Job Role: Supported Housing Resettlement Worker

Location: Greater Manchester

Duration: 6 Months

Date entered: 26.02.2010

Small description:

Location: Manchester
Salary: £9.50 - £12.50 per hour
Duration: 6 Months

Large description:

Purpose of Job 

1    To participate in the selection and needs assessment of prospective participants.

2    To provide comprehensive, individually tailored resettlement and support programmes that enable homeless people and those at risk of becoming so, to acquire and sustain accommodation appropriate to their needs.

3    To enable participants to maximize their potential to be self-determining by providing an integrated package of services that facilitates individual development.

4    To seek accommodation and undertake preparation work for those requiring an intensive programme of resettlement / support.

5    To assist participants to take advantage of services and networks in their community.

6    In partnership with housing providers, to undertake and provide housing management support as required.


Duties and responsibilities

1    To receive referrals of prospective participants and undertake an assessment of housing and support needs in accordance with the selection criteria.

2    To ensure necessary pre-tenancy work, including initial crisis / immediate needs assessment, is carried out.  To help individuals plan and adjust to the changes that will take place following a move to independent / long-term accommodation.

3    To negotiate the development and implementation of individualized and tailored resettlement / support plans with participants.  The work should be discharged in the most appropriate manner and would be expected to include support, training, advocacy, counseling and advice.  The resettlement / support plan will aim to maximize an individual’s potential to be self-determining by providing an integrated package of service that facilitates individual development.

4    To review individual needs and support plans every 3 months, or sooner if required.

5    To visit and support participants on a regular basis, as agreed in support plan.  (Minimum of weekly.)
6    To make appropriate referrals / applications for accommodation, where required.

7    To work with housing providers to ensure that housing is carefully matched to individual need.

8    To ensure that participants move into their home in a planned way.  This includes ensuring terms and conditions of tenancy agreements are explained clearly and all necessary administration is undertaken.

9    To help undertake housing management duties.  This includes: assisting to investigate all nuisance complaints, neighbour disputes and other housing management problems and seeking to remedy them; investigating suspected abandonment and reporting it to housing officer if required; inspecting properties and reporting all necessary repairs to the housing officer; ensuring that repair requests are dealt with in line with the agreed policies; where in operation, adhering to the principles of the management agreement between housing provider and The ; reporting all furniture / white goods damage to manager / agent; ensuring the tenancy is maintained at a habitable standard; and taking appropriate action as required to ensure the health and safety of the individual, other tenants and visitors.

10    To give advice and assistance to ensure that all necessary finance including Housing Benefit and other welfare benefits are claimed.

11    To provide advice and ensure that all utilities and other bills associated with the tenancy are activated and appropriate payment plans executed.

12    To advise participants on budgeting for rent, fuel and other domestic bills.

13    To assist participants to access health care, other support services, leisure, education, employment or additional services within the community.

14    To develop relationships with external agencies such as health and social services to ensure appropriate support packages are provided.

15    When support is no longer required, to negotiate the appropriate withdrawal and ending of support services.  To develop appropriate plans to facilitate this happening, ensuring any other alternative support systems are in place.

16    Throughout all work to maintain appropriate records and administration systems to ensure services are efficient and effective.

17    Throughout all work to foster appropriate relationships with service users, colleagues and external agencies.

18    To maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive level of knowledge of relevant legislation, including welfare benefits law and procedures, good practice requirements

19    To plan own work and ensure its completion including all direct service provision, organizational duties and all necessary record-keeping and reports.

Other duties

1    To work an average 37.5 hour week flexibly to allow for direct service provision and organizational duties including evening, bank holiday, weekend, cold weather and Christmas working.

2    To be available to work on-call to respond to emergencies.

3    To work in other sections of the organisation, as required.

4    When deemed appropriate by the organisations Management, to undertake the lead role in various work and organizational issues.

5    To attend all staff meetings.

6    To represent the organisation as required.

7    To work at all times within the agreed policies and working practices of the organisation.

8    To contribute to the review and development of the organisation.

9    To be involved in the training and induction of staff.

10    To undertake other duties as may be required from time to time.

The post holder will normally undertake duties as per their job description.  S/he will on occasion, and in necessary circumstances, be called upon to undertake work in other locations in order to facilitate

Training

The post holder will be expected to undertake training and retraining throughout employment in this post and will be expected to discuss and identify their training goals, with their line manager, to develop their knowledge base and ability in their role.


Health and Safety

Each employee has a duty under the health and Safety at Work Act (S.7) to take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and others at work , whether colleagues, service users, visitors or contractors.

You must be a car driver with own transport to apply for this post and have at least 2 years support work experience.

For more information, please contact Victoria Brown on 0161 941 4822
CV's to victoria.brown@housingsupport.co.uk