Support Worker

**Company description**

Renova is a Christian faith-based charity that creates positive change in people’s lives. In Bracknell, we provide accommodation for 8 single homeless vulnerable men aged over 25 from a variety of backgrounds including: offending, mental health, domestic violence and alcohol & drug abuse to help them achieve independent living and employment.

**Job description**

**Job Purpose**: You will facilitate the entry of residents to the Renova House and building relationships with stakeholders and support services to enhance the Renova Project. The aim is to provide an intensive support service to vulnerable client groups to address their support needs and work towards independence and work. You will support males with multiple difficulties including ex-offenders, adults with addiction issues, adults with Mental Health needs, adults who are homeless and adults with complex needs.

You will assist residents to move on to independent living and permanent accommodation including referral management, initial assessments, upholding of house rules, benefit support, budgeting and life skills support. The role requires close working with a range of agencies such as Housing Services, Mental Health Services, Adult Social Care, Drug and Alcohol Service, Police and Partner organisations.

**Principal duties and responsibilities**

**Outreach Support and External Agencies**
- To build and maintain good working relationships with external agencies to benefit the support needs of the residents (including referral, workshops, move-on, education, training and employment opportunities).
- To promote the Renova project in the community and raise awareness of the project.
- Maintaining relationships with referral partners to provide a reasonable pipeline of possible entrants to the house and to give them a concrete understanding of the Renova referral process.
- To meet with prospective residents to assess their suitability for entry to the Renova House including undertaking substance misuse testing and to facilitate the Renova residents entrance panel.
- To obtain the necessary risk assessments, references, and PNCs for possible entrants to the house
- Raising awareness of the project with the necessary stakeholders
- Attend meetings with stakeholders, partners and the Bracknell Borough Rough Sleepers Strategic Panel
- To liaise with housing benefit advisers and to obtain from prospective residents all information and documents to progress their entry to the house.
- To liaise with organisations that offer volunteer placements.
- To liaise with local leisure centres and gyms to obtain agreements and arrangements for discounted services for residents
- To liaise with organisations that offer apprenticeships and training opportunities locally and in Berkshire

**Housing Support**
- To supervise tradesmen working in the house.
- Conduct initial assessments for entry to the house
- Ensure the timely processing of new entrants to achieve void turnaround target
- To conduct house inductions for new residents
- Deliver regular reporting and updates to Operation Director/Housing Project Manager
- To conduct regular meetings with residents to address: rent, license agreement, resident involvement, life skills and move-on
- Ensure relevant support is provided to enable our residents to maximise their own potential and level of independence and incidents of ASB are minimised
- Monitor the residents and the house(s) undertaking regular house meetings ensuring effective communication to help resolve matters of common interest and tenant damage to property is minimised and property is maintained to a high standard.
- Identifying individual licence sustainment needs through assessment and an identified Housing Plan detailing risks, licensing sustainment needs and move on plans
- Ensure all incidents and complaints are reported and dealt with in line with organisations processes.
- Conduct weekly health and safety checks ensure issues and defects are reported and resolved promptly
- Responsible for relevant charges and top ups are collected from the residents
- Monitor and maintain the project’s petty cash float on a weekly basis
- Ensure all complaints, incidents of anti-social behaviour and harassment are fully investigated and dealt with, and take appropriate enforcement action to ensure effective resolution including legal remedies where necessary
- Working closely and cooperatively with the Facilities Department, ensure that repairs are reported in a timely manner
- To actively source and manage move-on opportunities for residents with housing providers and complete move-on referrals accordingly in line with the individual support plan.

Knowledge/experience of supporting clients with complex needs including, worklessness, individuals involved in crime or antisocial behaviour, addiction and recovery related issues is essential for this role

**Personal Support and Empowerment**

**Residents support**
- Assessing re