Housing First Worker - Anglesey

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Job description

Introduction

The Wallich is a homelessness charity delivering innovative housing and support services to homeless and vulnerably housed people. The Organisation formed in 1978 in Cardiff and now supports around 8000 people a year across Wales. Our work falls into four principal areas:

1. Residential supported housing projects, including direct access hostels, emergency night shelters and accommodation for people with specific issues such as substance misuse, youth services etc.

2. Floating (Tenancy) support projects in which we support people who have tenancy difficulties, sometimes with a contributing health or other need, and are in danger of losing their homes.

3. Prevention or intervention projects supplied through Homelessness Prevention Grant funding which are a broad range of services that prevent homelessness or make life better for homeless people.

4. Participation and Progression services, which are embedded in all our projects enhancing support through providing opportunities for Service Users to take an active part in their community. These services include those designed to enable people to move into meaningful activities including employment and training opportunities.

The Wallich's values are of empowerment and treating people with dignity, respect and unconditional positive regard. The Wallich is committed to providing services that are trauma informed and delivered with Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) at the heart of its support. A PIE is an approach to supporting people out of homelessness whilst making significant and positive progress in overcoming trauma, substance misuse and mental illness. It also considers the psychological needs of staff: developing skills and knowledge, increasing motivation, job satisfaction and resilience. At the heart of what we do are the people we support, who are actively and meaningfully involved in their own support and encouraged to participate in the design, development and delivery of services.

Project Description

The project operates across Anglesey working with Homeless People and Rough Sleepers aged 25-54 years providing housing related support within people's homes or in the community, with the aim of preventing homelessness and increasing independence. The project is funded through the Supporting People Programme Grant and is required to meet the Welsh Government's National Outcomes Framework. The Framework's four main aims are:

Promoting Personal and Community Safety

Promoting Independence and Control

Promoting Economic Progress and Financial Control

Promoting Health and Wellbeing

Purpose of Role

Responsibility for coordinating and providing a flexible person centred, solution focused service, applying an assertive engagement and positive risk-taking approach, in line with Housing First principles. Within legal, moral and ethical boundaries, Housing First provision focuses on the long-term goal of creating sustainable tenancies and maximising connectivity with the local community. This role will work in an outreach capacity with those clients who may primarily need support with their mental health, enabling clients to access the services and interventions they need to build their resilience, gain confidence, reduce harm and acquire the personal and social skills they need to meet their aspirations.

This post will work specifically with Service Users whose lead support need is Mental Health, which may be accompanied by other complex needs.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure

No Agencies.

We do not accept unsolicited agency referrals for this position and do not consider any applicants, to have been introduced to us via agency.

Main Duties, Responsibilities and Person Profile

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

To enhanced and deliver accessible and flexible service delivery across the area, in response to the individual needs of each client and their respective landlords, complete dynamic risk assessments, conduct assessments of project referrals, develop/ review support plans and coordinate a case load of Clients, establish trusted professional relationship being the client's single point of contact and support

Develop dynamic risk management plans, adopting a positive and innovative risk-taking approach, deliver trauma informed support using a range of therapeutic skills and psychosocial interventions. Whilst promoting the development of independent living skills, to prevent crisis or tenancy failure. You will maintain regular communication with all project staff relating to the need for changes to clients' needs, risk assessments and support plans.

To promote, encourage and deliver a range of specialist harm reduction measures, develop and provide co-productive ways of working with clients and ensure that Clients are able to attend and participate in a range of socially inclusive activities and skill development opportunities, facilitating Client involvement in the running of the organisation and individual services through key working and in liaison with the client forums and groups.

To facilitate access to and oversee expenditure of each client's individual budget and develop partnership working with key stakeholders ensure clients have optimum levels of housing choice and access to appropriate levels of support and care. You will build relationships and liaise with landlords to assist with all aspects of clients' tenancies, offer benefits advice and accompanied/joint visits whilst promoting Housing First by engaging with local communities to sensitively address negative stereotypes, build supportive points of access, and encourage activity and opportunity for engagement.

Attend relevant forums such as MARAC, MAPPA, Safeguarding, to proactively represent and advocate for Housing First clients to maintain their tenancy and address their wider support needs and any other external meeting that is required.

Contribute to performance improvement initiatives by providing related data when required. Working with management to develop and participate in the development and operation of new systems, programmes and initiatives for the Wallich and report to management, any issues arising during the course of work, that require management and or policy decisions.

To ensure that Service Users' needs are met through the consistent application of the Wallich's model of support and standards set out in the organisational document 'Great Expectations.

To supervise and mentor an allocated number of volunteers/ peer and or students in line with Wallich policy and procedures ensuring they are aware of and are working towards the Wallich Aims and objectives.

To undertake administrative duties in line with the needs of the role, ensuring that relevant documentation and information gathering is completed, recorded and stored accurately and appropriately, utilising the relevant information system and assisting with providing data to ensure managers have access to high quality data as required.

ORGANISATIONAL VALUES AND POLICIES

All role holders within The Wallich are expected to live the organisational values and to demonstrate throughout the work they do, and the manner in which they do it, these values. In addition, all role holders are expected to either be compliant with, or act as a role model for, organisational policies and requirements.

The Wallich values are:

Courageous - We speak truth to power, we challenge ourselves and each other. We fearlessly pioneer new initiatives. We and our service users have the courage to drive change

Determined - We will not stop. We will continue to strive to make changes, not only for our charity but for the people we support. We will not lose passion or focus, even when it's hard.

Authentic - We are genuine in our intentions, working on the front line with the people who need us. We walk the path alongside people and use peer experience to inform everything we do.

Compassionate - At all times - always. No matter how many times someone comes to us for help, we will listen, be empathetic and greet them with kindness.

Community - Everybody deserves to belong somewhere. As a team we are family and we embrace partnership. We strive for inclusion and acceptance of those affected by homeless.

Interviews are on 13 January 2022 via MS Teams.

Please find the full job description and person specification attached in the document below. Please refer to this when completing your application.

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