Are you passionate about helping people to live a better life? Do you want to work for a charity where your health and wellbeing matter just as much as the people you support? Do you want to be part of a trauma-informed team where you will be supported to develop creative and flexible ways of working?
At LinkLiving, our values and people are at the heart of everything we do including how we recruit our staff. It is important for us to find people who share our values, which are:
LinkLiving is a Scottish health and wellbeing charity that supports people to manage or overcome the effects of negative life experiences (including trauma, mental health challenges, poverty and inequality) so that they can build on their strengths and aspirations in order to live their best possible lives. We support people through a range of models including:
The Service
Our Edinburgh Young Persons’ Service provides visiting housing support and supported accommodation to people between 16 and 25 years old who live in Edinburgh.
We support young people, who have been in care, experienced homelessness, trauma or any disadvantage to overcome the challenges they may face whilst helping them to achieve their own individual goals and shape their lives for a more positive future.
This can involve finding a suitable home, learning the skills to manage it as well as possible, working through life challenges, trying new things, and learning to see the best in themselves and fulfil their unique potential. We also have supported flats which vary in the level of support offered to suit the needs of the people who live there.
The Job
The Housing Project Worker will support young people to further explore their housing options and to access one of our accommodation options should this be appropriate. You will be responsible for supporting all aspects of our accommodation provision.
About You
We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate individual with a strong understanding of social care and housing support. To excel in this role, you should have a general standard of secondary education, including passes in English and Maths at Standard Grade level or equivalent. You will be willing to work towards and achieve an appropriate qualification, such as the SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 6, to maintain registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
You should bring significant knowledge and experience in social care, housing support, and supported living, as well as an understanding of welfare rights, including benefits, entitlements, and related procedures. Experience working with homeless young people is essential, alongside an awareness of the issues that impact individuals who are excluded or marginalised. A clear understanding of the diversity of service user groups is important, particularly for those experiencing learning difficulties, mental health challenges, substance misuse, offending behavior, or homelessness.
We are seeking someone with a commitment to building trusting relationships and a passion for supporting individuals in need. You will demonstrate a non-judgemental attitude, valuing the strengths and gifts of others while showing sensitivity and responsiveness to their emotional, social, and health needs. Sound decision-making skills and the ability to take responsibility for your choices are key, as is a willingness to embrace diversity and challenge exclusive or discriminatory views.
To thrive in this role, you should adopt a proactive approach to personal learning and development, staying up to date with practice issues, policies, and relevant legislation. A commitment to regular self-reflection will ensure you maintain expertise, and you should feel confident seeking feedback to improve your performance continuously.
Proficiency in using technology to maintain accurate records and reports is required, along with a flexible, reliable, and practical approach to work. This role involves working flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays, to meet the needs of the individuals we support.
We are looking for someone who is empathetic, committed, and passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and others facing challenging circumstances. If you share these values and possess the experience and skills outlined, we would be delighted to hear from you.
What’s in it for you?
The benefits of being a LinkLiving employee (subject to the policies and benefit terms and conditions) include:
For a full list of benefits available to employees, please see the following link - linkliving.org.uk/work-with-us
Successful applicants will be required to apply for registration with SSSC within 3 months of their start date and be registered within 6 months.
This post is subject to Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme registration. Link will meet the cost of any new PVG scheme membership or scheme record update.
Further Information
Interested? If you have any questions about the role, please email jobs@linkhaltd.co.uk and we can arrange for someone from the service to call you for an informal chat.
To find out more about what LinkLiving do and to view the generous pay and benefits package, please visit our website at linkliving.org.uk
If you’re thinking about working in adult social care, download the Guide to adult social care jobs in Scotland for in-depth information on everything you need to know to get started. In addition, you can enrol on a free, online 6 week part-time tutor-supported ‘Introduction to a Career in Social Care’ course. The course introduces the area of social care and can be a stepping-stone to employment or further training.
To complete an application form, please visit our website. Instructions on how to complete the form are at the top of the page.
We can offer suitable alternative methods to apply if requested including although not exclusively; hard copy, Braille and audio. You can request these by emailing our Resourcing Team at jobs@linkhaltd.co.uk and detailing which format you would require.
Please note should an internal applicant be successful in applying for this position on either a seconded or permanent basis, they will move to the terms and conditions associated with the role for the duration of the time they are in post. The terms and conditions are outlined in the job information pack.
We aim at all times to recruit the person who is most suited to the job and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. Our offices are fully accessible to wheelchair users and, as a Disability Confident Leader, we will interview all disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria.
Closing Date: 23:59 on Sunday 05 January 2025
Interview Date: Interviews are being held on a date to be confirmed at our office in Edinburgh