Complex Needs Project Worker

Central is currently recruiting for a female Complex Needs Project Worker, to work in the Kings Cross area. The female only hostel provides support to homeless women who have complex support needs including substance misuse and mental health. 

The successful candidate will be required to work 37.5 hours per week, working across Monday - Friday on a rota basis, covering early (8AM - 4PM) and late (2:30PM - 10:30PM) shifts. Temporary cover is required for approximately 3 months. The pay rate for this role is £13.80 per hour, with £1.67 holiday pay, totalling £15.47 per hour.

In this position, you will be expected to:

• Hold a caseload 5-6 key clients and conduct regular key working sessions resulting recovery plans that define the basis for further interventions
• Complete comprehensive risk and needs assessments
• Respond to referrals within agreed timescale
• Conduct skilled and sensitive assessments with clients who may be ambivalent about taking-up support.
• Participate in the delivery, evaluation and development of the in-house recovery programme
• Raise awareness of the impact of unmet support needs in diminishing life opportunities including access to move-on accommodation and independent housing 
• Identify care pathways and treatment options, and support service users' acquisition of the skills needed to engage with, and participate in, treatment settings
• Advocate on service users behalf and make appropriate referrals to relevant specialist services.
• Work with residents to maximise benefit entitlements and secure project income through the collection of rents and charges and the minimisation of arrears and void loss 
• Assist residents to acquire budgeting skills, and set up basic bank and/or savings accounts 
• Ensure that all voids are prepared and re-let in a timely fashion in order to maximise income receivable from rents and charges 
• Participate in the scheme's housing management procedures, such as room checks locality checks and Health and Safety checks 
• Support client peers to make recovery visible in the schemes and, where appropriate, to co-deliver activities.

To apply for this role, you must have:  

• Experience of working with Complex Needs clients (e.g. substance use, mental health, offending, street activity and Anti-Social Behaviour, physical health, background of complex trauma, VAWG, DV) and a good understanding of the working methods of residential services delivering support and accommodation to them
• Experience of establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other professionals, including those who may have different outcome priorities.
• The ability to create high-quality, personalised support and safety plans that are reflective of the clients you are working with
• A strong understanding of the issues that could disrupt progress in journeys towards independence, such as mental health, substance misuse, self-harm, domestic violence, anger management, learning impairment and/or frailty due to illness
• A strong understanding of the health and social care sector and how to navigate between and across specialties
• Demonstrable skills in person centred engagement and group work facilitation

Please note: this role is female only. Gender is considered to be a genuine occupational requirement - Equality Act 2010. 

Candidates must confirm their interest as soon as possible, with interviews scheduled shortly after and the appointed candidate expected to start as soon as possible. 

Further requirements:

In order to register with Central Recruitment Services for temporary agency work, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Current valid right to work in the UK
• Minimum 12 months’ of paid experience in a front line social care role within the last 3 years* (unless recruitment criteria states otherwise)
• A fully enhanced DBS registered on the DBS update service or willingness to apply for one through Central (at a cost of £50)
• Employment or education history to cover the last 5 years which can be verified through the referencing process

How to apply:

If you feel that you fully meet the above outlined criteria for this role and would like apply for this post, please forward your CV for consideration.

*Please note the outlined experience is the 'minimum' first stage criteria, and we will therefore be unable to consider your application unless you are able to demonstrate a relevant work history in line with this position.