Housing Specialist Keyworker

Based: Hybrid

Salary: GBP18 UMB

Start Date: ASAP

Duration: Temp ongoing

Hours: 22.5 hours per week flexible on days. Initially, at the office in Harlow for training, then hybrid/remote.

Our client, a well-respected domestic abuse charity, is looking to recruit a Housing Specialist Keyworker.

Synopsis of duties:

• Complete an initial assessment of risk and need, and provide one-to-one advocacy, support and advice regarding Housing and homelessness to women who are on probation, including community disposals and custody releases, with regular review of assessments.
• Create and regularly review Resettlement and Support Plans in collaboration with the woman and potentially the Responsible Officer/another agency to support women in addressing their multiple needs and enable them to engage with the licence requirements and Court orders.
• Coordinate and sequence appropriate community interventions regarding Housing to enable the woman to meet the objectives of the Support Plan, liaising with professionals from other agencies as required.
• Work and assist the Minerva Team in relation to Housing during the Post-Sentence Supervision period of a woman’s licence, in partnership with NPS, to monitor the client’s attendance, engagement, progress with objectives, risk of harm and risk of re-offending, and inform relevant authorities of any risk escalation within 24 hours.
• Work proactively and intensively with a selected caseload to provide a tailored, specialised approach, focusing specifically on housing/homelessness and provide support across all other pathways.
• Listen to the needs of the women and communicate effectively to implement appropriate support and specialist interventions, as well as help to motivate and promote the women’s belief in their ability to change.
• Be alert and responsive to behaviour, new information or other changes which could indicate a change in risk of serious harm; and respond appropriately to challenging behaviour (including unacceptable behaviour) to de-escalate tension.
• Provide support to help women manage strong feelings and to ensure their own safety and that of others.
• Provide an in-reach service to women in prison, including HMP Peterborough, HMP Bronzefield, HMP Downview and HMP Send to assist in supporting them and building a relationship in the 12 weeks prior to their release.
• Where necessary, deliver appropriate group-based support workshops/programmes to empower women to move forward with their lives and to challenge the stigma associated with women affected by the Criminal Justice System.
• Work closely with Advance’s partners (e.g. Hibiscus, Working Chance, Birth Companions and others), as well as local regional agencies (Social Care, Police, Mental Health, Housing, Substance misuse and others) to link and improve holistic services for women and reduce re-offending.

Essential requirements:

• An in-depth knowledge of issues facing women offenders and those at risk of offending, both in and out of the Criminal Justice System.
• Up-to-date knowledge of housing legislation and case law, particularly the legal rights of women within the homelessness sector.
• Significant experience of working with women experiencing issues related to offending, preferably within a criminal justice setting; experience supporting vulnerable and/or marginalised populations at risk of homelessness or currently experiencing homelessness will be highly regarded.
• Experience in conducting needs and risk assessments and in risk management; being alert and responsive to behaviour, information or other changes which could indicate a change in risk of serious harm.
• Enhanced Adult and Child DBS on the update service or dated within the last 12 months.