Relief Senior Support Worker - Ceredigion

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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

This role is to provide cover to our projects based in Ceredigion (Mid Wales).

Across these areas we have a number of different projects types, including, but not limited to, Residential, Floating Support and Outreach. Depending on what shifts you pick up you may work across all of these projects types, or just within one particular type.

Full details of all projects in the area can be found at

Purpose of Role

Our relief workers provide critical support to our projects, helping to cover short or long term planned and unplanned absences or gaps in our rotas. This helps ensure that we have high quality support in place for our service users at all times.

Sometimes this will be planned in advance, and at other times it may be at short notice to help cover a shift which has become unexpectedly available. As a result the shifts you could be covering may be early mornings, days, evenings, nights or weekends.

We take a flexible approach to relief work and there is no obligation on you to take shifts which are offered out if they're not convenient for you. This means you can work as much or as little as you like depending on the shifts available.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure

Main Duties, Responsibilities and Person Profile

Main Duties and Responsibilites

1. To coordinate and provide support to residents of projects and / or, to visit people in their homes or in the community and coordinatore and provide housing related support.

a) To ensure that Service Users are aware of the mission, aims and objectives, policies and procedures of the projects and the duties, responsibilities and obligations of staff

b) To ensure that all Service Users are treated fairly and afforded equality of opportunity

c) To ensure that Service Users' needs are met through the consistent application of the Wallich's model of support

d) To respond to referrals according to the procedures and eligibility criteria of the project

e) To coordinate a Service User caseload with particular reference to:

- Coordinating and carrying out needs and risk assessments and developing risk management plans

- Coordinating and providing project inductions to all new Service Users

- Identifying the goals and aspirations of Service Users and developing outcome focused support plans

- Coordinating the day to day tasks and activities of Service Users support plans

- Applying various conversational skill sets to the benefit of the Service User (i.e. Solution Focused working and Motivational Interviewing)

- Providing information, advice and guidance that enable Service users to make informed decisions about their needs and support

- Ensuring that Service Users have a means of expressing their views and that this expression receives appropriate consideration

- Actively involving Service Users in their support, and the delivery and development of services

- Coordinating referrals to and liaising with relevant agencies and individuals with or on behalf of Service Users

- Coordinating and carrying out the reviewing of needs, risk and support plans in line with procedure

- Coordinating and carrying out the monitoring of Service User's progress by assessing levels of control, understanding and involvement in working towards their goals

- Representing and advocating with/for Service Users

- Coordinating a planned service withdrawal, ensuring sign-off is realistic, manageable and controlled

f) To maintain accurate and up to date records of every aspect of Service Users' issues and support according to procedure

g) To maintain regular communication with all other members of the project, especially in relation to the need for changes to Service Users' needs and risk assessments and support plans.

g) To ensure that the service standards set out in the organisational document 'Great Expectations' are met or exceeded

2. To carry out the project's housing management functions

a) To coordinate the induction of Service Users into project and provide and explain the required information

b) To issue occupancy agreements in line with current legislation / procedure

c) To ensure Housing Benefit applications are completed and submitted

d) To collect service charge and rent (where applicable)

e) To coordinate the facilitation of residents' house meetings.

f) To address and report maintenance issues in line with the Maintenance Policy

g) To monitor and address Health and Safety and carry out the required checks in line with legislation, policy and organisational requirements, and record appropriately

h) To ensure good standards of cleanliness and hygiene and maintained at all times

i) To actively encourage residents' involvement in appropriate housing management functions

j) To address all issues to maintain a safe and pleasant environment

k) To implement the Service User's Warning procedure as and when appropriate

l) To minimise voids by carrying out regular room / property inspections, and planning and preparing for move on

m) To provide a proactive night time presence to promote quiet and peacefull occupation

n) To respond to disturbances, emergencies and other housing management function according to procedure.

o) To assist with the organisations lone working and arrangement of out of hours resources.

3. To assist in monitoring the effectiveness of the project ensuring objectives and targets are met

a) To meet the monitoring requirements of the Outcomes Framework and other commissioners

b) To assist managers with gathering quantitative and qualitative information relating to objectives and targets

c) To ensure that records of Service Users accessing the service are maintained

d) To provide statistics and other information as requested by managers

4. To assist in the overall running of the project

a) To work in line with all Wallich policies and procedures

b) To participate in own supervision

c) To undertake relevant training

d) To represent The Wallich at relevant external meetings

e) To liaise with relevant bodies - Housing Associations, support agencies etc. - as appropriate and as the organisation's representative

f) To develop links with voluntary and statutory bodies in furtherance of the organisation's work and for the benefit of the Service User

g) To report to manager regularly informing him/her of issues arising during the course of the work that require policy decisions

h) To ensure adequate administrative records are

i) To take part in all aspects of lone working as directed by the policy

j) To partake in a team handover where applicable

k) To undertake other duties within the remit of the post

5. Other

a) To work and travel across Aberystwyth, and further afield as and when required.

b) To act as an organisational Lone Working Contact according to the Lone Working Procedure.

c) To arrange out of hours staffing cover/emergency maintenance using pre-approved out of hours resource list.

The list of duties and responsibilities is not an exhaustive one and may be varied from time to time by the Manager. This job description is subject to regular review.

Person Profile

1. Knowledge

a) Knowledge and understanding of current Homelessness Law, the Criminal Justice System, DWP Benefits, and the current legal framework within which you are expected to work.

b) Knowledge and understanding of how complex needs..... click apply for full job details