Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

Young Persons Housing Advisor 
Salary Banding: £27,500 per annum (salary banding)
Contract: 1 x Fixed Term Contract  until end of March 2025 (possible extension depending on funding)
Hours: Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week 
Location: Hybrid / Hatfield - Candidates must have a full driving license and use of own vehicle for business purposes

Herts Young Homeless is an independent charity and has been supporting vulnerable people in Hertfordshire since 1998. We are professional, passionate, collaborative and supportive charity that provides guidance to everyone who is in need of support.
We are looking for a dedicated and passionate Young Persons Housing Advisors to join our team based in Hatfield! You will be responsible for providing advice, guidance and support to vulnerable people aged 18-24 years.

How will you make a difference? 

You will support vulnerable young people to find or maintain suitable accommodation. This involves setting up and or / sustaining their tenancies thus helping to prevent repeat homelessness. You will provide housing advice and support, including information on the relevant benefits and will assist them to identify other support needs, such as mental health issues.

The young people we support are amazing, inspiring and courageous. The challenges they face can test even the most resilient and they often lack the support needed to see them through difficult times; leaving them stressed, anxious and overwhelmed. We are looking for those who have the passion, patience and empathy to support our young people to overcome barriers and move forward in their lives, encouraging and enabling them to achieve and succeed.
What can we offer you?

• A supportive, knowledgeble team and organistion 
• 25 days annual leave per annum (in addition to Bank Holidays & Public Holidays)
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• People's Pension Plan contribution
• Group Life Insurance plan
• Opportunities for personal and career development
• Hybrid working - option to work from home up to 2 days per week
• An additional annual leave day on your Birthday
• Monthly draws to win ‘lunch on your manager’ or ‘leave work early’
• Medicash & Employee Assistance Programme - support with wellbeing & personal struggles/ Heath Cash Back Scheme

What will you be doing? 

• Manage a caseload of young people aged 18-24yrs.
• Ensure that all young people work towards an agreed support plan which is regularly reviewed and adapted to ensure that they meet their individual needs and goals.
• Build a professional and trusting relationship with the young people to enable to them to engage with the support and improve their situation and prospects.
• Engage effectively in multi-agency working, developing collaborative relationships and partnerships with relevant staff in a range of agencies to broker and co-ordinate support for young people.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of income related subjects such as benefits, money advice & grants.
• Be hyh’s benefits & money advice specialist, sharing knowledge and providing advice to the teams.
• Take the lead in developing and delivering benefits and/or money advice training.
• Work in partnership with the Catalyst Housing Floating Support staff to provide a consistent service countywide.
• Be ambassador for the charity both internally & externally to further hyh aims whilst protecting and enhancing its reputation.
• Immerse hyh’s values into your professional practice at all times.
• Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with external agencies and partners to ensure we are a provider of choice.
• Actively participate and provide valued contributions in supervision, team meetings and other meetings as appropriate.
• Work as part of a team by supporting, communicating, and engaging with your colleagues.
• Identify where crisis management is required and liaise with relevant services to ensure the crisis is responded to and prevented where possible.

What can you bring to the team?

• Candidates Must have a full clean driving license and use of own vehicle for business purposes
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the problems facing homeless young people.
• Ability to engage and motivate young people, strong interpersonal skills including the ability to be appropriately assertive.
• General administrative skills (filling, record keeping and computer literacy)
• Ability to work effectively with a full and varied workload with conflicting deadlines.
• Excellent understanding of confidentially with strict professional boundaries and personal integrity
• Excellent planning, organisational & time management skills
• An understanding of the voluntary sector and the constraints placed upon voluntary sector organisation (desirable) 
• Have a flexible working approach to the needs of the service users.
• IT literacy including excel, word, teams and outlook
• Highly motivated with the ability to work using your own initiative and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive professional relationships.
• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
• Willingness to work flexibly where required.
• A commitment to undertake training where required and an enthusiasm for new challenges and experiences.

If you are passionate, conscientious and take pride in doing a job well and making a difference, then we would love to hear from you!

Our promise to you
Herts Young Homeless promises to act with the upmost integrity and respect when it comes to handling your data and will not share your details with any other client without 1) discussing the opportunity with you first and 2) without your verbal or written consent for us to do so