Welfare Support Officer

Location

Wakefield

Up to £29,856.80 per annum, including company vehicle and fuel card or £3,500 company car allowance.

Full time – Permanent. 40 hrs per week, Monday to Friday.

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers whilst their claim is being assessed in three regions:
Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. At the end of May 2021 Mears had over 19,000 service users across the three regions. Mears works in partnership with central and local Government, registered providers, tenants, landlords and investors to find solutions to homelessness, provide more social and affordable housing and create specialist housing for people with care needs.

Due to contract expansion, we are seeking a Welfare Support Officer to join our team. This exciting position works exclusively to support asylum seekers going through their right to work asylum application process with the home office. The ideal candidate will be resilient, trustworthy, caring, a people person and extremely empathetic to others. Every day is different, no day is the same.

Although this role comes with challenges it is extremely rewarding.

• Support service users at various stages of their asylum application process
• Address safeguarding and welfare issues appropriately, escalating concerns when necessary
• Provide both practical and emotional support to service users
• Monitor wellbeing and identify support needs for individuals and families
• Ensure accurate record‑keeping for Home Office audits and compliance
• Carry out risk assessments and update support plans regularly
• Maintain professional boundaries while providing a supportive and empathetic service
• Assist service users with accessing healthcare, education, and community services
• Signpost to external agencies and support networks where appropriate
• Accompany service users to appointments or interviews where required
• Promote independence and resilience by encouraging service users to develop life skills
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, local authorities, and partner organisations
• Respond quickly and calmly to crisis situations to ensure safety and support
• Contribute to service improvements by sharing feedback and best practice
• Support equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery
• Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups
• Strong understanding of safeguarding practices and procedures
• Ability to identify needs and put in place appropriate support packages to promote independence
• Experience supporting people with mental health issues and/or challenging behaviour
• Effective communication skills with colleagues, service users, and local authorities
• Experience with record keeping, case management, and risk assessments
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and prioritise tasks
• Resilient, supportive, trustworthy, approachable, empathetic, and a good listener
• Flexible and willing to travel as required
• Ability to remain calm and professional in difficult or emotional situations
• Good IT skills for updating case notes and maintaining accurate records
• Commitment to confidentiality and data protection
• Full UK driving licence

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day – our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering leave – Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards – discounts of up to 10% on weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, share save scheme, plus much more
• Family friendly policies
• Company vehicle and fuel card
• Access to EAP counselling sessions

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK;
Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a Background, Identity, Security clearance & BPSS check. For these checks to be completed, we will require from you the relevant identification, including proof of address, references, a valid passport and proof that you have lived in the UK for the last 5 years.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.