Housing and Wellbeing Officer - Floating Support - 9 Months Fixed Term Contract in Blackburn

Reporting to the Housing and Wellbeing Manager, the Housing and Wellbeing Officer is responsible for providing floating support to customers living in a range of tenancies, including social housing, private rented and other settled accommodation. The role focuses on tenancy sustainment, promoting independence, preventing homelessness and supporting customers to manage their tenancy successfully within a customer-focused environment and in line with the Independence and Wellbeing framework. This post has a specific focus on supporting customers who may have a history of drug or alcohol use, mental health needs and other complex circumstances, working with landlords, housing providers and partner agencies to identify risks early, resolve tenancy-related issues and help customers remain settled in their homes.

What you’ll be doing:

• Assist customers to identify their strengths, support needs and risks, including needs linked to drug or alcohol use, mental health and other complex circumstances, and jointly develop tenancy sustainment plans that help them maintain their tenancy and build independence;
• Encourage community cohesion, identifying opportunities for individuals to come together, share their experiences, culture and celebrate diversity;
• Assist customers to access other agencies and their services and know of the services within the wider community;
• Coach and assist customers to understand and meet the responsibilities of their tenancy, including rent payments, property care, neighbour relationships, communication with landlords or housing providers, and understanding their rights and obligations;
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are dealt with promptly and in line with guidelines and appropriate action is taken;
• Provide flexible, community-based floating support through home visits, outreach and partnership working, responding to changing customer needs and tenancy risks;
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with social housing providers, private landlords, letting agents, local authorities, health services, substance use services and partner agencies to ensure customers receive coordinated support to sustain their tenancy;
• Work proactively with customers, landlords, housing providers and tenants to prevent tenancy breakdown, resolve issues at the earliest opportunity and promote long-term housing stability.

What you’ll need:

• Relevant professional qualifications/memberships (Institute of Customer Service qualification) or willing to study towards;
• Qualified to minimum level 4 in English and Maths;
• Evidence of well-developed IT and keyboard skills;
• Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle for use at work.

What we need from you:

• Attendance of a number of face-to-face training sessions as well as virtual sessions and e-learning – this part of your role is vital and of equal importance as the day-to-day aspects;
• Experience of working in Housing Management is desirable;
• Experience of providing floating support, tenancy sustainment or homelessness prevention support to customers living in a range of tenancy types, including social housing and private rented accommodation, is required;
• Experience of supporting customers with complex needs, including a history of drug or alcohol use, mental health needs, trauma or other barriers to maintaining a tenancy, is desirable;
• Experience of using a strength-based approach to assist customers to achieve their goals is desirable;
• Experience of administration and recording procedures, with an in-depth understanding of confidentiality;
• Ability to engage and build relationships with partnering or potential partner agencies or organisations;
• Experience and understanding of safeguarding;
• Good written and verbal communication;
• Effective liaison with colleagues and other stakeholders to give, or find, information to resolve problems;
• Experience of providing or signposting customers towards a responsive, timely, quality-assured welfare benefit advice service that provides a holistic and integrated solution to support them solve their problem;
• Demonstrable coaching skills in promoting independence;
• Use of the relevant range of Microsoft Office applications.

What we give you in return for your hard work and commitment:

• Pension – DC Scheme (up to 10% contribution from both colleague and Great Places);
• WPA – Healthcare auto-enrolled at no contribution level with £1250 of savings available – option to increase & add on family members;
• The Market Place – High street, restaurant & supermarket discounts, gym memberships, cycle to work, smart tech loans and much more;
• Annual Leave – Start at 26 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days within 5 years + Bank Holidays;
• Reward & Recognition – You Count Rewards are individual rewards for going ‘above & beyond’;
• Help with transport – We offer season ticket loans, an affordable way to purchase season tickets for public transport at discounted rates;
• Wage Stream – You can access savings opportunities and early access to wages.

At Great Places we believe the wellbeing of our colleagues is vital to enable them to deliver great services, all your benefits can be used inside and outside of work. Great Places Housing Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all our colleagues to share this commitment. All successful applicant(s) will be subject to an enhanced criminal records background check (Child and Adult Workforce, Child Barred List). Further detail on our commitment to safeguarding children/young people & vulnerable adults can be found in the Great Places Housing Group Safeguarding Policy & Recruitment Policy on our website.