During April 2021 - March 2022:
4,062 young people received advice and support
1,808 young people were supported by us during the year (some 859 at any one time)
1,139 young people lived in our 40+accommodation schemes
601 young people stayed with us every night
84% of young people moved on from St Basils in a planned, positive way
CLOSING DATE: Monday 6th May 2024
Job Title: Accommodation Finding Worker
Reports to: Team Leader
Salary: Scale 6, Points 26-28, £26,229 - £27,982 per annum, pro rata
Hours of work: Full Time (37.5 hours per week)
Key Responsibilities:
Housing Options and Advice
* To provide an effective housing advice service within the Youth Hub.
* To provide access to a range of accommodation options available to young people, based on their individual housing and support needs, to prevent homelessness.
* To make referrals to Commissioned Providers
* To undertake appropriate background checking to ascertain level of risk and need i.e. previous landlord, parent/carer, probation etc.
* To work in partnership with the local housing services and other referring agencies to prevent a young person becoming homeless.
* To provide effective telephone advice and guidance to customers where required.
* To ensure clear and professional case records are kept up to date and accurate at all times.
* To work closely with other organisations and agencies to provide holistic multi agency responses to the housing and support needs of young people.
* To provide specialist housing advice including appropriate referrals to legal advice services.
* To advocate on issues such as, benefits, housing rights etc. to ensure young people are fully supported through the application process and clear of expectations upon them.
* To work with the Home Options Team to manage all referrals to our Family Accommodation Units
* To support the Pathway Projects with Move on for young people who are not ready for semi- independent Accommodation
Accommodation Providers
* To liaise with Partners to approve new Registered Social Housing Providers
* To ensure current Registered Providers are up to date with their Data Sharing Agreements
* To investigate any housing related issues or complaints from young people with Providers
Private Rented Sector
* To work closely with the Rent Deposit Scheme (RDS) Worker on referrals
* To increase the availability of private sector properties available to homeless young people
* To communicate and attend Monthly meetings with partner organisations
* To work with Homeless Prevention Workers (HPW) to make referrals to the RDS scheme
* To monitor the outcomes for referrals to the scheme by imputing data into QL system
* To liaise with PRS and Registered Providers Social landlords regarding referrals
* To develop relationships with a range of private landlords with the aim of having access to properties, and promote the incentives available to house young people in housing need
* To work closely with the Homeless Prevention Workers to identify prospective young people to access the private rented sector
* To support with pre-Tenancy checks before young people move into private sector housing
* To provide the team with regular PRS vacancies to explore with young people
* Support the Hub to successfully discharge statutory homeless duties into the private sector
Producing Reports
* To Submit Monthly reports on all young people accommodated through our Commissioned Accommodation Projects and other Registered Social Landlords
* To ensure all referrals to Commissioned Accommodation Projects are recorded on QL
* To maintain up to date relevant information and resources related to housing support.
Partnerships
* To develop and maintain effective partnership arrangements with regulated and/or approved Private Landlords, Social Housing Providers and Supported Accommodation Providers through effective communication and clear understanding of roles and responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential:
NVQ 3 Advice & Guidance, Care or equivalent or working towards Youth Work, Social Work, or equivalent
ROLE EXPERIENCE
* Working with young people in the following settings
* Types of work – Youth Work, Residential or Social Work, Probation, Community Work, Education and Training, Housing.
Desirable:
* Working with Volunteers/Students
Knowledge:
* Housing Rights, Welfare Reform Knowledge
* Relevant knowledge relating to homelessness.
* Knowledge of Children’s Act i.e. Section 17, 20 and 47
* Knowledge of and Commitment to E.O.P/Anti-Discriminatory practice
* Knowledge of Social Skills/Job Training skills.
Desirable:
* Ability to work with figures
* Ability to drive
* Ability to maintain and improve standards