Support Worker

Support Worker - Housing and Homelessness (Haven Service)

Contract: Permanent, (35 hours pw) Tuesday - Saturday with late shifts Tuesday and Thursday

Location: Watford

**Salary**: £19,011 per annum - our client is currently undergoing an external benchmarking review of their salaries

Holiday: 33 days' holiday whole year and full-time equivalent, including Bank Holidays, pro rata to the hours worked

About our client

They were founded in 1990 by two self-styled 'ordinary house-wives', who saw the many people sleeping rough around St Mary's Church in the centre of Watford and felt moved to act.

Their provision begins with their intervention services which build relationships and offer support to people who are street homeless, including an active street outreach service and drop-in services; their recovery services currently include COVID-secure recovery accommodation for up to 46 people, and their two prevention services are a tenancy sustainment team and a fledgling affordable housing scheme for those recovering from homelessness, consisting of two houses with rooms available to rent at rates affordable to those our client serve.

Although our client has grown, their heart has not changed. They are still very much a local charity dependent on the community for volunteers and financial support.

Key responsibilities

*Identify and engage assertively with those in greatest need such as rough sleepers, those in danger of rough sleeping and those with No Recourse Public Funds
*Provide face to face contact with service users attending the Haven, establishing supportive and trusting relationships
*Discern service user needs in order to advise, support, guide and encourage as appropriate
*Refer and signpost individuals to relevant services offered by our client and external agencies
*Have an understanding of relevant housing law and evictions
*Oversee volunteers as they prepare and serve food and drinks to service users
*Oversee volunteers as they provide clothing etc to service users
*Keep accurate and comprehensive records of all interactions with service users
*Be familiar with the Service User Database (SUD), updating as necessary to ensure validity as an effective tool
*Assess, plan and action person-centred support plans
*Support service users who are in danger of losing tenancies and advocate on their behalf to avoid the threat of eviction

Person specification

Qualities
Highly motivated and enthusiastic
Accepts responsibility and accountability
Flexible and responsive to change
Committed to personal and professional development
Innovative, seeking out solutions

Desirable Experience
Awareness of drug and alcohol issues
Worked in the homelessness sector
Worked with vulnerable people
Dealt with people with complex needs, mental health, substance misuse and physical health and disabilities

**Skills**:Work well independently and as part of a team
Conduct risk assessment, support planning and risk management plans
Manage complex and difficult situations to a positive outcome
Prioritise, organise, manage workload and meet deadlines
Communicate clearly and effectively
Work with a person centric approach
Research, analyse and evaluate data
Offer help and support to colleagues, service users and volunteers in a non-judgemental and unconditional manner

Knowledge
IT confident and competent with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and Internet Explorer
Good practice of safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children
Health and Safety trained
Working knowledge of GDPR/Data Protection and how it applies to the role

Other
Commitment to the values and ethos of the Charity
Ability to work outside of normal working hours on occasion
Able to work flexibly in response to changing organisational needs

INDJOB