How to get a housing support worker in 2023? This is such a critical question—and in this post we’ll aim to provide a 360° answer to that. A housing support worker is a professional who supports people experiencing homelessness, who may have complex needs, and who are generally considered vulnerable.
When a service provider finds the right fit? The difference in the quality of your services can be truly staggering. For example, vulnerable residents don’t just need reliable cover, they need friendly faces., specialised support nd calmness in crisis. And we’ll share how exactly you can get that kind of housing support worker in 2023.
What is a housing support worker?
First off: there’s a wide diversity of housing support workers—from a residential support worker to a waking night support worker, housing officer, and so many more.
But generally, their role is the same: providing emotional & specialist support to residents living in homelessness shelters, hostels, and housing associations.
Their day-to-day responsibilities can include anything from:
— Helping vulnerable people to access housing
— Supporting residents with their challenges
— Resolving conflict & problems that arise
— Safeguarding residents through day and/or night
— Carrying out health/safety checks, inspections, and risk assessments
What to look for in a housing support worker?
Experience
Most certainly: those with previous, relevant experience are bound to provide a higher quality of support.
The ideal: finding a candidate who has experience working with your specific client group, whether that’s:
— Homeless, young people
— Domestically-abused women & families
— Those with mental health challenges
— Those with substance abuse challenges
The second-best case: finding someone with general experience in health and social care.
The reality, however, is that most people won’t have related experience. The double however: with the right skills & training, experience isn’t a make-or-break.
Skills
When hiring a support worker, the foundational skills to look for are:
— Clarity & ease of communication
— Empathy and patience with people
— The ability to pick up things quickly
— The ability to handle crisis with calm
But the keyword here? They’re the foundational skills. Training is what equips housing workers with the specialised skills that are important for service users.
But training itself varies too. Many in the sector may have training in security—but security is only a fraction of what’s needed when working with people
How to get a housing support worker in 2023?
Recruitment agencies
By far, the most common way to find staff. The pros: it’s relatively fast. And you won’t be spending your own time & resources finding support workers yourself.
The cons however: you’re often getting a candidate with few skills, no experience, and who probably just finished working in a common job like retail. The demands & stresses of being a support worker is often a mismatch—leading to inevitable turn over.
Fully-managed staffing service
The most value-added, hands-off option for service providers. A fully-managed staffing service like AGS Support doesn’t select ‘candidates’ for you. They provide extensive, hybrid training for their staff to give the right confidence & competence to work in the sector.
Their service includes providing highly trained support workers who they always manage 24/7. Ensuring you’re 100% covered & that as a manager you can walk away from your facility with peace of mind.
Curious to find out more about how AGS Support can help you? We’ll always just a call away. But to read more about our services, click here.
FAQs
What does a housing support worker do?
A support worker is responsible for safeguarding, advising, and supporting service users in places like supported accommodations and housing associations.
What kind of services do housing support workers provide?
The primary services of a housing support worker are (1) ensuring the safety and security of residents (2) providing specialist support & advice on everything from housing benefit to independent living (3) carrying out health & safety checks