Lead Worker - ASPIRE

Whatever your experience of street homelessness and its impact on people’s lives – personal or professional – when you join the Thames Reach team as a Lead Worker we will make the best use of all your understanding, compassion and commitment.

About us

Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in and around London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track. We help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities. Last year we helped more than 15,000 people. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK and we strive for a careerful environment.

About this role

We are looking for a Lead Worker to join the ASPIRE Team. Floating Support services work with people to sustain their housing. We use a strength-based approach to work with people to identify what support they require and how we can address them together or in collaboration with others e.g. landlords, Department of Work and Pension or mental health services. We can support people for the duration of their tenancy, or we can provide short term interventions. We can provide resettlement support when a tenancy commences, and we can equip people with the skills to manage their home and goals independently or when they are move on ready and require minimal support. We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions.

Responsibilities

• Assess suitability of individuals referred into the services, and support management team with oversight of referrals.
• Provide practical resettlement support for individuals who may have never held a tenancy before and provide information and advice around housing rights and responsibilities, benefits and maximising income, and education, training and employment.
• Work with both the housing provider and referral agencies to ensure individuals can sustain their tenancy and move towards independence in their new homes.
• Liaise with, signpost, and support client engagement with specialist agencies as appropriate e.g. drug treatment services, Community Mental Health Teams, NHS services, community groups etc.
• Provide person-centred support to individuals and co-produce all plans to assist them to achieve their aims and ambitions, and graduate to living independently.
• Take a lead role within the team, working closely with support workers, assistant support workers, volunteers and student placements around casework and resource provision for individuals accessing the service.

Qualifications & Experience

• An understanding of the complex issues contributing to homelessness and the impact on the lives of individuals.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to form and maintain effective working relationships with individuals accessing the service, colleagues, and partner agencies.
• Knowledge and understanding of the needs and aspirations of individuals with experience of homelessness and a commitment to supporting people to achieve the best outcomes as they work towards independence.
• Experience in providing a flexible and responsive service to people presenting with complex needs and facing multiple disadvantage.
• Strong organisation skills, with the ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines, carry out administrative tasks alongside practical support work, and manage and mitigate risk.
• Knowledge, understanding, or experience of supporting and overseeing casework practice of support workers, trainees, students, or volunteers.

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance – 29 days per year plus 8 public holidays (pro rata).
• Pension – we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%.
• Excellent development opportunities – career progression, regular supervision and appraisals, and learning programmes to support your career with Thames Reach.
• Wellbeing support – our 24/7 employee assistance programme and opportunities for TOIL.
• Life assurance – four times your annual salary and critical illness cover.
• Other benefits including a blue light discount card, interest free season ticket and cycle to work loans.

Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.