Relief Bank Support Worker (SC)

ABOUT THE SUPPORT WORKER ROLE 

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Support Worker on a 12-month fixed-term contract to join our small, long-standing team of 4 staff members. Solace is a unique mental health drop-in centre providing a welcoming and supportive community for adults experiencing loneliness, isolation, and mental health challenges. With 85 members, many diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, Solace offers a safe space where individuals can feel included, build confidence, and make meaningful connections at their own pace. This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals within our community. 

Our members’ slogan, “Together Accepting Difference”, reflects our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Solace is more than a service – it’s a second home for many, where members can engage in activities like playing pool, using computers, or helping out in the garden meet with friends and have a coffee.   

We will be holding a Recruitment Event for this role on 09/04/2025 - Please ensure you are available for this date!

Shift Pattern: Flexible Zero hours Agreement, Monday to Friday, including bank holidays and weekends. Shifts are from 13:00 - 20:00, with onsite, face-to-face service delivery. 

Salary: £13.41 p/h with 12.07% Annual Leave accrual paid monthly

What are we looking for from a Support Worker?

• Excellent communication skills, particularly in sharing information within the team.
• A genuine interest in supporting individuals with mental health challenges.
• A proactive and caring attitude, with a desire to connect with members on a personal level.
• A commitment to upholding boundaries, respect, and the center's code of conduct.  
• Provide one-to-one support to members, helping them connect with external organisations and access resources.
• Assist with the referral process, including inductions for new members and risk assessments.
• Help maintain a clean, tidy, and organised environment within the centre.
• Support members in developing their skills and confidence through engagement in activities.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We have a team of ambassadors who are staff volunteers and actively support us in fortifying our organisational value of Inclusivity. 

SIG actively encourages applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, particularly lived experience ; Naturally, we approach any emerging issues with empathy and sensitivity .

As an organisation, we’re proud to mention that our staff Ambassadors career aspirations generally benefit from embracing this unique opportunity to develop their respective skill sets in spaces that exist outside of their daily roles.

If you have the passion, creativity, and tenacity to make a real difference in people's lives, challenge stigma and make our communities safer, we would love to hear from you!

OVERVIEW OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support participants to achieve their desired goals/outcomes in various ways this can include but is not limited to the contribution and development of support plans, risk assessments, reviews, case meetings.
• Ensure service responsibilities and requirements are carried out effectively. This includes but is not limited to welfare checks, risk assessments, support sessions, safeguarding checks, training and development, and other responsibilities required for effective service delivery.
• Ensure all participants understand their rights and responsibilities, and have access to the right tools, resources, and networks to support them in achieving their goals.
• Develop, participate in, and encourage participants to participate in the running and development of various projects and activities.
• Empower participants to make decisions to take control over their lives, by creating an enabling environment.
• Provide advice, information, guidance, and life skills training to participants as required.
• Recognise signs of deteriorating mental health, physical health, or other health implications and initiate appropriate interventions to prevent crisis or other risks.
• Complete safeguarding and other referrals when required.
• Support named participants with various individual needs as required.
• Work flexibility in working patterns and duties, responding to the needs of the service, team, and participants.
• Administration duties will vary. This includes maintaining confidential records in a timely manner and containing information in accordance with relevant statutory and organisational policies

Other responsibilities than those described above may be required to be undertaken from time to time and will be expected to be performed to as long as it is within the capability and level of the position. 

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

ABOUT US

Social Interest Group (SIG) believes good care and support improve lives. Our values of ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity drive everything we do. Our mission is to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings (including people's own homes), probation settings, and hospitals awaiting discharge. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, and Kent. We believe in the power of well-planned, well-managed services to make a difference. We work with high standards and external and internal regulatory frameworks.

Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change

Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

For Recruitment related enquiries, or if you need support with making your application for example due to learning needs or a disability, please email recruitment@socialinterestgroup.org.uk or call our central office on 020 3668 9270 to request a call back. Please note that this will take you through to our Central Administration team, who will then communicate your enquiry with us and we will arrange to call you back. 

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We are an inclusive employer and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details above. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions.