Homeless Support Worker

Housing First supports adults, who have high needs and histories of entrenched or repeat homelessness, to get a home of their own where they can regain stability, safety, and support. We work in partnership with the Council and housing providers to deliver intensive person-centred support and accommodation choices.

Our priority is to find safe, permanent housing that's suitable for the client. Once housing is found our dedicated team provides intensive one to one support to enable clients to maintain their accommodation and achieve their goals.

If you're passionate about working with individuals with complex needs and are looking for a role where you can make a real difference in the lives of those you support, then this is the role for you!

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

To assess the needs of each client, helping to develop their individual support plan to achieve their outcomes using the housing first principles
To produce and regularly review comprehensive client-based risk assessments
To manage a personal caseload of clients on a one-to-one basis
To provide intensive support to clients to manage and maintain their accommodation or achieve outcomes defined by the service specification
To mediate and or negotiate with existing housing providers to ideally prevent homelessness
To engage with local authorities, health providers and other agencies, creating and maintaining constructive working relationships to maximise the opportunities available to clients
To liaise with colleges, training agencies, employers to help clients gain access to education, find work or maintain their benefit entitlement
To lead on client activities to help them gain practical skills such as cooking and housework, health and wellbeing
To support clients by providing advice on housing, welfare benefits, rent deposits and household goods via a variety of schemes
To challenge harmful behaviours and play an active role in encouraging people to come inside from the street, or to play an active part in sustaining their accommodation
To carry out housing management duties such as collecting service charges at various locations
To carry out drop-in sessions at designated locations
To support clients move on to suitable accommodation options and help with the practicalities of moving to new accommodation such as contacting energy suppliers

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

This role will require an Enhanced with Barred List(s) disclosure and barring service check is a requirement for this role. This would be completed on appointment of the role.
This role will require you to work with clients on a one-to-one basis
This role will require you to work flexibly with some early morning and evenings necessary
This role will require you to lone work
This role will require a full drivers' licence and access to a vehicle

Previous experience working as a support worker and managing a caseload of clients
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
Clear verbal and written English
Good keyboard skills for data inputting
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word
Confident and assertive manner
Ability to self-motivate as you will work on your own
Effective team working
Ability to respond calmly to crisis
Deal promptly with and effectively react to challenging situations
Have an interest and genuine concern for homelessness and related issues