Rsap Engagement Support Worker - Fixed Term To March 2025

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Engagement Support Worker ( Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme)

The Engagement Support Officer is responsible for coordinating and providing a personalised, trauma informed support service to people with complex needs experiencing homelessness based on a strengths based philosophy aimed at helping people take greater control over their lives.

What you’ll be doing

• Delivering wrap around, trauma informed support to individuals placed within designated self- contained tenancies in the community who are experiencing homelessness and who are or may have been experiencing rough sleeping.
• Supporting individuals allocated to RSAP properties that will have ongoing support needs, which will vary in severity based on their personal experience of homelessness with a focus on helping people to gain the skills to manage a tenancy with the aim to move on into settled homes of their own.
• Focussing on people’s strengths and encouraging them to build on these by identifying the skills and tools they need to successfully sustain their own tenancies and live independently.
• Maintaining accurate up to date records on case management system GM – Think of progress against individual goals, safety plans and outcomes information.
• Liaise with other agencies to facilitate access to support including Adult Social Care; Criminal Justice services; Health services; employment and training agencies and work collaboratively to effectively manage risk and ensure the safety of the people who use the service.
• Regularly review the person centred support plans to update records and monitor progress of individuals on case load.
• Utilise coaching skills to help people resolve issues for themselves and to understand the impact and consequences of decisions made to support independence and ensure people have the skills they need to successfully move on from accommodation.
• Provide personalised support to a caseload of people that shows regard to age, gender, ethnicity and a range of previous personal experiences.
• Liaise with landlords acting as advocates to assist people to manage the accommodation; including practical help with furniture; benefits advice and accompanied visits.
• Use a strength based philosophy to assist people in both identifying and meeting their aspirations including appropriate routes to help people take on more structured meaningful activities, volunteering, training and employment.
• Coach people to identify the main risks and challenges in sustaining tenancies, and enable them to identify the actions they need to take to resolve the issues or challenges they face.
• To provide advice and guidance around welfare benefits and welfare support (white goods or furniture packages), to ensure people have access to what they are entitled and to assist improving their financial capability (budgeting etc.) and understanding their financial obligations to enable them to make informed choices.
• To be aware of wider policy changes (Welfare Reform etc.) that could have an impact on people being supported and ensure they are aware of any potential impact.
• When they are able to discuss their situation to perform robust assessments of people’s needs using coaching techniques to understand the root cause of the issue and tailor support to individuals ensuring a graduated support offer that acknowledges people’s own journeys.
• To complete dynamic safety plans and maintain own safety by following lone working procedures
• To adhere to good practice Safeguarding procedures with a positive risk taking approach to ensure the wellbeing of vulnerable people.

What you’ll need

• Use of full range of Microsoft Office.

What we need from you

• To have an understanding of the causes and impact of chronic homelessness and the complex interdependencies of mental health, substance abuse and offending behaviour.
• A creative approach to problem solving and experience of engaging those who have experienced previous trauma in their lives getting and keeping people engaged demonstrating empathy.
• Good verbal and written communication and active listening skills.
• Promote the rights, responsibilities and informed choice of the people receiving the service, acting as an advocate to promote independence.
• Know when to seek assistance or supervision and how to engage meaningfully in planned supervision.
• Adaptability to changing and emerging needs as the service develops demonstrating flexibility and resilience in challenging situations.
• Experience of data collection, administration and recording procedures with the ability to maintain accurate case notes and organise own case load
• Professional and value led with integrity, inclusivity and respect for diversity
• An ability to work in uncertainty and maintain a positive approach.
• Ability to quickly build rapport; being persistent, consistent determined and resilient
• Ability and commitment to working with vulnerable customer groups and people with complex needs at a pace and way in which they choose to work
• To show leadership qualities; skills of a strong negotiator; ability to advocate and be diplomatic and positively represent the service in external forums.
• The ability to work effectively with partner agencies and develop contacts and networks across a wide range of local services
• Ability to work across Sheffield to meet service delivery demands
• To work in a transparent manner being insightful and reflecting on work to create a culture of openness and honesty in which people are valued and respected
• A commitment to sharing power and decisions with people who use the service and support of the principles underlying co-production.
• To have an awareness of housing issues in the local community and knowledge of the local housing market.
• Experience of using a strength based approach to assist people to achieve their goals is desirable.
• Ability to engage and to build relationships with partnering or potential partner agencies or organisations
• Willingness to keep up to date with housing and related legislation.

What we give you in return for your hard work and commitment

• Pension| DC scheme (up to 10% contribution from both colleagues and Great Places)
• WPA| Healthcareauto enrolled at no contribution level with £1250 of savings available - option to increase & add family members
• Annual leave |Start at 26 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days + Bank Holidays
• Flexi time | Allows colleagues to achieve a healthy work life balance whilst carrying out requirement of the role. A maximum of 13 days flexi can be taken in a year
• Professional fees | The business pays the cost of one professional membership fee for each colleague
• The Market Place|high street, restaurant & supermarket discounts, gym memberships, cycle to work, smart tech loans and much more
• Health and wellbeing initiatives | Our colleagues enjoy wellbeing campaigns throughout the year, with activities designed around our four pillars of wellbeing, these include career wellbeing, mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing and financial wellbeing

Great Places Housing Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all our colleagues to share this commitment.

All successful applicant(s) will be subject to an enhanced criminal records background check (Child and Adult Workforce, Child Barred List).

Further detail on our commitment to safeguarding children/young people & vulnerable adults can be found in the Great Places Housing Group Safeguarding Policy & Recruitment Policy on our website.