About Us:
At Brighter Futures, we're committed to supporting individuals with diverse needs, including mental health challenges, addictions, learning disabilities and homelessness. We provide supported housing and pathways to independence, helping people build brighter futures.
The Role:
We are looking for an energetic, determined, and dynamic individual who wants to work independently and proactively with our customers across our Housing Sustainment Service. You'll establish clear and transparent boundaries with customers while offering a supportive and caring approach to ensure their success within our Housing Pathway. By helping customers develop the skills necessary for onward moves, you will play a key role in their journey towards independence.
Duties and Key Responsibilities:
· The Service provides supported housing to a customer base whose need includes but is not limited to those with; mental health, addictions, learning disabilities, recent homelessness, debt issues.
· You will assist the customers to sustain their housing by focusing on (not an exhaustive list);
* Identifying needs/ vulnerabilities
* Identify routines and life skills essential for independent living
* Accessing support via specialist external partners
* Accessing training and volunteering opportunities internal/external
* Identifying risks and triggers to positive progression
* Focus on the future by identifying goals and setting action plans
* Identify next steps accommodation options and assist customers to access it
* Empower customers by guiding/coaching positive thinking/decision making whilst encouraging them to take steps to independence
· Provide a trauma informed approach to customers lived experiences.
· To be responsible for identifying customers for void properties in a swift fashion to reduce void loss.
· To ensure that rent collection levels are hitting target by ensuring housing benefit claims are made/in place and nonpayment of rent or service charges are identified swiftly and the rent escalation process followed.
· To be responsible for a fair and transparent implementation of the Housing Sustainment Strategy across License and Tenancy accommodation
· To ensure cases are being escalated to Housing Services Team when needed with all required information utilising the specialist/focused skills provided by the Housing Enforcement specialist and Access and Sustainment Specialist.
· To promote the importance of customer engagement with customer, to ensure the Customer Engagement Specialist is supported in their work.
· To build on your new and established partnerships with a range of partners
People
· Create and maintain effective internal and external working relationships to ensure that customers receive the support that meets their needs.
· Promote and support customer involvement within the Housing Pathway
· To be responsible for delivering a high-quality service is provided to meet the needs of the customers
General Operations
· Take responsibility for day-to-day Housing Management activities including allocations, voids and arrears management, and enforcement activities.
· Work constructively with customers to ensure that they understand contractual obligations agreed to via tenancy or license agreements to avoid tenancy breaches such as abandonment, disrepair etc.
· Create and maintain effective internal and external working relationships to ensure that customers receive the support that meets their needs.
· Promote and support customer involvement within the Housing Pathway
· Co-ordinate the team so that a high-quality service is provided to meet the needs of the customers
Health and Safety
· Operate within internal and external health and safety requirements.
· Follow all business health and safety policy and procedures; ensure the correct reporting tools are used to accurately record issues and they are circulated to the responsible person
· Seek advice and guidance from management if you are not clear on process
· Use lone working devices as per business expectations
· Ensure any personal or business health and safety issues are reported swiftly, and matters are followed up to a conclusion
Rent Collection
· Provide accurate information regarding rent arrears/collection issues to Housing Sustainment Manager and Housing Sustainment Team Leader
· Follow Rent Escalation Procedure
· Ensure rents cases are escalated to Housing Enforcement Specialist in a timely fashion if there is no improvement or engagement
Lettings
· To follow Lettings Policy and Procedure
· To ensure outgoing customers are clearly advised of contractual obligations to provide 4 weeks' notice to terminate (tenancies only)
· To ensure the swift communication of any impending voids to the coordinators to ensure accurate record keeping
· To liaise with coordinators to get a current list of accepted customers or customers requiring interview
· To complete interviews and assess which area of the business the customer would be successful in (risk-based approach)
· To identify a customer for your impending void
· To ensure a swift sign up and move in on completion of void works to contribute to the association hitting expected relet targets
Property Condition
· To ensure that regular inspections of Brighter Futures property are undertaken and completed paperwork is audited for accuracy;
* Individual property inspections
· Understand the importance of clear communal areas and to escalate any customers not compliant with requests to clear personal items from communal area without delay
· Understand when to escalate concerns for those customers who persistently damage stock either by neglect or wilful damage
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
· To attend ASB awareness session and understand the procedure for recording and reporting ASB for prompt and fair investigation by the Housing Enforcement Specialist
Safeguarding
· Have an understanding of both adult and child safeguarding
· Report concerns and provide written reports detailing safeguarding concerns and actions taken.
· Support and advise other staff on professional boundaries and conduct and report issues of concern as appropriate to Team Leader or above.
· Work with partners to ensure that customers and staff are protected from abuse, incidents are responded to and plans implemented.
· Be clear with customers how we carry out safeguarding activities and where possible (unless there is a greater risk of harm) obtain consent for any Safeguarding referrals.
· Attend referrals, assessments, MDTs and other meetings as appropriate.
· To play a key role in ensuring Safeguarding practices are embedded in all areas of your work and that you are following policy and procedure guidelines accurately.
· Collaborate and work closely with partners (internal and external) to maximise resources and deliver shared outcomes.
Information and Record Keeping
· Ensure all customers have a up to date case files including Hope Journey and risk assessment and that all paperwork is readily accessible via interna databases.
· Use all databases as trained.
· Represent and promote the service to stakeholders, neighbours and the wider community.
· Attend referrals, assessments, MDTs and other meetings as appropriate.
· Collaborate and work closely with partners to maximise resources and deliver shared outcomes.
Additional Responsibility
· To promote the aims and values of Brighter Futures to any other agency or organisation in a professional manner.
· Work with other agencies to secure specialist hep and support, and to encourage customers with social engagement, employment, education and training skills.
· Represent and promote the service to stakeholders, neighbours and the wider community.
· Assist the Customer Engagement and Initiatives Specialist with engaging your customers to ensure they could be consulted and voice their opinions on current or proposed services
· Take responsibility for your own professional development and training.
· Promote equality and diversity best practice in all areas of work.
Behaviour & Competences:
Behaviour embodies Brighter Futures values and is within the Code of Conduct
Demonstrate the competencies and behaviours set out in the Competency Framework.
Work to Brighter Futures aims, values, policies and procedures and ensure that others do so.
Hours of Work:
37 hours per week. It is requirement that the Housing Sustainment Team will work flexibly throughout the working week to provide onsite cover where necessary (usually on a rota basis).
There is a possibility for work needing to be completed outside of core house to meet the needs of the business.
There is a possibility for work needing to be completed outside of core house to meet the needs of the business.
Salary & Benefits:
Salary: £26,632.58 per annum
27 days annual leave plus 8 additional days
Group Personal Pension Plan, including life assurance and group income protection
Health Care Cash Plan
Occupational Sick Pay
Staff Counselling Service
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £26,632.58 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Gym membership
* Health & wellbeing programme
* Referral programme
* Sick pay
Application question(s):
* Tell me about your previous housing worker experience
* Tell me why you are interested in this role
Experience:
* dealing with individuals with complex needs: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
* Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person