Housing Project Support Worker in Leeds

Established in 2007, Abigail Housing (AH) was founded to provide both security and refuge for those at the end of the asylum process – both those recently granted refugee status and therefore at high risk of homelessness, and those who are Appeals Rights Exhausted (ARE). We meet crisis need before working to enable our service-users to overcome the longer-term issues leading to homelessness and enabling them to secure longer-term housing. We are experts in preventing homelessness among this particularly vulnerable group: our approach is community-focused, housing-first, strengths-based and trauma-informed. AH provides accommodation and holistic wraparound support to homeless and destitute ARE asylum seekers in Bradford and recently recognised refugees in Leeds. Our purpose is to prevent destitution and homelessness; alleviate social exclusion; support with longer-term housing options; facilitate re-engagement with the asylum process and enable access to other services. Our vision is to provide welcome to all people seeking sanctuary in West Yorkshire.

Are you passionate about supporting people to rebuild their lives and achieve greater independence? Abigail Housing is seeking a dedicated and motivated Housing Project Support Worker to join our team.

Location: Leeds and Bradford

Hours: 30 hours per week, working Tuesday to Friday

Salary: £27,917.55 per annum (pro rata) Actual salary for working 30 hours per week is £22,635.85 per annum.

As a Housing Project Support Worker, you will provide practical and person-centred support to individuals living in Abigail Housing accommodation. The successful applicant will be expected to work across our offices in Leeds and Bradford, as well as at the properties we manage throughout both cities. As the majority of our accommodation is located in Leeds, most of your time will be spent supporting our clients living at our Leeds properties. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals by helping them access services, develop independent living skills, maintain tenancies, and work towards positive move-on outcomes.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

• Property Management: Oversee health and safety of all Abigail Housing properties in consultation with other colleagues and the Operations Manager. Ensure the safety and welfare of residents, with particular regard to fire safety and keeping properties clean. Assist residents with intensive housing management, to aid them address all housing related needs during their stay at a property managed by AH. Maintain all properties and any other casework notes and records. Undertake house inspections at all Abigail housing properties and liaise with residents to arrange access. Take regular meter readings at all properties. Communicate with all stakeholders in an appropriate and timely manner, including utility companies, landlords, contractors etc and keep clear and comprehensive records. Work closely with residents and colleagues to ensure that standards of cleanliness are upheld and maintained at all of AH’s properties and resolve issues. Report, record and follow up identified housing maintenance issues with contractors, where appropriate the landlord and elevate as needed to colleagues/Operations Manager. Ensure timely resolution of maintenance issues in line with policy. Arrange, monitor and ensure that any safety certification related to all our properties is completed and filed appropriately. Work alongside colleagues, residents and with the Operations Manager to plan and assess all properties to ensure all are adequately furnished and decorated, and appliances are working efficiently. Maintain casework notes, property logs and inventories. Ensure the timely removal and replacement of equipment and appliances where required. Liaise with contractors and landlords regarding repairs and servicing at houses and arrange and provide access to properties. Carry out minor repairs, maintenance, redecoration and some cleaning. Responsibility for recording and managing the secure storage of property keys using the key safe(s) in the office(s) and cutting keys where required. Support team members and the Operations Manager with ensuring that all of AH properties are meeting current housing standards. Carry out all required fire testing and recording according to legislation, organisational policy and procedures. Support the organisation and facilitation of house meetings with residents, to support resident involvement and the empowerment and resolution of any issues which may arise. Keep records of all house meetings and communication with residents and share feedback and communications to and from colleagues and the organisation. Ensure rooms that have been vacated are clean and tidy and prepare vacant rooms ready to accommodate a new resident. Allocate vacant rooms in line with agreed allocation policies, and in communication with the Operations Manager and colleagues from across the team, arranging initial meetings with prospective residents (ARE residents), conducting viewings (refugee residents), inducting and completing initial paperwork with all new residents. Support the timely collection of Housing Benefit payments, service charges and rent payments according to the status of the resident. Regularly check in and communicate with colleagues from across the team to ensure that any issues reported by residents to them or those that arise in house meetings are addressed. Liaise closely with colleagues and Operations Manager to identify any issues or behaviours that are in breach of licence/tenancy conditions and elevate/take appropriate action. Support residents to manage and resolve any issues that may cause tension as a result of communal living. Liaise and communicate with colleagues from across the staff team if they are made aware of any resident issues that arise that need to be addressed. Update and maintain property inventories. Respond appropriately to any other presenting needs of residents as required. Participate in Housing Management subgroup Meetings.
• Resident Support: The main focus of this role is to provide Housing Management related support. However, as we are a small team flexibility will be required to assist with addressing resident related support issues, especially in cases of annual leave and sickness. Work closely with all colleagues, ensuring proactive and timely handover and information sharing, both during and outside of planned team meetings/catchups.
• Administration: Take responsibility for all record keeping related to housing management, including but not exhaustive: Property case notes and housing/safety risk assessments. Take care of all office equipment and office space. Assist with recording statistical information on our systems for monitoring and reporting. Ensure invoices for repairs and purchases for equipment etc are filed appropriately.
• Development Work: Assist with representing the charity at fundraising events, including managing stalls. From time to time, the post holder may be asked to attend multi-agency meetings including but not exhaustive; NACCOM quarterly hub meetings, NACCOM annual conference.
• Supervision, Accountability and Training: Work for periods of time alone, taking care to follow lone working procedures and consult with colleagues from across the team where needed. Actively participate and engage in regular catch-up meetings with colleagues from across the team to ensure good lines of communication are encouraged and maintained. Participate in regular support and supervision and annual appraisal meetings with line manager. Undertake any other reasonable duties linked to the overall aims of the charity as directed by the post holder’s line manager.
• Decision making: The post holder will be able to liaise with other AH staff but will spend some time each day working alone and be expected to use their own initiative. They will be expected to work within current AH policy and guidelines at all times.

AH is actively opposed to all forms of discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, ethnic origin, nationality, political belief, religion, marital status, domestic circumstance, immigration status, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, trade union activity, health education or formal education.

Qualifications:

• Relevant experience (including lived experience)
• Paid or voluntary experience of delivering services that advocate on behalf of marginalised communities
• Understanding of how to meet the practical and holistic needs of marginalised groups
• Self-motivated and ability to prioritise and manage own workload and take initiative
• Resilient and able to work under pressure
• Strong interpersonal skills and excellent communication skills, written and oral
• IT literate, including all Microsoft packages, spreadsheets, Zoom and Teams
• Knowledge or experience of safeguarding
• Demonstrates understanding of confidentiality
• Committed to providing equal opportunities and committed to engaging in anti-discriminatory practice
• Empathetic, compassionate and culturally sensitive, and the ability to remain calm in sensitive situations
• Demonstrates a professional attitude and works in alignment with the principles and values of the charity
• Understanding of the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers is beneficial
• Ability to work part-time in an on-site role based across Leeds and Bradford
• Willing to share On Call on a rota basis on weekends and public holidays, between the hours of 9:30am to 5pm