Senior Support Worker

Encircle Housing provides high quality homes for people who are in housing need, facilitating creative support services unique to each person with the aim of enabling them to recognise and reach their full potential. We work with support providers, local authorities and other statutory and third sector partners to target areas where there is a high priority need to tackle homelessness to create suitable accommodation for single homeless people.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Support Worker to work across our schemes in Blyth and South Tyneside to provide housing and support services to vulnerable homeless adults living in supported accommodation. This position will initially be for a temporary period of 6 months.

As a committed Senior Support Worker, you will be part of a team who provide high quality housing and support for clients through advocacy, 1-1 support and in group work settings to include life skills and independent living skills. You will work within the Quality Assessment Framework, associated regulations and Encircle Housing Policy/Procedure whilst demonstrating our core values of Passion, Pride, Equality, Collaboration and Empowerment.

As the Senior Housing Support Worker, you will monitor the day-to-day movements and responsibilities of the support team whilst ensuring the relevant health and safety risk and welfare requirements are actioned.

**Key responsibilities will include**:
**Service Management**
- Lead the day-to-day operational demands, considering the best outcomes and appropriate actions in the prevention of homelessness, supporting team members to identify and meet the needs of Encircle Housing service users.
- To provide line management and feedback to staff on a day-to-day basis and responsible for the effective management of the staff rota and annual leave.
- To ensure services are provided in accordance with the organisations delivery promise and in line with set policies and procedures.
- To support managers in delivering a successful service through the identification of emerging issues in relation to crisis situations, ensuring all deadlines and priorities set are delivered in a timely manner
- Assess prospective new Service Users to ensure that that their support needs fall within agreed referral criteria.
- To assist and safeguard vulnerable residents to ensure that their immediate needs are met including, but not limited to healthcare, hygiene, diet.
- Undertake needs and risk assessments and develop appropriate support plans initially from the details from the Housing Options referral and regularly update this ensuring that progress targets can be measured and reported.
- Build professional relationship with Service Users to enable identification of all relevant support needs and maintain support plan enabling them to sustain their Occupancy Agreement and develop the confidence and skills to manage move on or their own tenancy.
- Advocate on the Service Users behalf if required or work with their advocate and fellow professionals where appropriate to deliver a holistic package of wellbeing support.
- Contribute to developing sound working relationships Housing Options referral lines, Housing Benefit department other relevant statutory support and voluntary agencies as required.
- Provide information in relation to the service as and when required by senior managers.
- Respond promptly and sensitively in line with procedures to all reports of harassment, domestic violence nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
- Carry out weekly welfare checks.
- Ensure all Service Users have a good understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the tenure agreement.
- Ensure Service Users involvement and consultation over decisions that affect them.
- Work closely with colleagues to share relevant information on Service Users, e.g., safeguarding matters.

**Housing Management**
- Monitor and report on health and safety assessments and implement control measures
- Creating and developing good relationships with local authority and housing providers
- Work closely with the Income team to keep up to date on housing related benefits and advise tenants on these to maximize and manage their income
- Support the Income team with Housing Benefit Claims and collation of any relevant information from Service Users.
- Work closely with internal teams to ensure that the voids targets are met.
- Complete regular inspections of properties and ensure that properties are maintained to a high standard.
- Encourage Service Users to take responsibility for maintaining their home and to learn the skills they need to work towards more independent living.
- Conduct health and safety risk assessments and implement control measures.
- Contribute to the testing of equipment and systems on site as per health and safety and fire procedures, following up any actions required.
- Reporting of repairs and liaison with internal Assets Team.
- To support with service user disputes and compl