Position: Intensive Support Worker
Location: Leeds (LS2 or LS7)
Hours: 37 or 22.5 hours per week shift patterns available
Salary: £27,000 pro-rata plus shift enhancement for weekend working
About Beacon:
Beacon’s aim is to focus on Prevention & Early Intervention (risk of homelessness, rough sleeping), Sustainment (independent living, health, employment) and Integration (within communities, increasing confidence)
Purpose of the post:
To provide focused, short term housing related support to clients with complex needs in an Intensive Supported Environment (ISE – Hostel). The aim is to support clients to move onto supported dispersed accommodation or to secure their own accommodation in the community within the contracted timescales.
Duties & responsibilities:
- To support clients to achieve their individual goals by undertaking comprehensive risk and needs assessments based on their complex needs in order to develop tailor made support plans in line with the Beacon remit on obtaining relevant benefits and assisting people to move into their own individual secure accommodation.
- Undertake a key worker/co-key worker role.
- Undertake comprehensive risk and needs assessments and support plans with clients based on their complex needs
- Work co-productively with clients, volunteers, peer mentors and professionals from partner agencies to provide an appropriate, responsive service.
- Provide comprehensive information and advice to clients regarding appropriate housing and support options
- Develop and maintain liaison with referral and support agencies in order to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to clients’ needs
- To at all times work within, adhere to and promote Beacon’s Safeguarding procedures to ensure that clients are safe from harm and abuse.
- Able to use a computer and data collection software and be able to carry out administrative & monitoring tasks associated with the running of the service
- Implement the admissions policies of the service, including issuing and monitoring Occupancy/Licence Agreements.
- Maintain relevant written/electronic confidential records in line with Data Protection legislation and Beacon policies and procedures.
- Collect any rent and charges that are due from clients and to maintain accurate records of these in line with Beacon policies and procedures.
- To undertake housing management duties in respect to room cleaning and preparation.
- Address and report issues of anti-social behaviour appropriately and inform line managers.
- Report repairs and maintenance needs in line with Beacon procedures
- Work at all times as part of a team, this includes working with other staff, attending team and staff meetings and developing a teamwork approach to all aspects of the organisation’s work.
- Be inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with the organisation’s performance management policies and procedures
- Meet individual performance standards as required against Beacon performance and contracted funding requirements.
- Supervise the work of volunteers, students or work placements on a daily basis including supporting them to carry out support work tasks
- Demonstrate a commitment to client participation in line with Beacon policies and procedures.
- Be responsible for own personal learning and development where appropriate and undertake training, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skills and awareness
- Promote client empowerment and peer mentoring
- Promote and work within financial policies and procedures with clients regarding personal charge collection and arrears control
- Represent the service positively and professionally at organisational and external meetings
- Operate within the aims, policies and practices of the organisation at all times and to be committed to and promote the organisation’s equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies
- Provide information about the organisation as a whole and in particular the Beacon Service to people/agencies interested in the organisation’s work
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as determined by the organisation
Specific requirements of the post:
Able to work a flexible pattern that encompasses early & late shifts, weekends and bank holidays according to the needs of the service. Shift changes may be required at short notice as will covering at other parts of the Beacon Intensive Support Service.
Physical conditions:
Some light lifting and cleaning of accommodation is occasionally required.
Essential experience required:
- Of working effectively with people who have complex needs in either a paid or voluntary capacity
- Of working effectively with voluntary and statutory agencies
- Of key working, risk management and support planning processes
- Housing management e.g., familiar with Housing Benefit issues, voids management, tenancy agreements, re-housing processes)
Essential qualifications:
- Good literacy & Numeracy skills
Essential skills:
- Good written and verbal communication skills incorporating the ability to communicate with people
- Ability to use a computer, particularly Word and Outlook
- An understanding of the need for confidentiality and data protection when dealing with confidential information
- Ability to assess risk and need and plan for positive goals and outcomes
- Ability to respond appropriately to conflict and challenging behaviour
- Adhere to and work within policies and procedures
- Excellent organisational skills including time management, planning and working under own initiative
Essential knowledge:
- Knowledge of the issues relating to homelessness and vulnerability
- An understanding of, commitment to and ability to work within Safeguarding policies and procedures
Essential behavioural and other job-related characteristics:
- Demonstrate a respectful, supportive attitude to clients
- Understanding of the diverse needs of individuals and be able to treat everyone fairly and equally
- Committed to empowering clients to become involved in the organisation and it’s surrounding community
- Able to plan, organise and undertake own workload appropriately
- Enthusiastic, reliable, motivated and resilient (calm under pressure)
- Understand, establish and be committed to professional boundaries
- Committed to own learning and development and new ways of working
- Demonstrate commitment to the organisation’s values and aims
- Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the clients and the service.
Desirable requirements:
- Hold a current full driving licence and access to a car.
- A relevant academic or vocational qualification e.g. in Social Work, IAG, or an NVQ In Housing, Health, and Social Care (or equivalent)
Social conditions and special requirements:
We reserve the right to move staff to other areas within the Beacon service as and when required so as to meet organisation requirements.
Beacon requires applicants to disclose all criminal convictions and cautions; no matter how long ago they occurred and regardless of whether the offences were committed as a juvenile or adult. The organisation undertakes an Enhanced Disclosure & Barning Service (DBS) check for all successful candidates and a confirmed offer of employment is dependent upon a satisfactory response from the DBS.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £27,000.00 per year
Expected hours: 22.5 – 37 per week
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
