Visiting Support Officer

**Job Overview**
Op FORTITUDE is the pathway for homeless veterans - launched nationally by Veterans’ Minister Johnny Mercer to end veteran homelessness in 2023. It will ensure vulnerable veterans across the country will have access to a new dedicated referral pathway when homeless, including those sleeping on the streets.

Homes at Ease is a partnership led by Armed Forces Community HQ CIC working with Jigsaw Homes, Wigan Council and sector delivery organisation’s in the North West as the Forces Wellbeing Collective.

The post holder will support Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across the North West. Veterans will be supported to access better life chances by navigating through the plethora of statutory and third sector support service available to ultimately maintain their tenancy and make a positive impact on the revolving door of homelessness.

**Responsibilities**

Develop action plans that aid tenants sustain or move towards independent living.

Complete health and safety inspections and legislative checks as required, maintaining a written record of inspections, reporting defects, monitoring faults, damage to communal areas and individual flats whilst carrying out basic repairs where possible.

Ensure that tenancy policies and procedures are adhered to by tenants at all times via scheduled and unscheduled inspections and visits.

Ensure safeguarding and behavioral issues that are observed or reported are documented on our CRM

Induct new tenants into their homes in partnership with the housing provider, ensuring they have appropriate welfare provision and contact details for support services

Resolve difficult and challenging situations in a sensitive and informed way balancing the needs of the individual with responsibility for the safety of the service.

Facilitate access to wellbeing service (statutory and third sector) to ensure that the service user has the right support to maintain their tenancy

Strive for a gold standard, sourcing long term, quality, and affordable housing solutions for the Armed Forces Community.

Work in collaboration with the current provider of the Op Fortitude national helpline.

Help tenants overcome barriers to independent living.

Case manage a number of service users taking responsibility for updating our client relationship management system (Inform) in their homes and other community settings.

Work collaboratively with partners to ensure that service users have access to statutory and third sector interventions.

Lead on the navigation of support for beneficiaries referred under the Hospital Discharge Programme via East Lancashire Hospital Trust

Constantly map and engage with organisations (Statutory, health and third sector) who can support the Armed Forces Community in Lancashire in partnership with Veterans in Communities (our Thrive Together partner) in the locality.

Be a point of contact for age 60+ members of the Armed Forces Community in Lancashire and support the accessibility of provision working with local not for profit and transportation organisations.

Work with sector colleagues within the Forces Well-Being Collective to ensure collaborate working in the best interest of the service user

Identify, commission and co-facilitate interventions to enable service users to access better life chances.

Support the service user to make their property a home by working with welfare organisations including white and brown goods and comfortable living.

Work as part of a team to provide better and fairer services to tenants, their families, and the wider Armed Forces Community.

Undertake appropriate training to fulfil your job role in a safe and legislative way

Ensure a safe environment for beneficiaries, colleagues, and visitors in accordance with the HQs policies and procedures.

Adhere to the HQs procedures, protocols and guidelines at all times, in particular safeguarding, confidentiality and information sharing.

Take responsibility for updating knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the post.

Represent Armed Forces Community HQ CICs social purpose and strategic aims.

Act with integrity and always maintain the highest professional standards.

Meet individual targets and contribute constructively to supervision and appraisal.

Maintain the level of qualification/personal development and competence required to undertake the role and notify the company immediately of any circumstances that affect this.

**Essential**

**Undertake an enhanced DBS check**

**Experience of direct tenancy management and support services**

**Able to maintain confidentiality with an understanding of GDPR**

**Must hold a full driving licence and business insurance**

**Efficient and reliable, able to follow instruction**

**Customer Satisfaction Experience**

**Positive can-do attitude and flexibility**

**Able to work in an organised and methodical manner dealing with unexpected problems.**

**Desirable**

**A working knowledge of Health & Safety**