Housing Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Housing Support Worker to join our Homelessness service in Surrey., Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day. Housing Support Worker help to enable vulnerable people living in a variety of different tenures to manage their tenancies/ licences and prevent homelessness by providing a flexible and individually tailored support package. All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship. What you'll do:

• Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Manager
• Ensure that referrals to the service are managed effectively and in line with the referrals and assessment procedure
• Undertake initial and assessments and continuous reviews of support needs and potential risks, and agree levels of support and actions
• Create and review support/ action plans for providing appropriate housing-related support based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available
• Develop and maintain links with key agencies and service providers in the local community
• Empower customers to ensure they receive the benefits and services they are entitled to
• Signpost customers to support services that can help them address additional support needs such as mental or physical health, employment and education, adult social care, domestic abuse and family support
• Encourage and enable customers to pay their rent and other housing-related costs, and to ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively in conjunction with the relevant housing provider
• Encourage and enable customers to adhere to all other conditions of their tenancies/ licences, eg maintaining a satisfactory living environment, refraining from anti-social behaviour, allowing access for essential work
• Encourage and enable customers to take necessary steps to seeking and preparing for alternative accommodation where maintaining their current housing situation is unsuitable or unviable, We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.


• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Approachable and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
• Flexible
• Open to feedback and self development
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
What you'll bring: Essential:
• Use of own vehicle
• IT and functional skills
• Positive attitude and can-do approach
• Resilience
• Flexibility
• Good communication skills, written and verbally
Desirable:
• Experience working in homelessness, housing or support/care
• Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector
  
  Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
  
  £24,939.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.