Job Description

Position : Community Drpo- In support worker P/T 20hrs per week

Chelsea Methodist Church, Kings Road Community Drop-in are recruiting gifted, confident and experienced Community Drop-in support workers to help bring hope, community and opportunity into the lives of homeless men and women.

If you’re passionate about loving the poor and supporting the disadvantaged, we want to hear from you!

We are based at Chelsea Methodist Church in the heart of Chelsea on The Kings Road.

Our Mission is to support people in our community with different issues; facing problems such as homelessness, poverty or social isolation, transform their lives to a state of wholeness through providing a range of high-quality support, social activities and pastoral care at our community drop-in. We are currently seeking to improve our services by maximising the opportunities for users to make significant changes in their lives.

As a faith-based organisation and place of Christian worship, our beliefs are foundational to everything we do. The post-holder will be expected to share these beliefs, join in the spiritual life of the church and work actively to support our ministry and vision in the transformation of lives. Our desire is to use our God-given resources professionally and effectively for the work of His Kingdom and in pursuit of the Mission.

Job Context

Chelsea Methodist Church and Pastoral Centre is situated along the busy Kings Road, a place where rich and poor rub shoulders together. Our doors are open each day 9am to 5.30pm. Over the years we have built up a reputation for our work with homeless people at our ‘drop in’ which is open three days a week between 9.00am and 2.00 pm. We offer food, rest and basic hospitality to over 100 people daily.A place to shower, clothing store, laundry service, postal collection, free telephone calls as well as a pastoral and spiritual ‘listening ear’ to those who are vulnerable and in need.  A local GP offers a surgery fortnightly at our Centre. We also work closely with Glass Door Homeless Charity who provide case work services for our homeless guests and in the winter provide a Night Shelter across five boroughs which we as a church provide a venue one night per week. On the other days of the week we provide work with children in conjunction with West London Action for Children and our aim is to diversify our mission activities to work with other community groups. We have a number of rooms that are let on short term contracts to various charities and other spaces which are let for individual bookings. In addition we have three shops which provide the financial income to support our mission work.

Purpose:

1. To be a point of contact for all homeless guests and enquirers to Chelsea Methodist Church and Community Drop in .

2. To ensure a welcomingand safe environment for all guests, staff and the Church Community working with volunteers and liaising with staff of Glass Door Homeless Charity

3. To ensure the delivery of a well-resourced service to homeless communitythree days per week

Responsible to: The Community Drop In Manager

Responsible for: The hospitality, safe environment and effective running of the Community ‘drop in’ for all who cross the threshold day by day.

The resources needed to offer those services and maintain the environment

Main duties

1. To work together with the Drop In managerto ensure the day to day smooth and hospitable running of the Drop In by planning with theManager and volunteers for the needs of each day and reviewing the plans regularly and attending regular staff meetings.

2. To ensure all resources and services needed for the smooth running of the Drop In are readily available.

3. To have a compassionate listening ear for the issues people present, where necessary referring to the centre manager, case worker or ministers as required

4. To monitor, regulate and record access to the Drop in each day.

5. To ensure equal and fair access to all services offered by Chelsea Church and Glass Door Charity.

6. To ensure the areas (Drop In) are safe at all times, taking appropriate action to maintain safety, uphold policies to offer care when necessary, reporting and recording any incidents and action taken.

7. Under the direction of the Manager to train and support volunteer colleagues and staff in areas of Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Food Hygiene.

8. Regularly liaise with the Manager, Glass Door staff and night shelter volunteers to ensure continued good practice and consistency across the work offered by both charities

9. Be hospitable to the needs of the church community and members of the public and to be aware of their differing needs.

10. Maintain: the ethos of Chelsea Methodist Church & Pastoral Centre, a working knowledge of issues affecting the homeless community including equality and diversity, health and safety, risk assessment and relevant church policies.

11. Any other duties as requested by the Centre Manager.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and successfull references