Tenancy Support Adviser in Southsea

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. We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Portsmouth Homes as a Tenancy Support Adviser. This is a full-time, permanent role based across the PO1 - PO9 area.

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.

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.

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. This will be difficult particularly when there is pressure on services and a lack of funding or high eligibility criteria.

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.

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work/personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Adults Board safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Basic level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.