Welfare Support Officer

About the Role

The role has expanded due to contract growth and focuses exclusively on assisting asylum seekers with their right‑to‑work applications to the Home Office. The ideal candidate is resilient, trustworthy, caring, empathetic and enjoys working with people. Key duties include supporting service users throughout the asylum process, addressing safeguarding concerns, providing practical and emotional assistance, monitoring wellbeing, maintaining accurate records for Home Office audits, conducting risk assessments, and updating support plans. The Officer will also signpost users to health, education and community services, accompany them to appointments, promote independence and life‑skill development, and collaborate with colleagues, local authorities and partner organisations. • Support asylum seekers through the right‑to‑work application process. • Address safeguarding and welfare concerns, escalating when needed. • Provide practical and emotional assistance to individuals and families. • Monitor wellbeing and identify support needs. • Maintain accurate case records for Home Office audits. • Conduct risk assessments and update support plans regularly. • Assist users in accessing healthcare, education and community services. • Signpost to external agencies and support networks. • Accompany service users to appointments or interviews. • Collaborate with colleagues, local authorities and partner organisations. • Respond calmly to crisis situations to ensure safety. • Contribute feedback for service improvement. • Support equality, diversity and inclusion in service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸case records
• ▸risk assessment
• ▸support plans
• ▸right‑to‑work
• ▸service signposting
• ▸crisis response

What You Bring

Candidates should have experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups, a strong understanding of safeguarding procedures, and the ability to create appropriate support packages. Experience with mental health issues or challenging behaviour, effective communication, case management, risk assessment, and independent time‑management are essential. The role requires resilience, empathy, good IT skills, a commitment to confidentiality, and a full UK driving licence. All candidates must have the right to work in the UK, as the company does not sponsor visas. Recruitment includes background, identity, security and BPSS checks, requiring proof of address, references and a valid passport. Mears is committed to diversity, disability confidence, the Armed Forces Covenant and social mobility, and encourages applicants to share optional background information to improve inclusion. • Experience working with vulnerable and diverse client groups. • Strong understanding of safeguarding practices. • Ability to create appropriate support packages for independence. • Experience supporting people with mental health issues or challenging behaviour. • Effective communication with service users and stakeholders. • Proficient in record keeping, case management and risk assessment. • Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks. • Resilient, trustworthy, approachable and empathetic. • Good IT skills for updating case notes. • Hold a full UK driving licence.

Requirements

• ▸safeguarding
• ▸case management
• ▸it skills
• ▸driving licence
• ▸vulnerable clients
• ▸mental health

Benefits

The Welfare Support Officer position is based in Aberdeen and offers a salary up to £28,917 per annum, with the option of a company vehicle and fuel card or a £3,500 car allowance. It is a full‑time six‑month fixed‑term contract (40 hours per week, Monday‑Friday). Mears Group provides temporary accommodation to 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 yearly Mears Fun Day, volunteering leave, staff discounts through Mears Rewards, family‑friendly policies, a company vehicle with fuel card, and access to EAP counselling sessions. Additional perks include a share‑save scheme, eye‑test vouchers and other employee benefits. • 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays. • Annual Mears Fun Day and volunteering leave. • Staff discounts via Mears Rewards (groceries, holidays, eye‑test vouchers, etc.). • Family‑friendly policies and share‑save scheme. • Company vehicle with fuel card (age >21, licence >3 months, ≤9 points). • Access to Employee Assistance Programme counselling sessions.

Work Environment

Hybrid