Job Description

Closing Date: 3rd June 2025

Access Community Trust has proudly served communities in Suffolk and Norfolk for 50 years, providing housing, mental health, enrichment, and employability services. Our mission remains rooted in passion and purpose, striving to reach every vulnerable and socially excluded individual - without exception.

We have several new posts available to support our housing related support accommodation in Lowestoft. Our customers have a range of support needs and our housing aims to reduce the risk of homelessness by enabling customers to improve their outcomes, attain and sustain accommodation, and to move on to independent living.

Post 1:

21 hours per week, based in Central Lowestoft

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 4pm - 7pm Wednesday: 2pm - 7pm Saturday OR Sunday (alternating): 11am - 3pm

Post 2, 3 & 4:

20 hours per week including evenings and weekends on a rota basis, working across several housing projects in Central/South Lowestoft

Please indicate the post(s) you are applying for in your application. Ideally the successful applicants will be able to start work from 1st July 2025.

Pay:

24,570 per annum (pro rata for part time working)

Job Summary:

Operating within a small team providing in-reach and out-reach support, the Support Worker will provide high level support to customers and provide specialist advice, guidance and enable customers in their journey to achieve their goals. The Support Worker will provide support services to customers and the wider local population through a number of proactive and reactive activities focused on key outcome themes - improved mental health, reduction of criminal behaviour, substance misuse support including harm minimisation advice and guidance, improved life skills, positive behaviour engagement, independent living.

The Support Worker role will require flexible and adaptive working practises to meet client's immediate support needs and support requests from other services. The role will be supported by a team of Support Workers and Practitioners with specialist knowledge and skills to assist in meeting a diverse range of customer needs as outlined in customer support plans, and will receive regular case management support to assist customers to achieve their goals and maintain good quality support practice.

The postholder will work in a wider community context, providing outreach support and services and engaging in wider community events as and when required.

Person Specification (Essential/Desirable)

Experience

Applicants must have previous experience of working within a supported accommodation or similar environment and supporting vulnerable people / families with issues relating to financial hardship, homelessness, mental health and substance misuse (E) Applicants must have a detailed knowledge of services and support available to vulnerable people in need and a thorough understanding and commitment to Safeguarding (E). Applicants must hold a working knowledge of health and safety (within a supported accommodation environment and/or within the community) where lone working is applicable (E) Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have experience in working with internal and external stakeholders within a support discipline (E)

Qualifications

Knowledge of housing related support or care/support environment (E) Education to Level 2 standard or equivalent vocational/life experience, with a commitment to undertaking a Level 3 qualification (E) A professional qualification in housing, social work, community work or similar area of work (D) Significant lived experience within factors which relate to our clients. This can include knowledge of substance misuse, the welfare system, homelessness, long term unemployment, mental health, financial hardship (D) A qualification or experience based upon helping others to learn, such as train the trainer or other practical experience (D)

Work-Focused Skills

Ability and means to travel across a geographical area within a short timeframe (E) Applicants must hold a current driving licence and have the use of a car (D) Applicants should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and must be able to work and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team (E) Applicants must be able to manage their own workload, support colleagues and use initiative as appropriate and be open to constantly changing work routines (E) Applicants should have functional IT skills as the role will involve the use of Microsoft packages and specialist performance reporting systems (E) Applicants must be able to demonstrate where they have been able to directly or indirectly support clients to identify their own solutions and deliver person-centred practices (E) Applicants must be able to demonstrate how they use empowerment and a solution-focussed approach to problem solving (E) Applicants must be able to demonstrate being a team player (E) Experience of working in challenging situations and being able to find practical solutions (E)

A full job description is available upon request from hr@accessct.org.

Application Info:

We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness and social exclusion.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role. For support in applying or to request reasonable adjustments, please contact us.

Access Community Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its young people and vulnerable adults using our services and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Please note: this position involves work that is a regulated activity and is therefore subject to receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure with a barred list check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. This is in accordance with the Police Act 1997 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This is to be paid for by the successful applicant and will be reimbursed upon the successful passing of a 6-month probationary period.

Please note: We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the listed closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applicants. We endeavour to respond to all applicants, however if you do not hear from us within 28 days please do assume your application has not been shortlisted for interview on this occasion.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 24,570.00 per year

Expected hours: 20 - 21 per week

Work Location: In person