Staying Home Officer

_**This role is a fixed-term contract for a duration of 12 months. **_

Are you passionate about empowering people to live independently and safely in their own homes?

Torus is looking for a dedicated **Staying Home Officer **to join our team. You will cover a geographical patch in the St Helens area, giving you the chance to make a real impact by delivering professional, intensive housing management services to our residents.

You'll play a key role in ensuring their housing needs are met, enabling them to stay in their homes for as long as possible. If you're ready to make a difference in your community, we want to hear from you

**Responsibilities**:

- Carry out viewings of properties designated for older people with applicants, explaining and promoting the benefits of the property and the Staying Home Service.
- Ensure tenants have access to services to meet their housing and support needs through an assessment of need, such as reporting repairs and paying rent.
- Conduct six-monthly reviews with residents or as and when personal circumstances change to identify interventions that will assist the tenant in remaining safe at home.
- Provide advice on low-level rent arrears and liaise with the Income team.
- Complete referrals for aids, adaptations, and assistive technology.
- Respond to and manage low-level nuisance issues, liaising with the Safer Estates Team on cases requiring specialist support.
- Help older people manage the safety and security of their dwelling using a case management approach, including an annual inspection of the property’s condition.
- Assist residents with sustaining their tenancy, including explaining their rights and responsibilities within the tenancy agreement.
- Make contact with the tenant within two weeks after moving in to ensure they are able to manage their tenancy.
- Use the “OKEachDay” messaging service to deliver information to residents.
- Respond to queries received via the “OKEachDay” service.
- Explain to residents how to register for online digital services to enable them to pay rent and report repairs directly.
- Make referrals to specialist agencies, such as Adult Social Care and Health, to enable the tenant to access additional care and support when required.
- Ensure properties are let on time and efficiently by participating in promotional marketing events.
- Offer advice and guidance to residents on maintaining a reasonable standard of hygiene in their property.
- Complete welfare calls and personal visits based on assessed need.
- Manage customer expectations of the service and provide clarity about the scope of your role.

**Skills & Experience**:

- GCSE Grade 3 and above education or equivalent relevant qualification, training, or experience
- CIH level 3 or willingness to work towards.
- Evidence of working in the housing and or social care sector
- Experience of working with older and vulnerable people
- Understanding of the social, physical, and mental health needs of an ageing population and the ability to promote their general wellbeing and quality of life
- Track record of completing assessments and developing support plans with targets and outcomes for clients
- Track record of managing a case load and multi-agency working
- Experience of crisis management, risk minimisation and of making decisions in difficult situations
- Evidence of managing personal resilience when dealing with difficult situations and identifying mechanisms to deal with these
- Experience of providing budgeting advice and budget planning with clients
- Basic knowledge of welfare benefits
- Knowledge and Experience of Safeguarding Practices and Procedures
- Track record of building a rapport with clients whilst maintaining professional boundaries

**What we offer**:
Generous Annual Leave: Start with 25 days plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after five years of dedicated service.
- Family Support: Enjoy enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay, ensuring you can focus on what matters most during significant life events.
- Financial Flexibility: Take advantage of our holiday purchase scheme, Aviva pension plan, and Salary Finance for affordable loans. With Wagestream, access a portion of your pay instantly.
- Travel and Transport: Explore our lease car scheme and employee discounts on various products, including bikes and holidays.
- Continuous Learning: Access a range of learning opportunities, including e-learning workshops and support for professional qualifications.
- Recognition and Well-being: Participate in our reward and recognition schemes, volunteer in your community, and benefit from enhanced sick pay and discounted gym memberships.
- Flexible Working: We champion flexible and agile working, supporting your individual needs and preferences.
- Comfortable Workspaces: Enjoy well-designed offices with excellent public transport links, alongside access to employee assistance programs and occupational health support.
- Health and Wellness: For