Support Worker: Women's Accommodation

About Simon Community Scotland

Simon Community Scotland is the largest provider of homelessness services in Scotland. Our vision is for everyone to have a safe place to live, with access to the support they need. Every day we help make positive things happen for people facing extremely difficult circumstances. Everything we do is about and for people, the people we support, our staff, our partners and everyone affected by homelessness. Our values are built into every area of activity and tell the story of how people remain at the heart of Simon Community.

Day by day, person-to-person, we tailor what we offer to what people need. We are here to provide consistent, friendly and informed support so that people can explore options and take 'the next step' towards a positive future. We offer support across a range of service delivery points; Street Outreach teams, Housing First initiatives, Floating Support, Information Hubs, Managed Alcohol Program (MAP), Supported Accommodations, Emergency Accommodation, Rapid Access Accommodation, and our own rented properties. These services are delivered across many local authorities within Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Perth.

We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences to our team. To make a difference, we need to work flexibly, with everyday leadership and a 'can-do' approach. We want to make it right and make it happen – not only for the people we support, but also for each other.

Our #OneTeam ethos is core to who we are, and it means caring for and supporting each other regardless of our role, service or location. Find out more about our services here.

Our Support Services

Job Purpose

The Support Worker role is to support and engage with people to manage and recover their mental health, in line with our trauma-informed approach. You will help people with safer substance use and assist them with the process when they choose to stop. You will assist our people to build a positive network of connections to enable them to gain and sustain their own housing.

As a Support Worker, you will provide work alongside people impacted by homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges and trauma. You will provide guidance and assistance to the people we support to achieve their goals of securing safe housing and accessing the necessary support to feel secure, manage their challenges and live an independent life free from harm or abuse.

The Women’s Homelessness Accommodation Support Worker provides safe, compassionate, and trauma-informed support to women experiencing homelessness. Working within a psychologically informed environment (PIE), the role focuses on building trust, promoting stability, and supporting women to move towards greater independence, safety, and wellbeing.

This is a frontline role within a 24/7 accommodation service, requiring flexibility, emotional intelligence, and a strong commitment to women-centred, strengths-based practice.  This is a hands-on role that requires compassion, patience, and the ability to stay calm in difficult situations.

Shift patterns are: Day, Mid, Late, Sleepover (emergency accommodation only) and night shift. Our shift patterns vary from service to service and some services have an element of lone working throughout the shifts. 

Job Summary

You will be passionate about supporting and changing expectations and experiences of people we support, many of whom have experienced significant trauma, exclusion and stigma.

As a Support Worker in homelessness services, you'll be instrumental in empowering individuals affected by homelessness, addiction, challenging mental health and trauma. You'll provide compassionate, person-centred support, guiding them towards securing safe and stable housing and developing tools to manage their challenges. Your role is vital in helping people access essential resources, build resilience, and ultimately live a life free from harm and abuse.

As part of our Team, you will be at the forefront of supporting people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. You will work collaboratively with partner agencies in a supportive environment. The role involves providing both practical and emotional support, helping individuals to secure accommodation, access benefits, and connect with a wide range of health, wellbeing, and advocacy services.

Our team builds strong professional relationships with local authorities, support providers, and other external partners to ensure our support is coordinated and effective. You will adopt a harm reduction approach, providing advice and Naloxone trained as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing honest and open relationships with our community that foster trust.

• Exercise our training and reflective practices to develop additional skills to support and respond appropriately to our community who have experienced trauma.

• Working with people with a wide range of experiences and cultural backgrounds with dignity, respect and kindness.

• Work as part of a team with a range of experiences and knowledge to the benefit of our community.

• Supporting our community to influence their care and support to meet their goals.

• Provide emotional and practical support as required.

• Fostering connection, hope, and a positive identity and meaning in life and a sense of control for our community.

• Working with other teams in SCS and with partners to support good outcomes for our community.

• Seeking opportunities that will make a difference to our community.

• Any other duties directed by the Service Lead.

Our Values

Inclusion & Participation

We include everyone in the services and resources they need, regardless of their circumstances and ensure each person's voice and influence are heard and felt in everything that we do.

Personalised & Creative

Each person we support is an individual with unique circumstances, needs and future potential which requires a uniquely tailored response.

Warmth & Regard

We see beyond a person's current or past circumstances, recognising their inherent value, worth and potential as human beings.

Partnership & Collaboration

We know we need to work positively with others to deliver a truly inclusive and personalised approach, improve our response and add value to the experience of the people we support.

Supportive & Ambitious

We encourage and support ambition, building on strengths to foster hope for the people we support as well as deliver growth and development for staff and volunteers.

Core Competencies

• Create and manage personalised support plans for people, prioritising tasks and managing resources effectively to help them achieve their goals.

• Monitor progress against established goals and adjust support plans as needed to ensure the best possible outcomes.

• Maintain accurate and detailed records of your contacts using our Netsuite platform throughout your shift.

• Advance despite adversity, responding to challenging and difficult situations with a calm, professional, and composed approach.

• Handle sensitive decisions with compassion and due regard for others, maintaining a positive and proactive attitude.

• Act with care and compassion, demonstrating a clear commitment to the role and its importance in empowering individuals to live independently.

• Bring hope through your words