Complex Needs Support Worker

Role Overview - What is it? To join one of our Active Opportunity Pathway (AOP) services, working as part of the Support Team to help people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage to overcome barriers to achieving greater independence. You will be highly experienced in working with vulnerable people or families facing homelessness, who require support with mental health, substance misuse, a history of offending and other needs. Using your knowledge and skills to help us create one of the most effective outcomes-focused services in the sector, adhering to the Making Every Adult Matter principles (MEAM). You will be familiar with and have effectively operated in a strength-based and trauma-informed way to help residents achieve positive housing, health and wellbeing outcomes.

Main Duties - What needs to be done?

• Employ a strength-based and trauma-informed approach to building trusting relationships with residents, using that to help create accurate, realistic and meaningful (outcome focused) support plans.
• Use your knowledge and experience of working with those experiencing multiple disadvantage to identify and capture risks, using that to help design mitigation strategies and inform coping mechanisms.
• Engage pro-actively and effectively with residents to help them identify barriers which are preventing them gaining greater levels of independence, then working collaboratively to build (and achieve) a plan for success.
• Uphold the highest levels of safeguarding awareness and protection for individuals, residents, colleagues and the wider community.
• Maintain and regularly update accurate records of all support engagements, support plans, risk assessments and other support pathway elements, using them to support appropriate partnership working with local partner agencies.
• Champion the principles of trauma-informed engagement and support across the service and wider organisation, helping colleagues develop their skills and communication approaches to support the achievement of outcomes.
• Deliver a blend of both individual and group sessions, with a focus on helping residents to build and develop their independent living skills and abilities, recording all engagements within our digital support system.
• Manage your caseload of residents in an effective and dynamic way, ensuring all residents receive and engage with appropriate amounts and types of support for their needs.
• Act as a positive role model for residents, using a strength-based approach to helping them set realistic (but aspirational) goals, prompting, encouraging and motivating them to make them a reality.

Intensive Housing Management:

• Work with colleagues at service and organisational level to ensure maximum levels of service utilisation, including the processing and review of referrals in a non-risk averse and balanced community way.
• Support in the process of referral management and support/needs/risk assessment, recording all relevant findings accurately in our digital support management system.
• Support residents to understand and complete all necessary tenancy documentation and service entry requirements, recording them as required in our various housing management systems.
• Take ownership of any rent management matters for your residents, helping them to understand the importance of appropriate money management and to take necessary action to avoid arrears.
• Complete regular accommodation inspections, using the opportunity to help residents develop further independent living skills (e.g. reporting of repairs) whilst ensuring all necessary compliance and H&S requirements are met.

Relationships - Who will I be working/engaging with?

• Internal - Other AOP service colleagues (e.g. concierge, support workers) / Maintenance and Facilities Teams / Head of Service and Senior Leadership Team / Residents.
• External - Local Authority Commissioners and Housing Officers / Third Sector Partners / Statutory Partners (e.g. Police and Probation) / Housing Benefit Officers / DWP and Employment Partners etc.

Competencies - Who with and your skill level?

• Extensive and demonstrable knowledge and experience of working with individuals or families experiencing multiple disadvantage or severe multiple disadvantage.
• Proven abilities to work in a strength-based and trauma-informed way for the benefit of individuals and families, helping them to achieve a level of positive outcomes beyond their expectations.
• Excellent written/verbal communications skills, with the confidence to engage with external partners and stakeholders when advocating for residents, the service and organisation as a whole.

Shift pattern - 40 hours per week, 8 hour days, 5 out of 7 including some bank holidays and weekends.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: Up to £29,000.00 per year

Benefits: Company pension, Enhanced maternity leave, Enhanced paternity leave, Health & wellbeing programme, Paid volunteer time, Referral programme, Sick pay

Experience: Trauma informed support: 1 year (required), Accommodation based service: 1 year (required)

Licence/Certification: NVQ Level 2 in Social Care or equivalent (preferred)

Work authorisation: United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person