FULL TIME - 37hrs
Monday - Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 16:30
REF: TWO1179177
West Berkshire Housing First - supports adults, who have high needs and histories of entrenched or repeat homelessness, providing them with a home of their own where they can regain stability, safety, and support. We work in partnership with the Council and other 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 them to maintain their accommodation and achieve their goals.
If you love working with people, and are looking for an exciting role, where you can develop your skills, then this is the role for you.
JOB PURPOSE
To be part of a team that supports our clients, by providing intensive wrap around support, keeping them safe and helping them to achieve their goals.
To provide people with homes and specialist support so they feel more valued and secure, and ready to take the next steps.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To assess the needs of each client, helping to develop their personalised support plan and safety plan to achieve their goals. These are kept under regular review
2. To manage a personal caseload of clients who require intensive support on a one-to-one basis
3. Providing assertive outreach for those that are rough sleeping to build a trusting relationship, which will require a flexible approach to engagement techniques.
4. To provide practical support when a client moves into a property such as setting up utilities, sourcing furniture, developing their domestic skills and accessing services in the community
5. To mediate and negotiate with housing providers to secure accommodation and prevent homelessness when applicable
6. To engage with local authorities, health providers and other agencies, creating and maintaining working relationships to maximise the opportunities available to clients
7. To liaise with colleges, training agencies, employers to help clients gain access to education, find work or maintain their benefit entitlement
8. To lead on client activities to help them gain practical life skills
9. To support clients by providing advice on housing, welfare benefits, rent deposits and household goods via a variety of schemes
10. To support clients to understand harm reduction approaches to keep them safe and well
11. To carry out housing management duties such as collecting service charges at various locations
12. To support clients in trauma informed and psychologically informed ways
13. To adhere to safeguarding responsibilities, following our safeguarding policy and procedure
14. To help maintain health and safety, ensuring clients, visitors and buildings are safe in accordance with Health and Safety regulations, policy and procedures
15. To provide basic first aid assistance until help arrives (full training is provided)
16. To work confidently and efficiently when lone working
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
17. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
18. Clear verbal and written English
19. Good keyboard skills for data inputting
20. Good working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word
21. Confident and assertive manner
22. Ability to self-motivate as you will have some instances of lone working
23. Effective team working
24. Ability to respond calmly to crisis
25. Deal promptly with and effectively react to challenging situations
26. Have an interest and genuine concern for homelessness and related issues
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
27. Experience of managing a caseload of clients
28. Understanding of the complex support needs of people experiencing homelessness or those with complex needs
29. Knowledge of Safeguarding practices
30. Knowledge of voluntary and statutory agencies, housing regulations and the benefits system
31. Understanding of risk assessment and person-centred, outcomes-based delivery