Emergency Accommodation Service Manager

Job Title: Service Manager

Responsible to: Operational Lead for Homeless Services

Responsible for: Service delivery for Emergency accommodation offer – ensuring move Ons for families and single homeless from B and Bs.

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week (flexible working hours can be agreed)

Location: YMCA Together Leeds Street

Salary and benefits:

• £34,955 and possibility of 5% on call allowance
•  35 days annual leave including bank holidays per annum
• Paid Medicash support
• Birthday day off
• Charity day of your choice
• Well-being Hours
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Company Pension Scheme 4%
• Funded Training Opportunities

Shortlisting and Interview Dates

Shortlisting 29th of March 2024

Interview/Assessment day week commencing 1st April 2024

YMCA Together is a registered charity and company Limited by Guarantee. We were founded in 1846 and so we build on a long history of providing a place for people experiencing challenging times in their lives.

YMCA Together is a truly value driven organisation.

Our vision is that everyone should feel safe, understood, empowered and positive for their future. We meet our vision by working within our values of Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness. These SHREK values run through all that we do from recruitment to how we work alongside people in our services to our partnership approach with other providers.

Our clear vision and values come together to help us in our mission to inspire and support people to change their lives by instilling hope, valuing the person and maximising potential.

Main Purpose of Job

The Service Manager is responsible for the effective operational management of the Emergency Accommodation scheme that provides a floating support service to Families and single people who have been in B and B accommodation. This is a joint project and we are working alongside the Housing network who will provide the accommodation with the YMCA Together providing the support .

The post holder will ensure that front line staff are supported and the KPIs of the service are met. This will mean that the manager oversees all areas of the service including the distribution of the caseloads, different line management of the staff and liaising with our partner agencies and commissioners.

Hours of Work

The post holder will be working primarily between the hours of 9am and 5pm, with the occasional requirement to work flexible hours as appropriate to the post that may include some late shifts.

Main Responsibilities

• Ensure all tenants are fully supported while in their new home and that staff are working to find a permanent move on accommodation offer.
• Co- ordinate and maintain oversight of caseloads and ensure that skills sets and needs are matched appropriately across the team.
• Maintain excellent communication with the wider YMCA Management team
• To work closely with our co provider The Housing Network to ensure that there is a open and transparent culture that puts the tenants at the heart of everything we do .
• To supervise, support and direct your staff to make appropriate and informed decisions around our clients support and accommodation.

Specific Duties

Responsibilities to the Homeless Operational Lead and OLT

• To compile and collate with The housing network monthly reports on KPI’s
• To give informed opinions and make recommendations regarding support, housing, and HR issues that impact on the service, service users and staff team.
• To make recommendations to the Homeless Operational Lead on the development of the service which involve any financial commitments or alterations to service delivery.
• Attend and meaningfully contribute to weekly communication meetings with the Homeless Operational Lead and OLT, submitting reports on request.

Representing YMCA Together

• Attend all meetings both internal and external.
• Attend stakeholder days, forums and other external events
• Develop relationships with partner agencies, referral agencies and all other stakeholders.

Line Management and HR Responsibilities

• Support and develop the capacity and motivation of the team to deliver an innovative and high-quality support and housing service.
• Support and monitor the team’s performance in relation to achieving positive moves on for Service users.
• Collate data on the performance of the service and team and make recommendations to the Homeless Operational Lead to ensure the service achieves its KPI’s
• To Organise the staff rota and cover for the service and keep records of sickness, toil, rotas, and annual leave ensuring the continuity of support for Service users.
• Set individual objectives with the team in negotiation with the Homeless Operational Lead and team members.
• Identify training needs and requirements for individuals to ensure successful delivery of the programme.
• Assist the Homeless Operational Lead to manage disciplinary and grievance procedures when necessary.
• Ensure the induction of new staff to the service.

Working with Service Users

• Encourage involvement and participation from service users in the development, running and shaping of the service.
• Work collaboratively with the housing network to ensure that all homes are to a good and suitable standard.
• Shape the peer network within the service empowering the staff team to lead on this to ensure that the residents have a voice that can implement change.

Health and Safety

• Ensuring that you embed and adhere to organisational Health & Safety policies and procedures within your service delivery.

Teamwork

• Develop trusting and secure working relationships with colleagues, sharing information and expertise, covering absence and working together to deliver high quality services.
• Maintain contacts with local statutory and voluntary agencies and organisations attending/ representing YMCA Together at relevant local community forums, seminars and conferences as required.
• Contribute to the organisations formulation of policy and procedures.
• Attend and participate in team meetings to ensure good communications and liaison with colleagues
• Prepare for and attend supervision and appraisal sessions with the Homeless Operational Lead, taking direction as appropriate and contributing to the development of both you and the service.

Relationships

• The post holder will be the main point of contact between the YMCA together and the Housing network so good relationship building is integral to the successful outcome of the service.
• The post holder will be required to have contact with a variety of people during their work. The context of this contact will vary from formal ‘Key working’ to informal networking and relationship building with the Local Authority and other relevant agencies.
• It is recognized that the association is operating in a dynamic environment and as such this job description may be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect evolving needs of the business and changing nature of the job.

General

• Observe and ensure compliance with the professional boundaries and data protection policy.
• To have a flexible and positive attitude to all team members
• To be committed to learning both as an individual and as part of a team
• Undertake own administrative services and report writing.
• Prioritise workload.
• To work to agreed individual, team, and organisational objectives and to work towards the organisation’s performance targets.
• Sharing information and expertise with colleagues, covering absence, and working together to deliver a high-quality service.
• Uphold and develop our Equal Opportunities Policy of anti-discriminatory practices across all services.
• Observe and ensure compliance with the Service Code of Conduct always including professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Adhere to all YMCA Together policies and procedures.
• Report and log all safeguarding incidents.
• Dealing promptly with all complaints in line with our policies and procedures
• Prepare for and attend supervision and appraisal sessions with your line manager, taking direction as appropriate and contributing to the development of both you and the service.

The post holder will be expected to carry out other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the post and may be requested from time to time, they will be expected to demonstrate flexibility in all areas of their work. They will be expected to carry out some out of hours duties such as emergencies and meetings called at short notice.

Scope and Limits of Authority

Work within agreed policies recommending changes where necessary and cooperate with all other staff to ensure the best interests of YMCA Together are always a prime consideration.

Person Specification – Service Manager

Qualifications

Essential

• A significant level of experience or /and Housing, management or training related qualification.

Desirable

• A degree level qualification or equivalent in a relevant discipline.

Experiences

Essential

• Experience of operational HR matters such as Supervising Staff/recruitment/ selection/ induction of employees and volunteers
• Must be financial literate
• Experience of handling grievances, disciplinary, supervisions and appraisals
• Understanding of the health and safety and compliance legislation around a supported housing service.

Desirable

• CIH level 4 or above in housing practise.
• Experience of working with RSL’s

Knowledge

Essential

• Working knowledge of housing legislation, HMO requirements, Health & Safety, protection of vulnerable adults, safeguarding,
• A comprehensive working knowledge of the latest best practice in
• Risk Assessments
• Creative support planning
• Welfare Reform, Housing benefit collection and appeal processes .
• Human Resource Management
• Supporting complex needs
• Psychological Informed approaches

Desirable

• Knowledge of day services
• Working knowledge of health interventions
• Knowledge of the cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) framework

Skills

Essential

The technical ability to:

• Manage the day to day running of the service and the issues arising from a dynamic joint service!
• Assist with the management and development of a team through sound recruitment, selection, induction procedures for new employees and volunteers.
• Develop a high-quality person-centred approach.
• Develop the potential of individual staff via supervisions and appraisals to facilitate effective succession planning
• Must be computer literate in MS Word, MS Excel, MS office and have the ability to learn new software packages

Behaviour/ Attributes

Essential

• Must have the Interpersonal ability and skills to:
• Develop a strong culture in accordance with YMCA SHREK values
• To be an exemplary professional displaying Strength, Humility, respect, empathy and kindness in day to day working relationships
• Develop and sustain excellent relationships with The Housing Network, multi-disciplinary team and other organisations within Liverpool and the city council officers and commissioners.
• Develop and sustain sound working relationships with local people and local community groups.
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated, and passionate about their work
• Flexibility, adaptability and ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to work within the ethos and philosophy of the YMCA