Specialist Support Worker
About Look Ahead
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values: We focus on Excellence and innovation. We are Caring and Compassionate. We are Inclusive and Trusted. We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Job Description (Summary)
We’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Mental Health service in Tower Hamlets. This is a full-time, permanent position offering £30,527.00 per annum for a 40-hour week. You'll play a key role in providing information, social inclusion, and vocational opportunities to support people to recover and stay well. Within our Crisis House environment, you will lead the support that enables customers to recover from mental health related crises and safely return home, facilitating person-centred planning and access to necessary services. The shift pattern consists of 5 x 8-hour shifts per week, with no night shifts.
Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You’ll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Specialist Support Workers within Look Ahead are required to have either an extra dimension of experience or a higher qualification level as determined relevant for the particular post.
What you’ll do:
- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere.
- Carrying out holistic assessments of new customers which incorporate relevant statutory referral information.
- Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals.
- Create support plans for providing appropriate services based on on-going assessment and reflecting the services and resources available to enable customer to progress in their recovery.
- Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of ‘positive risk taking’.
- Provide support and access to relevant services to enable customers to continue their recovery and empower customers to self-manage their medication regimes through individual re-enablement programmes and informed decision making.
- Undertake support work in partnership with external stakeholders to compliment their interventions.
- Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes.
- Demonstrate strong commitment to the functioning of the staff team and to support colleagues in providing a high level of service and safety to customers.
- Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service.
- Adhering to lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues.
- Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times e.g. fire risk assessments, fire alarm checks etc.
- Being responsible for the handover of key information between shifts.
- Provide structured support and guidance to other front line staff in their area of expertise.
- To lead groups and activities - offering a range of appropriate therapeutic and recovery focused interactions and activities.
- Adhering to all other Look Ahead’s policies and procedures. Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills.
- Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/ Manager.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.
About you:
- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour.
- Prefers working as part of a group or team.
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised.
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.
- Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication.
- Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude.
- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour.
What you'll bring (Essential):
- NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent with some or equivalent sector work experience.
Our benefits include:
- Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service.
- Free DBS check.
- Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card.
- Fully paid induction programme and further training.
- ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes.
- Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support.
- Online wellbeing resources.
- A generous pension – we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply).
- Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff’s commitment and contribution.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please contact Look Ahead's recruitment team (details typically available on their careers page).
How to apply and the recruitment process
Please click on the link and apply via our website by completing the application form and submitting a copy of your up-to-date CV and a supporting statement to highlight what makes you a good fit for us.
Application Closing Date: 22 June 2025.
Interviews: We anticipate first stage interviews to take place w/c 21st July. Should there be any delays, we will keep you informed.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
