Support Assistant (Category 2 Sheltered Housing)

The overall purpose of Sheltered Housing is to provide the right accommodation and support when needed.

Sheltered Housing is purpose-built accommodation offering support for people 55 years and over who need support in maintaining their independence. Residents have their own tenancy agreement with Portsmouth City Council and therefore can live independently in their own accommodation but with the reassurance that support is available as needed. There are shared areas in the sheltered scheme in which residents can meet and enjoy some social activities.

As a service we take pride in making a positive difference in helping our residents maintain their independence in their homes. The Support Assistant role is a crucial one in ensuring that we can meet our purpose.

What is the role?

You will be working in a Portsmouth City Council Category 2 Sheltered Housing Scheme. These schemes are in Leigh Park, Crookhorn and Wecock Farm. The current vacancy is at Wakefield Court, although you will be required to work in a nearby Category 2 sheltered scheme if there is a need.

You will be part of a small team under the supervision of the Scheme Manager who will provide you with the induction and guidance that you need to gain confidence in the role. This is in addition to other training available to assist you in your personal development.

As a Support Assistant, you will provide residents with day-to-day help according to need. This for example may involve domestic help or personal reassurance. Where support is needed, you will liaise with care agencies, social workers, GPs, chemists and families of residents. You will need to be able to deal with any emergencies and on occasions, this will involve assisting some frailer residents with personal care issues, as well as being able to manage challenging behaviour from time to time.

1. Have a caring nature, enjoy talking to people and have good listening skills.
2. Have a professional approach to your work.
3. Have good written skills and basic numeracy.
4. Be prepared to provide domestic help to residents who require support, and in an emergency, with their personal care.
5. Be physically able to participate in moving and handling tasks.
6. Be a good team worker, have the confidence to work alone and to deal with challenging situations in a calm manner.
7. Have basic IT skills - e.g. basic use of Microsoft Word and Outlook.
8. Be flexible and reliable. Although mainly working in one scheme, you will be prepared to work in other schemes to meet the needs of the service. You also need to be flexible with your hours.

We really appreciate our employees and fully realise they are essential to our success and look to offer an inclusive, supportive working environment where employees can reach their potentials with a healthy work life balance, offering the following rewards:

• A generous pension scheme


• Up to 31 days annual leave per year pro rata + bank holidays


• A range of retail discounts via our reward portal offering discounts at retailers including IKEA, Currys, Tesco


• Free Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellbeing support


• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities including apprenticeships


• Potential to purchase additional annual leave


• Business travel support and initiatives, including bike loans