Caseworker in London

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

Company Limited by Guarantee num ber Charity Number Registered in England as Single Homeless Project

shp Single Homeless Project

Job title: Caseworker

Delegated Authority: Level 8

Team: Tenancy Sustainment Team (TST North)

Responsible to: Team Manager

Responsible for: N/A

Job purpose

Tenancy Sustainment Team (TST) North is funded by Greater London Authority. We deliver tenancy sustainment and floating support to people with aged 18 and upwards who are recovering from homelessness, with a range of support needs, and who are housed in temporary social and private housing across North, West and East London. We aim to welcome people into the service, prevent people from a return to homelessness, support people to develop their independence, and assist people to move on to more independent housing where needed after 2 years. The service works closely with partner agencies across London to support clients to maximise opportunities to lead fulfilling lives. Partner agencies include Clearing House, Housing Providers, Local Authorities, DWP and Health and Social Care teams.

TST have both permanent and fixed term opportunities for new Caseworkers in different areas of our service delivery, including welcoming and resettling people into the service at the start of their support ; providing ongoing tenancy related support to people during their tenancy and supporting people to move on to longer term and, where appropriate, more independent accommodation.

Caseworkers support a caseload of clients in their accommodation and at other community locations across London. Caseworkers deliver person-centred support to people to help them sustain a tenancy, improve their physical and mental health, reduce their alcohol and drug use, and to reduce debts and maximise their income. Caseworkers contribute to initial assessments and move on plans with clients at the start and towards the end of their TST support.

Caseworkers will have an opportunity to shape innovative, co-produced support delivery by contributing towards ongoing reflection and evaluation of policies and practices in the service, changing ways in which Support is delivered where this will benefit our clients. The role includes hybrid working and is based at our office in Kings Cross. There are opportunities to work from home at times.

Key accountabilities

Assessment and Case Work

To co-produce strengths-based and outcome-focused support, safety and move-on plans with clients, engaging clients in assessment and planning of their support needs

To assess client risk and develop risk management strategies with the client, housing provider, and other services delivering support to clients

To work with a range of agencies to ensure clients have access to relevant statutory and nonstatutory services and benefits, and accompanying clients at appointments where appropriate

To identify and assess physical and mental health needs with clients, supporting clients to access health and care services, and helping clients improve their health and wellbeing.

Information Management and Data Security

To record and update information on your contact with and about clients on SHP's Inform system, in line with SHP's Client Contact recording policy and procedure.

To contribute towards internal and external service monitoring and other reports where required.

To contribute to effective service delivery and evaluation by ensuring all relevant files and recording systems are up to date and that key performance information is correctly recorded.

Comply with organisational requirements to protect personal and confidential information, supporting the management of information security risks.

Client use of time

Support clients to identify, access and participate in internal and external activities that will enhance their quality of life e.g. such as Work, education and training opportunities, social inclusion opportunities and so forth.

Take part in organising, facilitating and delivering activities, drop-in sessions or groups in response to identified client needs or as part of a project wide programme of group work.

Health and Safety

To be aware of, and fulfil, roles and responsibilities and work in accordance with SHP's H&S Policy and the law around H&S at work. To take responsibility for the safe working of self and others and to ensure that local procedures around Lone Working and Fire Safety are followed.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

Report and action safeguarding concerns for children and adults at potential or actual risk of harm and neglect in line with SHP Policies and relevant legislation.

General/Other

Proactively review and evaluate own performance, identifying and acting upon areas for improvement and development, and seek constructive feedback from colleagues and managers.

Miscellaneous

SHP is at discretion to amend your responsibilities and, in addition to these, you may be required to perform other duties as may be required for the efficient running of the organisation.

To create inclusive working environments and cultures to enable colleagues and clients to feel safe and empowered to achieve their full potential.

Technical and professional know-how needed for position

When completing your application, you will be required to address (using examples) some of the points below

Experience and Knowledge

Understanding of client needs assessment, onboarding into new accommodation, and move-on planning.

A knowledge of, or willingness to learn about, common health issues & the barriers to health access that people experiencing homelessness may encounter.

Understanding of how to capture and record data to track client progress, outcomes, and service performance.

A knowledge of, or willingness to learn about, housing pathways and Move-on routes for people moving from housing with support to independence (hostels, Private Rented Sector, and social housing) ; and of access to alternative provision (e.g. Supported Housing pathways, emergency accommodation).

A demonstrable level of experience or understanding of the range of approaches appropriate to working with any of the following needs:

• o Mental and Physical health & wellbeing
• o Current drug and / or alcohol use
• o Safeguarding and Risk Management / Safety planning
• o Social Inclusion
• o Financial Inclusion
• o Tenancy related support e.g. Managing Bills / Debts / Arrears, Anti-Social Behaviour

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to use a range of personalised assessment and support planning tool and approaches, including motivational interviewing, strengths based and trauma informed support interventions, to deliver best practice initial assessments and casework to clients
• Ability to deliver successful move in and resettlement support to enable clients to settle into and manage their own tenancy, to predefined SHP standards, at the start and end of a client’s TST support journey.
• Ability to reflect on your own and service’s performance and can change your own or service’s approach to service and support delivery where this will benefit SHP clients.
• Ability to effectively collaborate and work in partnership with a range of service providers and agencies to establish or improve services for clients.
• Ability to be self-motivating and work under pressure, manage time effectively, prioritise tasks appropriately and produce work of a high standard.

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