Housing First Worker

**FULL TIME - 37hrs**

**Monday - Thursday: 09:00 - 17:00**
**Friday: 09:00 - 16:30**
**Including support with Bi-Monthly Street Count and Outreach shifts**

This is a specialist support role working with clients between the ages of 18 - 25, who have not held a tenancy or have failed a tenancy before, to move in to a permanent place to live and sustain their tenancy.

You will have a proven record of supporting people who have or are experiencing homelessness and have a good understanding of the homeless housing pathway.

You will have a knowledge on how to maximise income and support clients to manage a budget.

**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 work nights and/or weekends
- 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 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 futu