Mears Group Plc
Provider of UK housing repairs, maintenance, care services, development and facilities management
Welfare Support Officer
Support asylum seekers through right‑to‑work process, providing welfare and safeguarding.
Job Highlights
About the Role
This position has been created due to contract expansion and focuses exclusively on assisting asylum seekers with their right‑to‑work applications. The ideal candidate is resilient, trustworthy, caring, highly empathetic and enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds. Key responsibilities include offering practical and emotional support, monitoring wellbeing, conducting risk assessments and maintaining accurate records for Home Office audits. The officer will signpost users to health, education and community services, accompany them to appointments, and promote independence by teaching life‑skills. They must respond calmly to crises, uphold safeguarding procedures and collaborate with local authorities and partner organisations. • Support asylum seekers through the right‑to‑work application process • Provide practical and emotional assistance, monitoring wellbeing • Conduct risk assessments and maintain accurate case notes for audits • Signpost to healthcare, education and community services; accompany users to appointments • Respond calmly to crisis situations to ensure safety • Collaborate with colleagues, local authorities and partner organisations • Uphold safeguarding standards and escalate concerns when needed • Maintain thorough record‑keeping, case management and risk documentation
Key Responsibilities
- ▸right-to-work
- ▸risk assessment
- ▸record keeping
- ▸case management
- ▸safeguarding
- ▸crisis response
What You Bring
Applicants should have experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups, a strong understanding of safeguarding, and the ability to develop appropriate support packages. Experience with mental health issues or challenging behaviour, effective communication, solid IT and case‑management skills, and the capacity to work independently while prioritising tasks are essential. A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel are also required. • Travel flexibly across regions; hold a full UK driving licence • Experience supporting vulnerable, diverse client groups and safeguarding practices • Ability to identify needs and develop tailored support packages • Experience with mental health issues or challenging behaviour • Strong communication, IT and organisational skills • Resilient, trustworthy, empathetic and a good listener • Work independently, manage time effectively and prioritise tasks
Requirements
- ▸driving licence
- ▸safeguarding
- ▸mental health
- ▸it skills
- ▸communication
- ▸empathy
Benefits
The Welfare Support Officer role is based in Aberdeen with an annual salary of up to £29,856.80. It is a full‑time, six‑month fixed‑term contract (40 hrs per week, Monday to Friday). Mears Group provides temporary accommodation for asylum seekers across the Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland and Scotland, supporting over 19,000 service users as of May 2021. Mears offers 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, a company vehicle with fuel card or a £3,500 car allowance, and a range of staff perks including discounts, a Share‑Save scheme and volunteering leave. Additional benefits include an annual Mears Fun Day, access to EAP counselling, family‑friendly policies and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Work Environment
Hybrid