Housing First Worker

£25,974 - £26,070

Southampton

Permanent, Full Time

Hours: Monday to Friday. Generally no weekends or evenings, though there may be times client support needs or appointments mean these hours will be required.

Must be a driver with own car for use in role as travel is an essential part - we cannot offer interviews to non-drivers. As such, must have business insurance for use of own vehicle during working hours. Mileage will be paid for client and support related travel.

Experience working with challenging behaviour, mental health support, substance misuse or trauma beneficial. Understanding of entrenched behaviours and intensive support needs beneficial alongside tenancy management and benefits awareness. Awareness of Housing First principles would be desirable.

Southampton Housing First supports individuals aged 16 and over, who have high support needs and a history of entrenched or repeat homelessness, to have a home of their own where they can regain stability, safety, and support. We work in partnership with the council and various housing associations to deliver intensive person-centred support and accommodation choices.

Our priority is to find safe, permanent housing that is suitable for the client. Once housing is found our dedicated team provides intensive one to one support to enable clients to maintain their accommodation and achieve their goals.

If you love working with people and are looking for a role where you can make a real difference in the lives of those you support, then this is the role for you!

JOB PURPOSE

To be part of a team that supports our clients, by providing intensive wrap around support, keeping them safe and helping them to achieve their goals. To provide people with homes and specialist support so they feel more valued and secure, and ready to take the next steps.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• To assess the needs of each client, helping to develop their personalised support plan and safety plan to achieve their goals. These are kept under regular review.
• To manage a personal caseload of clients who require intensive support on a one-to-one basis.
• Providing assertive outreach for those that are rough sleeping to build a trusting relationship, which will require a flexible approach to engagement techniques.
• To provide practical support when a client moves into a property such as setting up utilities, sourcing furniture, developing their domestic skills and accessing services in the community.
• To mediate and negotiate with housing providers to secure accommodation and prevent homelessness when applicable.
• To engage with local authorities, health providers and other agencies, creating and maintaining working relationships to maximise the opportunities available to clients.
• To liaise with colleges, training agencies, employers to help clients gain access to education, find work or maintain their benefit entitlement.
• To lead on client activities to help them gain practical life skills.
• To support clients by providing advice on housing, welfare benefits, rent deposits and household goods via a variety of schemes.
• To support clients to understand harm reduction approaches to keep them safe and well.
• To carry out housing management duties such as collecting service charges at various locations.
• To support clients in trauma informed and psychologically informed ways.
• To adhere to safeguarding responsibilities, following our safeguarding policy and procedure.
• To help maintain health and safety, ensuring clients, visitors and buildings are safe in accordance with Health and Safety regulations, policy and procedures.
• To provide basic first aid assistance until help arrives (full training is provided).
• To work confidently and efficiently when lone working.
• To maintain accurate records on our client management system and ensure these are stored in line with GDPR.
• To maintain confidentiality.
• To represent the organisation in a professional manner.
• Any other reasonable duties required in the interest of the organisation.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• This role will require an Enhanced with Barred List(s) disclosure and barring service check is a requirement for this role. This would be completed on appointment of the role.
• This role will require a full drivers licence and access to a vehicle.
• This role will require you to work flexibly across several sites and in the community.
• This role will require you to work with clients on a one-to-one basis.
• This role will require you to lone work.
• This role will require you to support people sleeping rough.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Clear verbal and written English.
• Good keyboard skills for data inputting.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word.
• Confident and assertive manner.
• Ability to self-motivate as you will have some instances of lone working.
• Effective team working.
• Ability to respond calmly to crisis.
• Deal promptly with and effectively react to challenging situations.
• Have an interest and genuine concern for homelessness and related issues.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience of managing a caseload of clients.
• Understanding of the complex support needs of people experiencing homelessness or those with complex needs.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding practices.
• Knowledge of voluntary and statutory agencies, housing regulations and the benefits system.
• Understanding of risk assessment and person-centred, outcomes-based delivery.

We reserve the right to close our adverts early if a successful candidate is found, so please submit your application as soon as possible. Two Saints is committed to safeguarding and safer recruitment. We carry out pre-employment checks such as DBS checks, Overseas police checks (where appropriate), reference checks, and CV gap querying for all new staff members.