Support Officer

As a Support Officer you'll thrive on a fast-paced role supporting older people with their health and wellbeing to remain independent., As our next Support Officer, you'll be fundamental in ensuring tenants within our 4000 Retirement LIFE properties are maintaining their independence and can access support they need through your referrals and signposting. You will experience a varied role of housing related support, support file planning, facilitating activities and promoting social interaction, and maintaining safe buildings for customers. You will be supporting the citywide Age Friendly Strategy ambition to make Leeds the Best City to Grow Old in., To deliver an efficient, customer focused service which maximises performance levels and achieves continuous improvements in all areas of Retirement Life housing management services.,

• To deliver housing related support to older people living in Retirement LIFE housing schemes and associated floating support schemes.
• Undertake regular contact with older people, including visits, telephone calls, email and text messaging to support and enable tenants to live independently whilst promoting dignity, choice and confidentiality.
• To work with tenants to develop and review support plans and risk assessments to promote independence in a safe environment - identifying practical, domestic and budgeting support needs.
• To assist in providing a range of housing management services to support tenants moving into and leaving Retirement LIFE housing.
• To make referrals to other agencies and Council services and advocate on behalf of tenants, where appropriate, and support tenants to liaise with area housing offices.
• To ensure the Council's safeguarding procedures are utilised where appropriate.
• To work within Council policies and procedures, including data protection and financial regulations.
• To ensure the Council's health and safety policies are adhered to.
• Work flexibly to meet service requirements.
• To support the achievement of equality and diversity in both employment and service delivery, including the promotion of equality of opportunity.
• To promote and deliver the priorities, values and objectives of Leeds City Council at all times.
• To maintain accurate records and track progress of work.
• To assist with the induction of new staff including the demonstration of duties.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD Programmes.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters. The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

As a Support Officer, you will bring to the role:
• Passion to work with and support older people
• Patience and understanding for customers
• Organised approach to your work managing a variety of queries each day
• Strong record keeping to maintain welfare records and support files
• Ability to work well as a team, Ability to communicate with the general public in a responsive manner.
• Ability to demonstrate patience and understanding with customers.
• Ability to deal with relevant procedures and maintain standard documentation.
• Ability to advise service users on relevant procedures.
• Ability to work within a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively face to face, in writing and by telephone.
• Ability to demonstrate customer care
• To adhere to LCC Financial Rules and Regulations and Standing Orders.
• Ability to use computerised systems.
• Ability to record and maintain information received from all sources accurately.
• To provide a welcoming environment to customers.
• To assist other members of staff with duties when required.
• A good level of numeracy and literacy skills
• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Knowledge Required
• Knowledge of the role of the Council Housing Service and its responsibilities in managing homes and communities.
• An awareness of housing and support needs of older people
• An awareness of customer care
Experience Required
• Of providing housing related support to individuals
• Of working as part of a team
• Of working with the public
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• To carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
  
  Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
  
  a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further