provide one to one support through a team of over 100 volunteers, to ensure that those needs are met, and that the young persons can fully participate in the activities.

However…

• To support the maintenance and growth of this outstanding service to Glasgow young people with additional support needs, 77th Glasgow Disabled Scouts must maintain a steady supply of committed volunteers, with the right skills and attributes.
• ...And we have managed to get a grant to hire a fully-paid part-time Operations Manager (Volunteering) – 18hrs per week, including Monday evenings – for initially 3 years.

The role - Operations Manager (Volunteering)

• Reporting to The Board of Trustees, via one appointed contact point – initially one of the experienced Senior Volunteers
• A crucial part of our team delivering Scouting for young people with complex needs across Glasgow.
• As the only paid employee of the charity, you will be responsible for working on a range of tasks that are essential for the operations of the charity.
• (This may feel different to other organisations, so you will have to be adaptable to build relationships with people who fit their work in this organisation around their own employment and family circumstances)
• This is a role for someone who wants to get stuck in, operate to a high level with minimum supervision, and achieve real results, for a charity that punches above it’s weight in terms of outcomes for young people.

Key tasks

• Recruit volunteers to fill specific roles, and manage their initial induction, with their volunteer line manager.
• Build working relationships with key volunteers and trustees, and establish an effective approach to “getting things done,” right from the outset.
• Generally support the management of the charity and the lead volunteers in the safe running of our operations and the growth and development potential
• Being the first point of contact for GDS (Glasgow Disables Scouts) - a business phone will be provided.
• Maintain electronic records and databases ensuring compliance with GDPR.
• Work with our volunteer-led Compliance Group to ensure the charity is fully compliant with Scout Association regulations and wider charity law.
• Coordinate key aspects of the infrastructure of the charity such as transport provision – supported by GCC’s Glasgow Bus Partnership – and also venue scheduling.

Ideal person

• Previous operations management experience in a similar sector/organization.
• Strong skills in creating and building effective working relationships with a wide range of individuals and organisations, - both internally and externally - and preferably with experience of working with volunteers
• Demonstrate significant experience in working independently to deliver results and the motivation to meet deadlines with minimal oversight.
• Strongly desired is “experience working with disabled young people” but must have, as a minimum, ie demonstrable interest in supporting a charity , similar to Glasgow Disabled Scouts
• Highly effective IT skills including email, Microsoft Office (essential) and ideally experience in website updating, and social media channels.
• Solution focused and driven to get things done – flexible enough to see something that you can support and getting on with doing it.
• Able to work independently, and motivate yourself, to meet deadlines with minimal supervision, but at the same time recognise you are part of a strong team, led by volunteers.
• Able to communicate effectively – both written and verbally – to bring people with you in key aspects of the organisation of the charity
• You believe in our vision, and work with us to reach it, sometimes challenging us, if you can see a better way to do something.
• Flexible in your working hours (18 hrs/week) – as sometimes we may need you to work evenings or weekends to meet a deadline, if agreed in advance.
• Ideally, an understanding of Scouts or a similar volunteer-led organisation in either a paid or voluntary capacity
• Ideally, experience of recruiting, welcoming and training volunteers

Candidate Value Proposition

• Making a real difference to the young disabled Glasgow folks
• Significant scope for you to learn, grow and develop the role – and you! - into new directions based on your specific skills, experiences, and interests.
• A flexible role – 18 hrs/week - with the expectation you will work from home apart from a period of induction and getting to know us, when you will be partly office based in Glasgow city centre.
• Within key pre-agreed areas, you will have delegated authority to get on with things as you see fit but you will need to establish, from an early stage, effective working relationships with key volunteers.
• Attractive hourly rate – £12:50 to £17.50 ph. depending on your experience, and 5% pension contribution.
• As part of the bigger "Scouts Scotland", who will be your main employer, you will receive significant coaching, mentoring and career guidance.