Housing First Worker

Job Description

Housing First Worker Salary: £27,409Job Type: Full Time, Fixed TermLocation: WiganBenefits: Competitive pension, 26 days holiday plus bank holidays, increasing with service, cycle to work scheme, season ticket loans for public transport plus much more.Reporting to the Housing First Team Leader, the Housing First Worker is responsible for coordinating and providing a personalised, trauma informed support service to people with complex needs facing multiple exclusion in line with Housing First principles.PURPOSE OF ROLE:To coordinate and providing a person centred, strength based support service in line with Housing First principles to create long term sustainable tenancies by increasing independence and maximising connectivity with the local communityKEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Delivering wrap around intensive, trauma informed support to people with multiple and complex issues within their own independence tenancies in the community
• Maintaining accurate up to date records on the chosen case management system of progress against individual support plans; safety plans and outcomes information
• Liaise with other agencies to facilitate access to support including Adult Social Care; Criminal Justice services; Health services; employment and training services
• Regularly review the person centred support plan to update, record and monitor progress of caseload
• Build and maintain networks with staff fro mother agencies to ensure the Housing First pilot is widely known and promoted
• Provide temporary cover for colleagues as required and participate in a rota of duties, to ensure that service delivery is available in the evenings; weekends and bank holidays
• Liaise with landlords to assist the person living in accommodation of their choice, including practical help with furniture, benefits advise and accompanied visits
• Perform robust assessments of referrals for the service to ensure the service is provided to those that meet the eligibility criteria
• Promote, and encourage peer involvement within the service
• Facilitate access to the personalisation fund via creative solutions to integrate people into the community and access accommodation
• To complete dynamic risk assessments and maintain own safety by following lone working procedures
• To be part of a rota providing out of hours access to telephone support to people using the service
• To work flexibly to ensure that service delivery is available in the morning/evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays when required
• To adhere to good practice Safeguarding procedures with a positive risk taking approach to ensure the wellbeing of vulnerable people

Housing First Worker Person SpecificationQUALIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

• Qualified to minimum GCSE grade C or equivalent in English and maths

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• To have an understanding of the complex interdependencies of mental health and substance abuse and offending behaviour
• A creative approach to problem solving, getting and keeping people engaged
• Promote the rights, responsibilities and informed choice of the people receiving the service, acting as an advocate to promote independence
• Know when to seek assistance or supervision and how to engage meaningfully in planned supervisions
• Adaptability to changing and emerging needs as the pilot develops demonstrating flexibility and resilience in challenging situations
• High level of relationship skills:
• Empathy; caring; acceptance; mutual affirmation; an encouragement of responsible risk taking; supportive and constructive challenge and positive expectation for the future
• An understanding of the Housing First model and belief in the values and principles
• Experience of data collection, administration and recording procedures with the ability to maintain accurate case notes and organise own case load to support the national evaluation
• Use of full range of Microsoft Office
• Demonstrable coaching skills in promoting independence
• Professional and value led with integrity, inclusivity and respect for diversity
• An ability to work flexibly and when needed outside normal working hours
• Ability to quickly build rapport; being persistent, determined and resilient
• Ability and commitment to working with vulnerable customer groups and people with complex needsat a pace and way in which they choose to work
• To show leadership qualities; skills of a strong negotiator; ability to advocate and be diplomatic
• To have a sense of humour, be personable and accept that things wont go as you think
• The ability to work effectively with partner agencies and develop contacts and networks across a wide range of local services
• Professional curiosity with the ability and willingness to learn and apply learning in support delivery
• Ability to work across Greater Manchester to meet service delivery demands when required

REF-204499