Senior Support Worker - East DAWS, Wrexham

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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 EAST DAWS project is a drug and alcohol service delivered across the counties of Flintshire and Wrexham to adult drug and/or alcohol users, their families and carers. The service provides drug-related information and advice, triage assessment, referral to structured drug and alcohol treatment, brief psychosocial interventions, harm reduction interventions and aftercare; with the overall aim of reducing harm associated with substance use, and meeting individuals' needs in a way that promotes independence. The service is grant-funded through the North Wales Area Planning Board (Substance Misuse.

Purpose of Role

To coordinate and provide support that enables and empowers service users to address housing and/or personal difficulties, build their skills and confidence improving their ability to maintain their current or future accommodation. The support will develop independence to enable people to improve their control, understanding and involvement in dealing with the issues that affect them, and assist service users to achieve their preferred outcomes.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

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

1. To coordinate and provide support to adults, families and carers with their substance misuse-related support needs through a range of interventions, with a focus on harm reduction and promoting independence, supporting service users to achieve their goals by providing information, advice and guidance that enables service users to make informed decisions, signposting where needed, and coordinating planned service withdrawals.

2. To ensure that service user's needs are met through the consistent application of The Wallich's model of support, ensuring that service users are provided with an equality of opportunity to participate, express their views and ensure their views receive appropriate consideration, and that the quality of service delivered meets or exceeds the standards as set out in the organisational standards documents.

3. To support the provision of opportunities for service users to be involved in the development and delivery of the service, which may include volunteering, providing peer support, and through contributing to the monitoring and review of the service.

4. To assist with the overall running of the project, ensuring appropriate and effective information sharing within the team day to day through handovers and team meetings, as well as ensuring the maintenance of good standards of cleanliness, hygiene and adherence to Health and Safety legislation.

5. To ensure all policies, procedures and guidance are adhered to, including, but not limited to, following lone working procedures, financial administrative process and participating in own personal and professional development.

6. 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.

7. To keep the line manager informed of any issues of relevance, in particular those that require managerial and/or policy decisions and to undertake any other duties within the remit of the post and as directed by management.

8. To support the development and expansion of the service by maintaining positive relationships with other support providers across Wrexham & Flintshire and responding flexibly to demand.

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.

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 homelessness.

Person Profile

1. Qualifications

a. Qualification in a relevant discipline at NVQ Level 3 or above, e.g. Homelessness / Housing, Health and Social Care, or can demonstrate sufficient experience in a relevant role

2. Knowledge/ Technical/ Work based skills

a. An understanding of current homelessness law, and how complex and co-occurring needs can affect individuals and their vulnerability..

b. Able to understand the concept of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) and how this approach embeds into support work

c. Able to understand and work within appropriate professional boundaries

d. Able to manage conflict and effectively deal with challenging situations

e. Able to communicate effectively in verbal and written form, in formal and informal situations

f. Able to maintain professional relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders

g. Able to effectively use Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, and other computer software systems

3. Experience

a. Experience of working with vulnerable adults

b. Experience of assessing and managing risk

c. Experience of planning and delivering support

d. Experience of using monitoring and recording systems

e. Experience of housing related support or homelessness (this can be from a personal perspective) is desirable but not essential

f. Experience of supervising volunteers is desirable but not essential

4. Other

a. Driving licence and own vehicle is essential.

b. Ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable but not essential.

Interviews will be held on 23rd December 2021.

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