Who We Are & What We Stand For
Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match. We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time. We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward‑thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive. At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi‑time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.
Opportunity Details
An opportunity has arisen within the Housing Solutions Service for the role of Homeless Prevention Officer. The role is part‑time (18.5 hours per week) on a permanent contract. Reporting to the Housing Solutions Team Leader, you will work with customers with complex needs, including ex‑offenders, customers with significant mental ill health and customers who are in hospital but cannot be safely discharged home. You will carry out homeless assessments and ensure the local authority fulfils its statutory duties. You will work in partnership with partner agencies, including probation, health and social care services, providing effective service access to housing and support services for vulnerable people who are at risk of homelessness.
Induction Programme
* In‑house training delivered by our management team
* A buddy system, pairing you with a more experienced officer
* Bitesize 90‑minute training modules delivered by the housing charity, Shelter
* Shadowing of other relevant teams to see how you would interlink with them
Responsibilities
You will have a strong commitment to excellent customer care, equality, diversity and inclusion. You will be dealing with people face to face in potentially difficult situations, and managing and prioritising a complex caseload. You will be able to work with vulnerable people and be non‑judgemental in your outlook and approach.
What you’ll get to do.
* Assist in the provision of a comprehensive homeless & housing advice service, ensuring customers obtain or sustain suitable accommodation.
* Investigate cases of homelessness and potential homelessness and arrange placements into temporary accommodation as required.
* Work closely with community‑based mental health teams and other services to prevent homelessness by enabling customers to remain in their current homes or by assisting them in obtaining alternative accommodation. This could include attending MDT meetings.
* Work closely with hospital discharge teams and other services to ensure seamless transition from hospital to home or alternative accommodation, including attending discharge planning meetings.
* Act as a point of contact for professionals from health and social care organisations to access Gateshead’s Housing Department and for other teams within housing to access health and social care organisation. Promotion of the service to other services and professionals.
* Identify barriers to gaining suitable housing and work in a problem‑solving way to remove those barriers. Identify gaps in service provision and advise managers and commissioning of these so that they can be addressed, where possible.
* Ensure clients access practical support and services or advice to reduce the risk of homelessness and promote sustainable independent living. This includes referrals to supported accommodation and floating or outreach support providers.
* Use effective risk assessment tools to identify risks and undertake appropriate actions.
* Work with other services to safeguard vulnerable customers, attending multi‑agency and complex case meetings, where appropriate.
* Work within a multi‑agency framework, communicating effectively with other professionals, family members and clients ensuring that there is a coordinated response to support. This may include attending MDT meetings and ensuring accurate and complete information is shared, within GDPR guidelines.
* Adhere to performance and monitoring requirements, complying with systems to monitor data and outcomes to ensure records are up to date and provide quarterly case studies when required by the Homelessness Prevention and Pathway Manager.
* Adhere to policies and procedures regarding working practices and service delivery. This will include; Safeguarding Children and Adults, Health and Safety, General Data Protection Regulations, Equality and Diversity and Code of Conduct. Any such responsibilities allocation which are appropriate to the grade of the post.
Qualifications & Experience
* Experience in homelessness, housing, health and social care
* Understanding of equality and diversity principles
* Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
* Data input & Microsoft Office packages
* Working in a customer‑focused environment
* Working with vulnerable clients with complex needs
* Dealing with people face to face in potentially difficult situations
* Working within a multi‑agency framework
* Managing a complex caseload
* Effective time management
* Full UK driving licence.
Benefits
* Competitive Salary: £32,061 - £34,434 pro‑rata to hours worked
* Outstanding Pension Scheme: We invest in your future. Find out more: https://twpf.info
* Generous Annual Leave: 28 days, rising to 32 after 5 years, plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
* Flexible Working Hours: Up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs).
* Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work‑life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
* Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities.
* Health & Wellbeing Support: Discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL and mental health resources.
* Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active.
* Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Salary‑sacrifice car scheme for an electric or hybrid vehicle after 12 months service.
* Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Via VIVUP platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, services and salary‑sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, etc. after 6 months service.
Equal Opportunities
We are an equal‑opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
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