Support Worker

We are recruiting for a Support Worker to join our In the Community Wellbeing programme in Orkney.

Working in partnership with Scottish Families Grow Your Own Routes programme, we will support young people aged 12-26 years across the Orkney mainland and Orkney Isles who have been affected by others alcohol and drug use. We will ensure that the right support is in place at the right time offering a flexible and person-centred approach.

Right There is a charity working to prevent people becoming homeless and separated from their loved ones.

We’re here for children and adults who are living with the effects of poverty, addiction or broken relationships. Walking alongside people at home and in the community, we provide tailored support and form trusting relationships to help people feel happier, safer and more confident to live their lives.

Rooted in communities across Scotland for 200 years, we’re there for people going through tough times. Our work won’t stop until everyone has an equal chance to create a safe and supportive place to call home.

The Support Worker will work with young people on a 1-1 or group basis, helping them to reduce the negative impact that others substance use may have on them. This will include face to face, online and telephone support.

You will manage your own time and your diary to reflect the needs of the people that you are supporting. Working 35 hours per week, these hours are mainly worked Monday to Friday, with the flexibility to work occasional hours on at the weekend if required, flexibility is also required to respond to situations at short notice as and when required.

Duties of the position will include:

• To support young people, on a one to one or group basis, to develop coping skills and strategies and provide advice and guidance to help reduce the negative impact that others substance use may have on them. This will include face to face, telephone and online support, signposting and onward referral.
• To support young peoples’ emotional development, allowing them to increase their self-esteem and confidence, while identifying and maximising their strengths.
• To facilitate groups to bring young people with similar experiences together for fun and peer support.
• To actively promote family recovery and family inclusive practice and facilitate opportunities for whole family activities.
• Use a flexible approach so that young people and families receive support whenever is best for them including evenings and weekends.
• To ensure that young people engaged with the project are properly safeguarded and supported, including monitoring young people’s interaction with the project with regard to safeguarding and child protection procedures and identifying and managing risk to young people.
• Establish and develop effective relationships and channels of communication with children, young people, families, colleagues, community organisations, partner agencies and other external agencies.

Full details can be found in the Job & Person specification on our website.

What we expect from you

Our values make us who we are and define our actions and behaviours every day. We’d expect the post-holder to uphold and represent our organisation in a way that reflects our values and person-centred way of working.

We’d like you to have gained experience of working with children, young people and families, if you haven’t done this in a work setting however you have a flair for building rapport and positively engaging with young people, please get in touch as we’d love to chat to you.

A full driving license and access to a car for work purposes is an essential requirement for this role.

Hours of work are mainly worked Monday to Friday however flexibility is required to work out with this if required to suit the needs of the people we support.

What you can expect from us

We value our staff as our greatest asset and will provide the following working conditions:

• The post holder will report to the Senior Support Worker
• Your normal working hours are 35 per week.
• Your usual place of work will be 18 Queen Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15.
• You are also required to work in the local community, and you will be paid travel expenses between your usual place of work and appointments undertaken in the course of your duties.
• Alternatively, you may also choose to work remotely from your home address where appropriate. Working arrangements must be agreed with your line manager, based on the needs of the service .
• Annual leave entitlement of 210 hours holiday (equivalent to 6 weeks) pro rata per year in the first year rising to 280 hours (equivalent to 8 weeks) pro rata per year in the second. This includes public holidays
• You will be automatically enrolled into the People’s Pension in the 3rd month of employment provided you meet the auto-enrolment criteria
• Option to purchase and sell annual leave
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellness programmes
• Ongoing learning and development
• Supportive team environment
• Reflective Practice

Interested in applying?

Click Apply and you will be redirected to our website where you will find the full job & person specification and details of how to apply.

Please note that we are not in a position to offer sponsorship for this role.

Thank you, and good luck!