Homelessness Project Worker – Falcon Support Services, Loughborough

Position Title: Homelessness Project Worker

Location: Charnwood Projects,Loughborough

Hours of duty: 37 hours per week, 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday, Friday 9am-4:30pm

Salary: £13.85 per hour – £26,720.68 per annum

Please note, unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship at this time.

To apply for this role please send a CV and covering letter. Please make sure your covering letter clearly demonstrates your expertise and how you meet the role requirements. This should be a minimum of 500 words and not exceed 2 pages.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and this advert my close early once a sufficient number of applications are received.

Main Responsibilities:

· Perform initial assessments of clients seeking admission and ensure Risk Assessments and Need Assessments are completed, regularly updated and accurate at all times.

· Manage a caseload and work with clients to:

o Apply for eligible benefits including Housing/Council Tax Benefits/Universal Credit

o Ensure clients continue to be in receipt of benefits where applicable.

o Provide information and assist clients to manage their accommodation by monitoring and responding to rent arrears and collection of weekly personal charge/service charge.

o Assist people to reduce rent arrears should they occur.

o Ensure applications are completed for the housing register are completed as soon as the client is eligible.

o Provide appropriate advice on current applications for homeless assistance, council accommodation and housing association accommodation.

o Ensure that the terms of license/tenancy agreements are adhered to.

o Deal with any nuisance issues including reducing anti-social behaviour and mediation between volatile residents

o Address any breaches through appropriate interventions.

· Encourage, promote, and provide service user involvement in education, training, employment and volunteering.

· Teaching skills such as independent living skills, budgeting, cooking, cleaning, basic DIY

· Teaching residents to be a good neighbour and integrate into their community, embracing opportunities for learning.

· Work with the Emotional and Wellbeing Team, the Employability Coach, the Life Hub Team and the Peer Mentors to ensure clients participate and take advantage of all activities provided.

· Explore and promote all community assets ready for move on.

· Refer to external support agencies to ensure coordinated support ready for move on

· Assist with the daily operations of the project ensuring services are delivered efficiently and in a psychologically and trauma informed way.

· Communicate effectively and appropriately with clients, staff, other organisations and members of the public using and/or working with Falcon Support Services.

· Work in collaboration with partnership agencies and housing providers, building relationships with the community.

· Carry out the practical tasks required of the job being continuously aware of any risks presented by the working environment and consistently acting in a way to minimise these risks. Report concerns appropriately, such as health and safety, adult and child safeguarding issues, and substantial risk.

· Control and recording access to and from the building

· Complete relevant monitoring for the service,

· Be alert to the health and wellbeing of all clients, reporting any concerns to the Project Manager.

· Ensure that routine inspection of the property and premises are carried out. Including, but not limited to; building checks, fire checks, room checks.

· Report any repairs and/or damages, working with the maintenance team and contractors to facilitate.

· Be responsible for the development, and implementation of procedures and codes of working practice to form part of a comprehensive quality approach to service delivery.

· Undertake/attend any training and/or meetings as required by the job role.

· Promote a positive image of Falcon Support Services, working as part of an integrated team.

Administration

· Respond to telephone enquiries, correspondence, and callers to the service

· To effectively use IT systems to maintain precise and accurate documentation of case management services, including client files and entries into the program databases/risk logs.

· To ensure that all support plan actions, and risk assessments / risk management plans are completed and up to date, and then reviewed as per policy.

· To complete and provide any documentation, reports, statistics, and any other information required by Falcon Support Services and/or any other agency.

· To ensure that all required documentation is completed and actioned for new clients moving into the project in particular housing benefit applications/risk assessments/needs assessments.

Compliance / Health & Safety

· To adhere to all of Falcon Support Services policies and procedures as well as any specific local procedures.

· Every employee has a responsibility to ensure that their work complies with the Financial Regulations of the charity.

· Due to the nature of work, this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and will therefore require you to disclose all criminal convictions and comply with a Disclosure and Barring Service Check.

· To develop Falcon Support Services commitment to equal opportunities and to promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.

· All employees are required by Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

People

· Work co-operatively with other members of the team, constructively contributing to team meetings, covering office duty and assisting with the smooth running of the service

· Show willingness to assist and cover for colleagues when they are absent

· Mentor and support students and/or volunteers in the service

· To effectively work with a range of multi-disciplinary partners, support providers and funders in both the statutory and voluntary sector.

· Develop team spirit and co-operative working across all teams, internal and external.

· To engage in regular supervision, reflective practice, and team meetings.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list but to indicate the main responsibilities of the post, such additional duties may be undertaken which are reasonably commensurate with the level of post. It will be reviewed periodically to consider changes and developments in service requirements. Any changes will be discussed fully with the jobholder.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills:

· Experience of working with the homeless and/or vulnerable client groups within a supported housing/hostel setting

· Experience of empowering individuals to make informed choices/positive change

· Experience of completing support plans, risk & needs assessments

· Ability to work in a customer care and quality focused manner

· Ability to deal with difficult situations, aggressive behaviours, and handle conflict appropriately

· Excellent communication skills

· Effective time management and organisational skills

· Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills

· Ability to generate reports and statistical information

· Ability to caseload and prioritise conflicting demands

· Experience in working and engaging as part of a team

· Be physically able to respond quickly and effectively in emergency situations

· The ability to undertake general housekeeping tasks in line with job description

· The ability to understand the needs of people from diverse, cultural, social and racial backgrounds.

· Understand the needs of people who have drug, alcohol, behavioural or mental health issues

· A strong and demonstratable commitment to promoting Falcon Support Services approach to equality and diversity in all work undertaken

· Knowledge of current housing/welfare benefits

Qualifications:

· Falcon Support Services are equipped to train and support people who do not have relevant skills and experience but do have the right values, behaviours, and attitudes.

Mandatory Requirements:

· Must be over the age of 18

· Willingness to undergo a satisfactory enhanced DBS check

· Have full access to a vehicle for business purposes

· Hold a valid driving licence

· Have business car insurance

Person Specification

Experience of working with the homeless and/or vulnerable client groups within a supported housing/hostel setting - Essential

Experience of empowering individuals to make informed choices/positive changes in their lives and to move towards independent living - Essential

Experience of completing support plans, risk assessments and needs assessments and identify appropriate support agencies - Essential

IT literate in Microsoft Office Packages (Word, Excel, Outlook),Internet -Essential

Excellent verbal, written and communication skills - Essential

Ability to deal with difficult/crisis/conflict situations - Essential

Knowledge of current housing/welfare benefits - Desirable

Numeracy skills sufficient to calculate necessary benefits, rent payments -Essential

Ability to manage caseload and meet a range of conflicting demands - Essential

Experience in working and engaging as part of a team. - Essential

A strong and demonstrable commitment to promoting Falcon Support Services approach to equality and diversity in all work undertaken. Essential

Local services/agencies knowledge - Desirable

Pay: £13.85 per hour

Expected hours: 37.0 per week

Application question(s):

• All new starters are required to attend (paid) induction training, which takes place across 6 days Monday - Monday from 9.00 - 5.00. Is this something that you would be able to commit to?
• Do you have experience of working with the homeless and/or vulnerable client groups within a supported housing/hostel setting?
• Do you have experience of completing support plans, risk assessments and needs assessments and identify appropriate support agencies?

Licence/Certification:

• driving licence, access to a car and business insurance (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person