We are seeking a dynamic and compassionate Senior Support Worker to join our dedicated team in supporting young people within housing projects and within the community, to equip them with the skills to live independently.
Job Purpose:
This is a key role within the support team of YMCA Mendip and South Somerset. Support will be provided across the area where needed, both accommodation and community-based work, to assist those who are not housed but need comprehensive housing support to identify, secure and set up accommodation to achieve independent living.
The post holder will be involved in each stage of the young person’s time with YMCA Mendip and South Somerset supporting young people to progress as needed through the housing pathway to improve their quality of life and independence within each of the five outcomes: Being Healthy, staying safe, Enjoying and achieving, Making a positive contribution and Economic well-being.
The post is also responsible for Housing Management duties to ensure a holistic service for clients including administration, rent collection and rent administration, notification of repairs and maintenance, health and safety tasks and ensuring the environment is welcoming and safe for clients and staff.
Duties and Responsibilities
- To provide cover to ensure the delivery of accommodation and support services to young people when required as directed by the Accommodation and Support Manager
- To deliver a high-quality support service offering flexibility and choice in methods of intervention, consultation and advice-giving to young people.
- To provide timely and appropriate interventions to meet the needs of the individual
- To follow the organisations Safeguarding policies and procedures to maximise young people’s safety and minimise harm
- To provide a high quality of support work that is targeted to meet needs of the young person, with the aim of developing independent living skills in areas such as: accommodation, financial management including day to day expenses, rents and debts, offending, health and wellbeing, social networking to enable the individual to live independently in the short and longer terms; reducing homelessness and avoiding repeat homelessness and evictions
- To develop young people’s independence using personalised independence plans using the organisations specified model with the full involvement of the young person, who will set their own goals to achieve healthy sustainable outcomes
- To support young people into training/education/employment/volunteering as a priority and signposting young people to relevant agencies
- To work in partnership with all voluntary and statutory organisations to improve interventions and outcomes for young people
- To work with the Accommodation and Support Manager to ensure young people are actively involved in the planning and decision making of YMCA Mendip and South Somerset
- To actively and practically ensure young people’s living environments are welcoming and high quality and that maintenance concerns in properties is reported quickly
- To work together with other staff to ensure a consistent approach of support to young people to ensure young people achieve sustained independence as the goal
- To support a case load of young people with direction and guidance from the Senior Accommodation and Support Workers and the Accommodation and Support Manager
- To attend and contribute at events, meetings and activities with groups of colleagues, young people and partner agency staff, with the aim of contributing to service development both internally and externally
- To ensure confidentiality of clients’ information is maintained and that it is kept securely whether electronic or paper records. The information must be accurate, factual and up to date within organisational requirements
- To contribute to the production of reports, including providing written reports on occupancy, rental income and young person complaints and other issues
- To ensure Accommodation and Support Workers and Accommodation and Support Manager are kept informed on all matters relevant to their work, suggest and contribute potential new developments/areas of work
- To promote and maintain positive relationships with other members of the YMCA Mendip and South Somerset staff team
- To understand and implement the organisation’s policies and procedures
- To undertake as requested any other appropriate duties, as may be required from time to time.
- To complete the staff induction programme and relevant mandatory training specified within agreed timescales and proactively contribute to team meetings/events with groups of colleagues, young people and partner agency staff and contribute to service development
- To coach and train Accommodation and Support Workers to carry out their roles effectively
- Working under the direction of the Accommodation and Support Manager, to support young people to complete the Tenant Accreditation programme relevant to the area
- Undertake hours as part of a rota system including evenings and weekend shifts
- Ensure young people comply with the conditions of their accommodation provision e.g. house rules, tenancy or licence agreement.
- To comply with Health and Safety requirements and to undertake health and safety checks as required
Scope and Limits of Authority:
The role is responsible for enabling clients to gain and sustain licences and tenancies and gain the skills they need to achieve independent living. The role is responsible for working with young people to support them in moving through the pathway from entrance to accommodation to move on into independent living and then sustaining their tenancy be this through the private rented sector or through a Registered Provider.
To be considerate to others and deal with all queries in a professional and courteous manner, and to act respectfully. To consistently deliver behaviours and approaches in line with person specification. The role is responsible for the efficient, professional andcourteous administration and delivery of the service
Experience
- Experience in face-to-face work with young people or vulnerable people in paid or voluntary capacity
- Experience of work in housing / homelessness
- Considerable experience in working in a relevant comparable environment
Skills & Abilities
- Ability to be innovative, take initiative, be self-motivated and plan own work load.
- Efficient and organised recording and administrative skills
- To work in a stressful, sometimes hostile, environment; to be assertive and use conflict creatively.
- To work as part of a team, to supervise others, be open, honest, able accept and to give positive criticism.
- Actively to enable and empower young people in all the work that is undertaken.
- Understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities and to work in a non-judgemental way.
- Knowledge of appropriate support agencies and networks for young people aged 16-25 years.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a wider team and also under pressure.
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