Website Total Care Recruitment
Independent Living Support Worker (Peer-Led) – Belfast
NO SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE
Location: Belfast, BT15 1BH
Salary: 25,394.88 per annum
Contract: Fixed-term until December 2027
Hours: 35 hours per week – varied shifts across a 7-day rota
We are currently recruiting for an Independent Living Support Worker (Peer-Led) to join our clients Housing First service in Belfast.
This is a unique opportunity for someone who can bring personal insight and lived experience of the challenges associated with homelessness, addiction and/or mental health to support individuals with complex needs.
Using your own insight alongside professional boundaries and a person-centred approach, you will help service users build confidence, develop independent living skills, sustain tenancies and work towards their individual goals.
Employee Benefits
Our client offers an excellent benefits package, including:
Enhanced annual leave – 35 days per year, increasing with length of service
Paid sick leave
Company maternity and paternity pay
Contributory pension scheme
Health Cash Back & Rewards Plan
Christmas Savers Club
Blue Light discount card
Excellent learning, training and development opportunities
About the Role
As an Independent Living Support Worker, you will be part of a Housing First/Complex Lives service supporting individuals whose needs may include homelessness, addiction, mental health and physical health challenges.
Service users may be living in temporary accommodation or in their own homes. You will engage with individuals on a one-to-one basis as well as through group and social activities.
A key element of this peer-led position is using your personal insight and experience appropriately to engage service users, build trust and demonstrate that positive change and greater independence are achievable.
Your support will cover areas including harm reduction, life skills, tenancy sustainment, community integration, education, employability and building positive social networks.
Key Responsibilities
Your duties will include:
Supporting service users to develop the capacity, confidence and resilience required to live independently and achieve their personal goals
Providing individual and group support focused on confidence building, skills development and positive social interaction
Providing appropriate harm reduction advice, information and guidance
Supporting individuals to develop practical independent living and life skills
Helping service users maintain their tenancies and integrate positively within their communities
Supporting access to education, employability opportunities, health services and other relevant support
Identifying and liaising with external agencies that can meet the needs of service users
Facilitating information sessions between service users and relevant organisations
Providing clear and accurate feedback to internal colleagues and stakeholders
Maintaining service user files and completing relevant project administration
Recording and reporting incidents, accidents and relevant financial information
Participating in the assessment of new referrals with support from the line manager
Working alongside referring agencies and other homelessness services to help ensure continuity of care
Contributing lived-experience knowledge and insight to relevant peer groups, research and organisational initiatives
Supporting the promotion of relevant programmes through engagement with homelessness services
Attending and participating in team meetings, staff days and mandatory training
Participating in regular supervision and annual appraisal
Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality
Promoting respect, diversity and equal opportunities
Following organisational risk management procedures, particularly in relation to lone working
The responsibilities listed above are not exhaustive, and reasonable additional duties may be required according to the needs of the service.
Experience Required
Applicants should have:
At least 1 year of relevant paid work experience OR 2 years of relevant volunteering experience
Essential Personal Requirements
To be considered for this role, you should have:
Personal insight into the challenges associated with homelessness, addiction and/or mental health
A good standard of literacy
Basic IT skills
A good understanding of professional boundaries and confidentiality
A willingness to engage in your own learning, development and personal growth
Good knowledge of the practical skills required for independent living
The confidence to work independently with service users while recognising and responding appropriately to potential risks
A willingness to travel outside Belfast when required
A compassionate, respectful and non-judgemental approach to supporting individuals with complex needs
AccessNI
This position is subject to an Enhanced AccessNI check.
Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from being considered for the position. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances and background of any offences or other information contained within a disclosure certificate.
NISCC Registration
This position is subject to NISCC registration. If the successful candidate does not currently hold valid registration, this must be completed within the probationary period.
Equal Opportunities
Our client is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and ensuring equality of opportunity and treatment across its services and employment practices.
Applications are welcomed from individuals aged 18 and over from a diverse range of backgrounds.
If you have relevant experience, personal insight into homelessness, addiction and/or mental health, and a genuine desire to help people build more independent and stable lives, we would like to hear from you.
Apply today for the Independent Living Support Worker (Peer-Led) position in Belfast.
Work Location: In person
To apply for this job email your details to careers@totalcarerecruitment.com