Floating Support Practitioner

Closing date: January 15th, 2024

Job Title:

Responsible to:

Housing Services Manager

Responsible for:

N/A

Hours of Work:

37.5 Hrs per Week

Location:

YMCA Together

Salary and benefits:

£26,321 per annum

33 days annual leave including bank holidays per annum
Paid Medicash support
Birthday Day off
Spiritual Day off
Charity day of your choice
Well-being Hours
Cycle To Work Scheme
Refer a Friend Scheme
Company Pension Scheme 4%
Funded Training Opportunities

Shortlisting/Interview/Assessment Dates:

Shortlisting W/C 15th January 2024
Interview/Assessment Day TBC

YMCA Together has been voted No1 Charity to work for by our employees in 2022. YMCA is a registered charity and company Limited by Guarantee. We were founded in 1846 and so we build on a long history of providing a place for people experiencing challenging times in their lives.

YMCA Together is a truly value driven organisation.

Our vision is that everyone should feel safe, understood, empowered and positive for their future. We meet our vision by working within our values of Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness. These SHREK values run through all that we do from recruitment to how we work alongside people in our services to our partnership approach with other providers.

Our clear vision and values come together to help us in our mission to inspire and support people to change their lives by instilling hope, valuing the person and maximising potential.

Job Purpose

Deliver a comprehensive time bound outreach service to tenants accommodated in YMCA Togethers self-contained, shared, abstinence, trainee and family supported properties, enabling them to sustain their tenancy, be a good neighbour, maximise their potential, build social capital, self efficacy and secure longer term accommodation.

Hours of work

The post holder will be working based on the individual needs of the service and could include early, late or office hours type shifts. Monday to Friday including some bank holidays.

Duties and Responsibilities

To support YMCA tenants to sustain their existing tenancies through direct intervention provide an outreach service to individuals who have experienced homelessness and are transitioning, to more independent living through our supported accommodation. Offer appropriate advice, information, refer and signpost to support services as required.

The post-holder will work with the Housing Lead and the Housing Officer to provide a service to tenants, assessing and coordinating internal and external services around them to meet their varied needs. This will be achieved by working in a way that shows genuine commitment to enabling people to build social capital and be confident to secure and maintain long term accommodation.

Duties

To provide structured support to enable vulnerable and “at risk” tenants to understand their responsibilities and support them to develop effective strategies to manage those responsibilities
To proactively find workable solutions to tenancy sustainment issues as they arise, working with other agencies, teams or services to achieve them
To support tenants find permanent accommodation when they are ready to move on through Propertypool Plus/private lets etc
Maintain a high level of personal contact with tenants to maximise engagement and minimise breaches of tenancy. Whilst ensuring a caring, response, tenant focused service is delivered in keeping with YMCA Together SHREK values (Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness)
Provide comprehensive advice and guidance to tenants, identify support needs and any gaps in service provision, carry out initial assessments of a tenants needs and agree plans which are person centred and focus on achieving positive outcomes.
Develop Support Plans with tenants to meet identified needs, aspirations and goals, whilst regularly reviewing plans as need changes and evolves.
Support tenants to manage their finances, be in receipt of the correct benefits and financial support, manage debt and unexpected expenses
Support tenants to look after their own health and wellbeing, including empowering people to take care of themselves, stay well, manage day to day tasks, eat healthy and have regular exercise.
Support tenants to make meaningful use of their time, including getting involved with volunteering, community projects, education, hobbies, sports and cultural activities.
With tenants’ agreement, liaise with other agencies to facilitate access to support, including recovery services, offending, criminal justice, health, housing, mental health, domestic abuse, welfare, housing benefits, debt services, child and adult protection, employment, training and volunteering
To document all contact made on Supported Housing Management system (DAVE) within agreed timeframes

Health and Safety

Liaise with Emergency Services; Fire, Police and Medical
Ensure at all times the safety of yourself and others on the premises in which you work
To carry out a risk assessment with each tenant that highlights any risks to themselves, their tenancy or others – reviewed at appropriate timescales
To report incidents, in line with YMCA Together tenancy agreement, including nuisance caused by residents’ behaviour or their visitors
Report any repairs, maintenance, health & safety hazards, tenant enquiries, breaches of tenancy, safeguarding or vulnerability that are identified during day to day activities
Maintain accurate records in line with YMCA Together health & safety policies

Teamwork

Attend and participate in team meetings and reflection meetings
Sharing information and expertise with colleagues, covering absence and working together to deliver a high quality service
To have a flexible and positive attitude to all team members
To be committed to learning both as an individual and as part of a team

General

Prioritise work load
To work to agreed individual, team and organisational objectives and to work towards YMCA Together performance targets
Uphold YMCA Together Equal Opportunities Policy of anti-discriminatory practices across all services
Observe and ensure compliance with the Service Code of Conduct including professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times
Prepare for and attend supervision and appraisal sessions with your line manager, taking direction as appropriate and contributing to the development of both you and the service
A designated car user status has been attached to this post

Relationships

The post holder will be required to have contact with a variety of people during the course of their work.

This job description is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post, and the post holder will be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of the work as directed.

The job description will be reviewed at least once a year and it may be subject to modification or amendment at any time after consultation with the post holder.

The duties may be varied to meet the changing demands of the organisation at the reasonable discretion of YMCA Together.

Person Specification – Connected Living Co-Ordinator

Qualifications

Essential

Qualification or working experience in homelessness, mental health or offending
Full driver’s licence and have access to use of a car with “business use” insurance

Desirable

An appropriate and relevant qualification. E.g. in Housing Support; Money Advice; Social Work; Health Service & Welfare; or working towards such a qualification

Experience

Essential

The capability to work independently and the motivation to work with resistant and chaotic individuals and households
Experience of dealing with the public in stressful situations, by telephone, letter or in person
Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal.
Keeping accurate records relating to tenants and service provision
The necessary skills to complete support plans, support contracts and risk assessments.
Ability to prioritise a busy and ever changing workload

Desirable

The confidence and experience to challenge decisions in the best interest of the tenant

Knowledge

Essential

Experience of working with individuals with a history of homelessness
Able to maintain confidentiality
Ability to manage time effectively
Able to use initiative to deal with unexpected problems
Work individually or as part of a team effectively and supportively

Desirable

A solid working knowledge of safeguarding adults and children, as well as experience of working with victims of domestic violence

Skills

Essential

Able to manage a high and varied workload
Well organised and methodical approach to work
Good attention to detail
Desire to deliver a high quality service
Flexibility in response to the changing demands of the post
Willingness to take responsibility for standard of work

Desirable

Computer literate, competent in working with Microsoft word, outlook, windows

Behaviour/Attributes

Essential

Passionate about people, with the ability to communicate effectively with service users, staff and visitors.
Committed to own personal development
The ability to “think outside of the box” when providing solutions
Energetic, highly motivated with a good sense of humour
Ability to work within and have a commitment to YMCA ethos, philosophy and values
Able to work effectively on own or as part of a team

If you would like to apply for this role please click here APPLY NOW

To download a copy of our application form, please click HERE

If you would like to apply not directly through the website, please email your completed application form to recruitment@ymcatogether.org.uk

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