Homeless Recovery Worker

**Full time, 37 hours a week. 7.5 hour shifts between 9am and 8pm, will include working one in four weekends.**

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role where you are able to empower people every day to develop their skills and move towards independence? Do you enjoy working in an environment where every day is different to the next? Then this could be the role for you.

You will be working as part of a team to provide support to our homeless clients. You will love helping others and enjoy supporting individuals to achieve their goals and to become more independent. Your positive attitude towards your work and others will help to contribute to a great working environment. You will have a calm and personable manner and be able to handle potentially difficult situations.

**MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES**
- You will have your own caseload of clients to manage and will work with them on a one to one basis. You will identify their needs by listening to them, put together a client needs assessment and manage risks.
- Carrying out housing management duties such as collecting service charges at various locations
- Covering Health and Safety duties at various locations
- Support to move clients on from accommodation services to suitable accommodation options
- You will mediate and or negotiate with existing housing providers to help prevent homelessness
- You will help and support individuals by providing advice on housing, welfare benefits, rent deposits and household goods via a variety of schemes.
- You will help clients with the practicalities of moving to new accommodation, such as contacting energy suppliers
- You will encourage individuals to develop practical skills such as budgeting, shopping, cooking, housework, laundry, personal health and hygiene
- Carrying out drop in sessions at designated locations.
- Liaise with colleges, training agencies, employers to help clients to gain access to education, find work or maintain their benefit entitlement
- Advise client on appropriate agencies to contact i.e. debt and housing issues
- Travel and cover services across a geographical patch as and when required

Any other reasonable duties required in the interest of the organisation.

**ESSENTIAL CRITERIA FOR ROLE** (Minimum requirements on appointment to this job)

Previous experience in this sector is not essential but you will be able to demonstrate a real passion for wanting to work with vulnerable people in the homeless sector. Our values will be aligned to your own ethics and ideals and you will be committed to changing the life of others for the better.
- Clear verbal and written English
- Good IT and keyboard skills
- Polite, assertive manner, ability to self -motivate
- Passion for working in a client/customer facing role
- Knowledge of the benefits system and tenancy legislation
- Have an interest and genuine concern for homelessness and related issues
- Knowledge of voluntary and statutory agencies
- Flexible approach to what is required from the role

**Full drivers licence and access to your own vehicle is essential for this role**

We were formed in April 2001 through the merger of the Society of St Dismas (founded in 1962) and St Petroc Housing association (founded in 1972). Both organisations shared a passion for housing and supporting vulnerable single people.

Our vision today is to give people who are homeless, vulnerable or in need of support, the opportunity to build a brighter future.

We have services in Berkshire, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Sussex.

We support 16-65 year olds. Our services include outreach to rough sleepers, supported accommodation (direct access hostels, move-on accommodation, and resettlement flats), day centres, community support, housing first and landlord support services.