Job Detail

Hightown is a charitable housing association operating principally in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. We believe everyone should have a home and the support they need, so our aim is to build new homes and to provide excellent housing and support.

We currently manage over 9,300 homes and employ over 1,000 full and part time staff from our head office in Hemel Hempstead. We have an annual turnover of £120 million and a development programme that will deliver over 400 new affordable homes each year.

Do you want to make a real difference in people’s lives? Open Door is a night shelter providing emergency accommodation for up to 12 single homeless people in St. Albans each night. We also offer a drop-in service for people who are street homeless.

The Open-Door staff team offer a trauma-informed, safe environment that is person-centred and supports those who come through our doors to get access to the help they need. This could include support to find move-on accommodation, claim benefits, counselling or signposting to specialist agencies for support with things like Mental Health, and drug and alcohol addictions.

We are seeking a Support Worker with the right values and behaviours who can encourage and nurture a positive workplace culture based on respect and dignity for those experiencing homelessness who need support.

Hightown Benefits:

• Generous annual leave allowance of 33 days per year, rising to 35 days with service
• £25,857 pa / 37.5 hour per week contract
• Workplace pension scheme and life assurance of three times your annual salary
• Fully paid DBS
• Annual bonus based on satisfactory performance
• Monthly attendance bonus and annual salary and cost of living review
• Ongoing professional development and training to help you deliver outstanding support
• Employee assistance helpline

As a Support Worker, you will:

• Assess needs and develop personalised support plans
• Promote independence through life skills such as cleaning, and budgeting
• Create risk assessments and safety management plans
• Support aspirations and help individuals achieve their goals
• Engage with residents in a variety of ways, including creative and informal approaches
• Support individuals to attend appointments and access external services
• Deliver trauma-informed support that recognises and responds to individual experiences
• Carry out regular building checks to ensure safety and security

Working hours:

This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week) worked on a rota basis. You will be working with another Support Worker at all times, with shifts spread across weekdays and weekends.

About you:

We are looking for someone who has a genuine interest in the people we support, who brings a can-do attitude and a genuine desire to help others thrive.

You will also need to:

• Communicate effectively and adapt to different needs and preferences
• Be flexible and reliable, able to work shifts including weekends and bank holidays
• Work well as part of a team and independently
• Be committed to equality, diversity, and person-centred care