Tenancy Support Adviser - Portsmouth in Saint Helens

The Social Housing Sector has seen considerable change in the last 2 years with the addition of new and revised regulations including a new set of consumer standards. Portsmouth Homes is undertaking a programme of change to respond to the new environment and changes in expectations from our tenants and leaseholders.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join us as a Tenancy Support Adviser!

What is the role?

You will provide a responsive and needs-led frontline advice and support service to Portsmouth Homes tenants and their households, who have complex needs requiring additional and ongoing support, in order for them to be able to maintain their tenancies satisfactorily and to complement the support offered by the generic Housing Officers.

A Tenancy Support Adviser (TSA) provides specialist housing support and advice to Portsmouth Homes tenants and their households to prevent and reduce the risk of homelessness due to unsafe housing conditions that could be a breach of tenancy conditions. Utilising good negotiation and persuasive skills to ensure support plans are met and tenants and their households are supported appropriately.

Who is the person?

You should have experience of working within a Social Housing setting or similar, with a focus on supporting tenants with complex needs effectively, in order for them to maintain their tenancies.

• You should be able to support the housing officers to provide a frontline response to crisis situations, as well as chronic circumstances by identifying relevant support needs and social issues which necessitate joint-working to enable tenants to maintain tenancies.
• You should be experienced in attending multi-agency meetings to coordinate and encourage input and relevant support from external partners and agencies and to help formulate realistic support plans.
• You must have a comprehensive understanding of the types of risks which may impact upon a person's tenancy and be able to identify these risks and support needs to be able to support the tenant in maintaining their tenancy, utilising collaboration with the tenant/household, external partners and agencies, as appropriate.
• You should be able to demonstrate knowledge of Portsmouth Homes policies and procedures, local and national policies and legislation regarding tenancy support and sustainment.
• You should be confident making appropriate decisions without recourse to supervision about the storing, management and disclosure of personal and sensitive personal information, in accordance with data protection legislation.
• You should hold an awareness of departmental budget constraints and the need to minimise expenditure and ensure that appropriate support is proportionate and timebound.
• You must have good negotiation and persuasive skills to ensure support plans are met and tenants and their households are supported appropriately.
• You must be comfortable lone working, and visiting tenants in their own homes, to provide appropriate advice and support. This may involve practical help and support cleaning, decluttering and sorting personal possessions, belongings and furniture.
• You must be able to create accurate and relevant notes of conversations and reasons for actions or non-actions that need to be understandable to others and relied on for Court Action.
• You must have a Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

What we can offer you:

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

If you would like to discuss this further or have any questions, please contact Danny Ardrey - Head of Sheltered Housing and Support Services or Holly Lovejoy - Tenancy Support Manager.

When completing the application form, please thoroughly tailor your application to the 'Who is the Person' points with the use of examples from your experience. This is really important or you are likely not to be shortlisted.