Job Description

Job Title: Activities Assistant
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £28,860 per annum – pro rata
Working Hours: Part Time – 30 Hours per week
Working Pattern: rolling rota
Location: Islington Young People, Islington

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.

The difference you will make as an Activities Assistant
You work collaboratively as part of a committed team to develop and deliver a programme of activities that puts customers first, empowering them to achieve their goals and aspirations. The programme of activities for a service should be co-created and co-produced with customers linking with external organisations to offer the maximum opportunity for individual customers’ growth. The role is working as part of a team that is committed to best practice to ensure that we continually improve service delivery.

About you
We are looking for someone with:
• An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Experience of devising and delivering activity programmes within supported housing environment.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and health and safety requirements.
• Experience of devising and delivering activity programmes within supported housing.

Why Riverside?
At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.
We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.
Working with us, you’ll enjoy:
• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.
Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.
This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview. If required

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered.

Role Profile
Support Customers:
Use psychologically informed approaches and Trauma Informed Care principles – supporting customers to develop new ways of thinking and make steps towards independence, by:
• Co-producing and co-create a programme of internal and external activities that is motivational to customers, that aligns to customer support plans and goals, that reflects the different customer needs, including culture and diversity.
• Develop links with local organisations that maximises opportunities that promotes individual customer growth.
• Market programme of activities to ensure all customers have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate.
• Work closely with service team by co-ordinating, supporting and delivering the programme of activities to our customers.
• Identifying and promoting opportunities for employment, education and training and supporting customers to remove barriers to accessing these opportunities.
• Drive initiatives and assists in applying for grants and fund raising for planned activities and events.
• Carry out regular surveys and feedback to ensure the activities programme is meeting the needs of all customers in the services.
• Support service team to meet client outcome targets through key-working, support plans, risk
• assessments, and other interventions.
• Assist support team with day-to-day tenancy related issues, linking with external resources or developing relevant groups.
• Support with referrals and assessments, working with potential clients to identify suitable activity solutions.
• Inspiring and motivating customers to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills.
• Ensure clients have access to relevant external support services.
• Ensuring the safety of our customers by following local safeguarding procedures, recognizing and acting on any significant risk, and escalating appropriately.

Service Delivery:
• Ensure that service delivery complies with Riverside’s policies and procedures relating to equality and diversity.
• Produce and distribute activity programmes to all customers ensuring the programme content is appealing and up to date.
• Design and update a service directory which will enable customers to be signposted externally.
• Ensure that the views of customers are fully taken into account in the development and delivery of
• services.
• Develop and maintain local partnerships to provide a holistic range of support for customers, liaising with them to facilitate access to support.
• Ensure that notice boards are organised, well presented using corporate branded paperwork detailing daily and weekly activities.
• Support in advising and advocating on behalf of the customers, where applicable.
• Record and update clear, factual, accurate, strengths-based customer and statistical information on Riverside’s and external digital platforms.
• Carry out day-to-day administration and operational duties.

Other Information
You will be required to:
• Work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours.
• You may be required to carryout local travel to meet customers needs.
• Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary.
• Ensure customers are safe at all times - carrying out all of your duties within Riverside’s Policy and Procedure framework e.g. health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR, cash handling, etc.
• Deliver your role in line with the Riverside company values – “Our Riverside Way”.
• Participate in team meetings, regular supervisions and reflective practice sessions.
• Undertake regular training and take responsibility for your own continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely.
• From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager

Person specification
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
• An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Experience of devising and delivering activity programmes within supported housing environment.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and health and safety requirements.
• Experience of devising and delivering activity programmes within supported housing.
• Team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and have a resilient, can-do attitude.
• Good time management and communication skills.

Desirable
• Knowledge of Psychological or Trauma Informed approaches to support.
• Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise tasks to achieve results.
• Experience of working in a care and support environment

Riverside is one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit social housing and regeneration organisations, owning or managing around 75,000 homes from Irvine to Kent. We are a leading provider of supported housing services, particularly for those affected by homelessness, and our track record of transforming lives and revitalising neighbourhoods dates back over 90 years. We have plans to build over 15,000 affordable homes over the next decade.