Specialist Support Worker

About the role

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. 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. If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date. 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 Abus

Responsibilities

• Keyworking, Support Planning & Recovery
• Hold a keyworking caseload (typically 4-6 customers), meeting each customer regularly for structured keywork sessions focused on mental health, risk, daily living skills and recovery goals.
• Complete and regularly review support plans, risk management plans and crisis plans with customers and the wider team, ensuring they are meaningful, co-produced and linked to clear, achievable outcomes.
• Risk Management & Safeguarding
• Undertake initial and ongoing assessments of risk and need, including dynamic risk indicators
• (e.g. changes in behaviour, non-engagement, relapse indicators), and escalate concerns promptly.
• Day-to-day Support & Service delivery
• Provide practical support with daily living skills (e.g. budgeting, shopping, appointments, selfcare, routines) to enable customers to build independence and sustain their accommodation.
• 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:
• Experience & Knowledge
• NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent
• Experience of working with people with significant mental health needs, ideally in forensic or criminal justice settings (secure services, probation, prison, step-down or similar).
• Understanding of recovery-oriented practice and trauma-informed approaches in mental health.
• Awareness of risk assessment and risk management processes in forensic mental health (e.g. working with index offences, relapse indicators, safeguarding, conditions of discharge or licence).
• Experience of keyworking or case management, including multi-agency liaison and report writing.
• Comfortable working in a structured environment with policies, procedures and clear documentation standards, while remaining flexible and responsive to individual need.

Additional Information

Specialist Support Worker We're looking for a passionate, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Mental Health Social Care Service in Tower Hamlets £31,593.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. 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. Our benefits include: * Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service * A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply) * 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 * Cycle to work scheme * Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support * Online wellbeing resources * Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution * Free DBS All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship. Tabard Court is a mental health supported accommodation for individual with significant offending histories and complex mental health needs.

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