Housing Support Worker

Are you a passionate advocate for victims of domestic abuse?
Do you have a genuine passion to help victims of abuse take control of their lives again?
My client is an established Domestic Abuse charity and is keen to recruit a Housing Support Worker on a temporary basis. The Housing Support Worker will be based in the Southwest and will be supporting vulnerable victims of domestic abuse.
As the Housing Support Worker, you will be carrying out a range of duties, some of those are listed below:
1. Referrals and Assessments
1.1 To take part in the assessment of women / families referred to the service; including gathering additional information from supporting agencies.
1.2 To carry out risk assessments including DASH, co-produce safety plans with the client’s, regularly review the plans, enabling women to assess and manage risk to their own and their children’s safety. Amend plans as appropriate when circumstances change and refer women to MARAC when appropriate.
1.3 Carry out needs assessments which effectively establish the support needs of families and enable support to be offered as quickly as possible. Respond flexibly as the survivor's risks change
1.4 When appropriate, using our established protocols, make referrals to substance misuse and mental health services.
1.5 To liaise closely with applicant and referral agencies and keep informed of progress and outcome.
2 Support
2.1 In conjunction with the service user complete the empowerment star and draw up a support plan. Ensure your work with service users is recovery focused and strengths based, supporting women in a creative, consistent and assertive way to ensure positive outcomes are achieved. Review the support plan regularly and record changes agreed.
2.2 To advise women on personal safety and safety procedures regarding the safe house.
2.3 Enable and encourage families to take advantage of all services relevant to their safety such as legal advice, housing and benefits rights, education, medical treatment, counselling etc. Assist clients in gaining access to solicitors, benefits agencies, housing departments, education, medical treatment, counselling etc. .
2.4 To work in partnership with other agencies e.g. the police, local authority, health, social services, education, youth service and the voluntary sector to ensure efficient mechanisms for referrals and to advocate for survivors to ensure their needs are met.
2.5 To maintain knowledge of local services, encourage engagement and reduce the families isolation
2.6 Recognise, respect and address the needs of service-users who face particular barriers when seeking help to access the service, including those from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, LGBT communities, disabled people, women with complex needs and other hard to reach groups.
2.8 Maintain an up to date working knowledge of landlord and licensee legislation, housing and welfare legislation and the welfare benefit system.
2.9 Carry out a financial assessment for each service user assisting them to maximise their income, address debts, budget and pay bills and support them to make appropriate welfare benefit claims.
3. Housing Management
3.1 Welcome new residents; showing them around premises, settling into accommodation, providing information packs, (clothing and food where needed),
3.2 Be responsible for the safe houses, ensuring a supportive, homely and safe environment is maintained and a daily staff presence.
3.3 Complete sign up paperwork, including licence agreement (explaining rights and responsibilities), explain house rules, answer any queries and to deal with concerns, complete welfare benefits claims ensuring they are accurately completed and promptly submitted.
3.4 Facilitate house meetings encouraging women to participate and to contribute to decisions affecting the management of the houses.
3.5 Take primary responsibility for the collect of rent and other charges payable. Work closely with the resident and Finance Department to minimise and manage arrears.
3.6 To carry out promptly inspections of void rooms and prepare for relet.
3.7 Work closely and co-operatively with the Housing Worker to ensure that:
·weekly fire alarm tests and routine health and safety checks in the safe house take place, and ensure these are accurately recorded
·accommodation standards are maintained including reporting to the Housing Worker repairs, furniture and equipment replacement and health and safety concerns
·liaising with contractors to manage day to day maintenance and servicing of equipment. Keep up to date maintenance requests and repairs records
There is so much more to this exciting role which can be discussed via a confidential chat with Haleema on (phone number removed)
This is a temporary role however does have the scope to become permanent for the right candidate.
Working Hours/Days
Mon to Fri- 2pm to 10pm.
Sat and Sun – 7am to 3pm and 2pm to 10pm
37.5 hours per week
Permanent salary: 22,183 ( may be negotiable for candidates with relevant experience of 2 years or more )
Due to the needs of the service, this vacancy can only consider female applicants.
The successful candidate must be willing to take part in the out of hours or on-call rota as part of their required duties as and when scheduled according to the rota.
Temp Hourly pay rate: 14.20 per hour Umbrella
Key Requirements:
Must be a driver with access to own car
Must have a valid DBS check
If you have the required skills and experience and can start work at short notice or immediately, please apply or contact Haleema for a chat.
* Please Note- We or the employer we represent do not offer sponsorship and therefore this vacancy is relevant for candidates with the right to work in the UK on a full-time basis. If you require sponsorship, please do not apply as your application will not be processed*
We look forward to reviewing your CV