Housing Support Worker AST

Rotherham Barnsley & Doncaster

About us

Target Housing is a charity and registered social landlord. Over the past 30 years we have shown that stable accommodation and support can help transform lives. We work in a psychologically and trauma informed way to empower people to achieve independence. Target delivers the highest standard of housing and support to enable vulnerable people to live independently fulfil their potential and contribute to their communities and wider society.

In a typical week

You will have an allocated caseload of tenants who you will support for the agreed contractual hours within their tenancies with the aim of supporting them to eventually move onto independent living. We take a multi-agency approach to ensure the most comprehensive amount of support is provided for the tenants needs. The South Yorkshire AST project operates across Barnsley Doncaster and Rotherham and you may be required to work in one or potentially across all of these areas. Target is a collaborative organisation and have several office locations where you can access additional guidance from colleagues and management.

Working hours are generally 9am to 5pm with a 20-minute unpaid lunch break.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Main Purpose

To provide high quality housing and support services to residents in order to assist them to sustain their tenancies.

Specific tasks

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  Assist residents when moving in or out of Target accommodation.

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  Assess the circumstances aspirations and needs of each resident in order to make a support plan that is relevant to the resident and realistic in its achievement.

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  Act as residents keyworker offering advice and support to negotiated and agreed support planning to enable them to develop their skills for independent living.

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  Assist residents to maximise their income and to manage their personal budgets.

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  Support residents to understand their rights and responsibilities under their occupancy agreements.

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  Support and motivation to residents encouraging them to achieve personal goals.

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  Carry out regular resident risk assessment and ensure it is properly recorded and copied to relevant officers in the organisation.

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  Review support plans periodically and adapt them according to changing needs

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  Make sure residents pay the rent due to Target Housing as required by the occupancy agreement. Assist residents with their benefit claims where necessary.

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  Monitor residents handling of Target Housing property and consumption of gas & electricity.

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  Monitor residents compliance with their occupancy agreements. Inform Service Manager who will then act to resolve non-compliance issues.

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  Monitor occupancy to ensure that properties have not been abandoned or damaged and take prompt action when it happens to avoid unnecessary costs to TH.
  
  
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  Where appropriate help residents with budgeting. Negotiate with other bodies on behalf of the resident on the repayment of arrears such as rent owed to the Local Authority Housing Department.
  
  
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  Liaise with the Probation Service and any other appropriate bodies to ensure that all are aware of relevant information.
  
  
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  Enable and support the service user to deal with conflict and disputes amongst service users and between service users and neighbours.

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  Assist in the delivery and development of resident activities.

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  Keep all prescribed records in order that the value of the tenant support service can be audited and comply with confidentiality policy.

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  Build links with external organisations to maintain constructive working relations and to ensure residents needs are met.

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  Participate in office duty arrangements.

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  Provide cover for absent Housing Support Assistants & Supported Housing Assistant.

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  Accompany a colleague to an appointment or visit where dual attendance is required.

General tasks

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  Attend and participate in training sessions or activities as required.

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  Participate in team meetings and supervision as required

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  Perform other such duties as may be required to further the aims of Target Housing within the Health and Safety requirements.

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  Adhere to all of Target Housings policies and procedures in particular our Equal Opportunities Confidentiality and Health and Safety policies.

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  Carry out other such duties as directed by senior managers as appropriate to the aims of Target Housing.

Person specifications

• Understanding of services provided to vulnerable groups

• Understanding of delivering supported housing services.

• Understanding of delivering services to residents in housing and supported accommodation

• Basic knowledge of Welfare Benefits System.

• An understanding of risk assessments and support planning

• Understanding of the Judiciary System in the UK

Competencies

Customer Focus (Critical)

Integrity (Critical)

Team Working (Critical)

Confidence & Judgment (Very Important)

Communication and Influence (Very Important)

Planning & Organising (Important)

Technical (Important)

There are many great reasons to join our team!

• Great opportunities for career development
• Allocated training
• Mileage Compensation
• Access Membership to Westfield Health & Lifetime Financial
• Ability to apply for the Blue Light card
• Employer Contributory Company pension scheme (4%)
• A supportive culture where staff feedback is highly valued and regular supervisions with line managers are conducted.

Target welcomes applications from all members of the community. Target reserves the right to close this role earlier than stated should the number of applications suffice.

Required Experience:

Senior IC