Central is currently recruiting for an Advice and Support Assistant to work in the Croydon area. The service provides supported accommodation to young people who may have high complex needs including mental health issues, to equip them with the skills to live independently. The successful candidate will be required to work 22.2 hours (3 days) per week, working across Monday - Friday. The core hours are 8.45AM - 5PM. You'll be occasionally required to work a late shift or at the weekend. Temporary cover is required on a weekly rolling basis. The pay rate for this role is £13.85 per hour, with £2.01 holiday pay, totalling £15.86 per hour. Please note; there is a requirement to work from the Greenwich office on Adhoc basis. You'll also be required to carry out regular visits to young people and hosts in their homes (around Croydon). In this position, you will be expected to; Provide first-point-of-contact support, listening to young people's needs and concerns. Assist young people in understanding their rights and responsibilities within their supported lodging placements Provide practical support and advice on independent living skills, including budgeting, tenancy management, and accessing community-based services Encourage engagement in education, training, and employment, signposting to relevant services where necessary Work alongside the Lodgings Support & Advice Officer or Manager to assist with risk assessments and Support Plans that promote self-sufficiency Help young people access financial assistance, benefits, and other relevant housing or welfare services Accompany young people to appointments, job interviews, and housing viewings where necessary Liaise with social workers, housing teams, and youth services to ensure young people receive appropriate support Assist in delivering workshops on life skills, employment preparation, and housing rights Provide administrative support, including coordinating meetings, updating reports, and assisting with data collection Ensure that all safeguarding concerns are recorded and escalated appropriately and assist with health and safety inspections To apply for this role, you must have: Experience working with young people in a Supported Housing setting Experience of developing and maintaining Support Plans and Risk Assessments Experience of supporting young and vulnerable people to improve their life skills, confidence and well-being Experience of supporting young people to achieve the outcomes as described in the Every Child Matters green paper Knowledge and understanding of Housing Law, specifically Supported Housing legislation, including rents and tenancy agreements Knowledge of the welfare benefits system including universal credit and housing benefits Knowledge of Child Protection/Children's Act 1989 and of safeguarding practices Ability to assess and make appropriate decisions about the specific needs of young people for referral or sign posting to appropriate services Experience of developing positive relationships with multi agencies Ability to manage challenging behaviour of young people and demonstrate resilience when faced with incidents/anti-social behaviour Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing at all levels Candidates must confirm their interest as soon as possible, with interviews scheduled shortly after and the appointed candidate expected to start as soon as possible. Further requirements: In order to register with Central Recruitment Services for temporary agency work, candidates must meet the following criteria: Current valid right to work in the UK Minimum 12 months’ of paid experience in a front line social care role within the last 3 years (unless recruitment criteria states otherwise) A fully enhanced DBS registered on the DBS update service or willingness to apply for one through Central (at a cost of £60) Employment or education history to cover the last 5 years which can be verified through the referencing process How to apply: If you feel that you fully meet the above outlined criteria for this role and would like apply for this post, please forward your CV for consideration. Please note the outlined experience is the 'minimum' first stage criteria, and we will therefore be unable to consider your application unless you are able to demonstrate a relevant work history in line with this position