Specialist Supported Housing Officer in Oxford

We are the Housing Network (THN), a purpose‑led organisation working in partnership with the YMCA to support our communities. We are in an exciting period of growth and have risen to 200th in the FT1000 Fastest Growing Companies in Europe! Homelessness is a vast and complex issue that does not have a single solution. In understanding that reality, we’ve learned the importance of perspective; appreciating that if we continue to innovate, collaborate, and give our best, we are playing our part in making a vital difference. We are a team that is absolutely committed to innovate, excel and be dependable in all that we do. Working hard together to achieve our mission of providing Better Accommodation, Better Support, Better Partnerships, and as a result Better Business.

Working to support our CAS3 contract with the Ministry of Justice, this role involves managing a number of self‑contained and small shared accommodation properties within the region. In addition to providing proactive property management, the role involves engaging with residents (People On Probation) who may have complex needs/multiple disadvantage, on release from prison, CAS1 or CAS2, with the goal of ensuring a smooth transition into the allocated accommodation. The role does include an element of supervision to ensure ‘house rules’ and license agreements are being adhered to, along with offering housing related, ‘light touch’ support and signposting where needed. While you will be part of a small regional team and a larger business, this is predominantly a lone working role and you will need to be comfortable driving between locations.

Responsibilities and duties

• Managing a number of properties specifically allocated to the MOJ.
• You will engage with individuals with complex needs and will be able to work without supervision and have experience of lone working.
• Ensuring properties are safe, secure and clean.
• Ensure accommodation is prepared and ready for occupation in accordance with company timescales.
• Performing all necessary functions to manage the move in/move out process.
• Proactively identify and resolve all property and maintenance related issues efficiently, where applicable in conjunction with the maintenance and/or cleaning teams.
• Undertaking weekly visits to all properties and ensuring residents are adhering to the 'house rules' and have not abandoned their accommodation.
• Manage reports of Anti‑Social Behaviour and where necessary sometimes in conjunction with the Community Probation Practitioner (CPP) and actively engage in conflict resolution wherever possible.
• Build positive relationships with the residents and appropriately deal with any emergency situations which may arise during the course of work under guidance from local management teams and other professionals.
• Meeting tight deadlines and making properties available within agreed timescales.
• Inventory management of all soft furnishings and sundry items.
• To keep accurate and timely records in accordance with departmental policy.
• To attend mandatory training and participate in staff development courses as appropriate.

Personal Characteristics Skills

• Confident communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills and be flexible towards resident's needs.
• Extremely well organised.
• Able to work well under pressure.
• The ability to prioritize.
• Able to work alone and part of a team.
• Have an interest and willingness to train.
• Network with local and national agencies.
• Full and current manual driving licence.

Knowledge

• Experience in the social housing sector, ideally having worked with people at risk of homelessness.
• Experience of supporting individuals with complex trauma and issues.
• Direct knowledge of People on Probation (POP) and the challenges they face would be a distinct advantage.

Behaviour

• Empathetic and supportive of residents while recognising the need to uphold and adhere to rules.
• Resilient and able to deal with people whose presentation may be complex and sometimes challenging.
• Methodical in approach to ensure everything is done accurately and comprehensively.
• Keen to support colleagues and ensure the business is working cohesively and to the same objectives.
• Keen on a strong compliance culture.
• Able to work without direction.
• Adaptability and being prepared to help out if circumstances require.
• Keen to lead by example.

We would expect you at all times to act with integrity, act with due skill, care and diligence, act with professionalism, be open and co‑operative with colleagues, and act with compassion to those both within the Company and those who we support in the accommodation.

We believe our values should reflect in our behaviour towards our colleagues, partners and residents while we work to achieve our Strategy 2024-29. These values are Innovative, Dynamic, Dependable, Respectful, and Kind. The Housing Network is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst the workforce. We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. As an employer we welcome applications from candidates with lived experience, demonstrating our commitment to capturing the value of “expertise by experience” and providing More than a Voice for our residents. All job offers are subject to a DBS check (level to be advised through the hiring process) and references.