Supported Housing Officer

At BACKUP, we believe no young person should experience homelessness. When they do, we’re here to provide safe accommodation, practical support and opportunities to build a brighter future.

We’re looking for 3 compassionate, resilient and motivated people to join our Lucas Project team, supporting young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

This is more than a housing role. It’s about building relationships, helping young people overcome barriers, celebrating progress and supporting them towards independence. Every conversation, every small step and every achievement can help a young person move closer to the future they want for themselves.

Key Responsibilities

Building resilience within young people

• Building their confidence and self-esteem.
• Developing their social and communication skills.
• Improving their motivation.
• Helping them to set goals and plan for their future.
• Support them to improve their future employability – CV writing and interview skills; re-entering education and seeking, securing and maintaining employment.
• Helping them to access positive, low cost activities and make meaningful use of their time.
• Engaging with young people in order to sustain their supported accommodation.
• Engaging with other specialist services.

Provide a comprehensive support and service that meets the highly quality standards set by BACKUP.

• Develop effective and professional working relationships internally and externally promoting a positive image of the service and of BACKUP North West
• Sign up new young people, go through tenancy/license agreements with them and complete housing benefits claim and records.
• Ensure service meets the standards required under management agreements and contracts
• Induct young people in the conditions of stay and show them their bedsits/flats and the building of occupation
• Record information promptly and accurately as per scheme procedures
• Ensure the quality of service to young people is not compromised and standards are maintained to the highest level at all times
• Where necessary, in line with Scheme guidelines utilise the support interventions and exclusions policy
• Encourage young person participation and involvement. (To reduce likelihood of isolation and anti-social or unsafe behaviour)
• Deal with local authority Emergency Duty Teams, emergency services and Police were necessary
• Effective management of emergencies
• Ensure service meets the best practice standards required under any management agreements and various RSL’s, ensuring best practice
• Ensure BACKUP complaints process is used to inform service standards
• Liaise with agencies and local authority departments on young person or scheme based queries
• Review and update all case notes, young person files, service risk alerts/ assessments, food hygiene, health & safety logs
• Produce correspondence, reports & minutes accurately & timely
• Ensure compliance with the Scheme’s policy and practices in relation to the allocation of tenancies under the referral process.

Support Work

• Ensure support service is young person focussed and complies with BACKUP policies and practices, statutory & regulatory requirements & all funding contracts
• Engage each young person in a support plan that includes as a minimum: daily routines, managing the tenancy, budgeting and specific issues relating to the individual young person in line with an assessment of needs and risk.
• Engage with young people to promote independent living and young person engagement
• Provide 1-2-1 and group support to young people
• Produce and Review case notes, young person’s files, service risk alerts/assessments
• Oversee support plans that address all pathways of support required including health and wellbeing of young people

Provide Staff Support

• Provide mentoring, support & training for volunteers and bank staff ensuring staff are motivated to work to the best of their ability
• Daily handover following end of shift, with update on any actions/issues
• Ensure bank staff & volunteers comply with all Backup North West’s policies and procedures
• Encourage young people to access Drop-Ins and other activities organised through colleagues (as appropriate)

Participate in promotional activities, fundraising and other outings and activities with residents

• Occasional working outside normal hours, and outside Bolton boundaries (where required)
• Attending appointments, events, promotions for BACKUP
• Promote where possible BACKUP values and demonstrate agreed behaviours.

Rent, Licence Fee, Service Charge and general Income Management

• Check income status weekly to prevent accrual of arrears.
• Assist young person in devising repayment strategy (where required).
• Take appropriate action to recover unpaid rent/licence and other charges
• Complete and manage Housing Benefit applications and any subsequent changes as a matter of urgency.
• Manage petty cash and submit expenditure returns
• Keep accurate records, including making up-to-date Housing Benefit applications and to ensure a prompt information flow with BACKUP North West office.
• Implement BACKUP North West policies and procedures in a conscientious manner.
• Monitor payment by residents of service charges
• Support Project Manager and colleagues to recover unpaid rent/licence fees and other charges
• Keep void times to a minimum
• Preparation of rooms for occupation between lets – aiming to maintain high standards of accommodation
• Maintain a safe and secure environment for young people
• Undertake light cleaning duties, minor repairs and domestic tasks, including putting out refuse and undertaking laundry.
• Use Backup North West approved contractors for property maintenance and supply of household goods
• Responsible for Health, Safety and well-being off all staff, young people and visitors
• Responsible for the building – fixtures, fittings, furniture and equipment
• Ensure building is adequately cleaned and maintained and repairs reported
• Conduct regular building risk assessments, fire drills, risk assessments, accident book, food hygiene records comply with Health & Safety Requirement
• Responsible for security of the premises

Maintain Information systems

• Ensure office filing is maintained
• Comply with GDPR
• Maintain accurate client and property records
• Create new files and archive old files as required
• Accurate reporting of statistics on use of service as required
• Daily updates to referral agencies including Leaving Care team
• Update SASSHA (or other rent, referral, resident & property database in place within the charity) system daily, alerting housing benefit of any changes.

Flexibility

• Be flexible in approach to work in order to meet the needs of our young people
• Be flexible in approach to supporting young people
• To undertake any other duties as may be requested by Backup North West Managers, Senior Managers and Trustees, broadly consistent with the job description and level of the post
• Provide training, assistance and adequate cover for colleagues as necessary

Policies & Legislation

• Adhere to all BACKUP systems, policies and procedures
• Take personal responsibility for the Health, Safety & Welfare of the working environment, escalating issues to responsible person were necessary
• Actively follow Health & safety Policy, procedures and safe systems of work
• Comply with Equality, Inclusion and Diversity policies and regulation.
• Reporting any issues linked to safeguarding vulnerable adults and/or children.
• Upholding safe and efficient working policies and practices, undertake supervision and training.

Key information

• Locations: Bolton
• Role Type: Fixed term
• Working Hours: Full-Time
• Working Hours Per Week: 32 per week plus a maximum of 92 sleeps per calendar year

More about this role

• Closing Date: Tuesday 20th October 2026 at 12:00pm
• Closing Time: 23.59
• Anticipated Interview Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026 – 12:00
• Contact Name: Business Support
• Contact Information: business.support@backup-charity.org.uk
• Employee Benefits: 5% pension contribution and healthcare package
• Working Pattern Details: Continuous rolling rota over 365 days (Christmas and New Year shift cover are allocated separately.)
• Would You Consider A Job Share For The Role?: Yes

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