Job Description

Closing Date: 3rd June 2025

Access Community Trust has proudly served communities in Suffolk and Norfolk for 50 years, providing housing, mental health, enrichment, and employability services. Our mission remains rooted in passion and purpose, striving to reach every vulnerable and socially excluded individual - without exception.

We have several new posts available to support our housing related support accommodation in Lowestoft. Our customers have a range of support needs and our housing aims to reduce the risk of homelessness by enabling customers to improve their outcomes, attain and sustain accommodation, and to move on to independent living.

Post 1:

37.5 hours per week, fixed term contract until January 2026 (maternity cover)

Post 2:

37.5 hours per week, permanent contract

Please indicate the post(s) you are applying for in your application.

Pay:

27,416 - 30,615 per annum

Job Summary:

The Senior Practitioner is responsible for leading a team of Support Workers and providing good quality housing related support services to customers accommodated in a range of properties in a geographical area. Working with the Property team, the Senior Practitioner is responsible for ensuring the accommodation is safe and secure, meets the needs of customers, and complies with housing and health, safety and wellbeing regulations. The Senior Practitioner ensures the service is contract compliant and achieves key performance indicators and the HRS support is impactful and good quality.

The Senior Practitioner, and staff team, will provide support services to customers and the wider local population through a number of proactive and reactive activities focused on key outcome themes - improved mental health, reduction of criminal behaviour, substance misuse support including harm minimisation advice and guidance, improved life skills, positive behaviour engagement, independent living. The Senior Practitioner has case management responsibility for all accommodated customers in the service and is the key point of contact for system partners.

It is expected that the postholder will be able to work to the requirements of a range of sites according to need and be flexible to the local requirements of all sites, their contractual requirements, and customers.

Person Specification (Essential/Desirable)

Experience

Applicants must have previous experience of supervising within a supported accommodation or similar environment and supporting vulnerable people / families with issues relating to financial hardship, homelessness, mental health and substance misuse (E) Applicants must have a detailed knowledge of services and support available to vulnerable people in need and a thorough understanding and commitment to Safeguarding (E). Applicants must hold a working knowledge of health and safety (within a supported accommodation environment and/or within the community) where lone working is applicable (E) Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have experience in working with internal and external stakeholders within a support discipline (E) Applicants have experience of supporting the growth of their team and encouraging personal growth (E) Applicants have experience and knowledge of recruitment processes, performance management, absence management and other personnel focused elements (E)

Qualifications

Knowledge of housing related support or care/support environment (E) Education to Level 3 standard or equivalent vocational/life experience, with a commitment to undertaking a Level 4 or 5 qualification (E) A professional qualification in housing, social work, community work or similar area of work (D) Significant lived experience within factors which relate to our clients. This can include knowledge of substance misuse, the welfare system, homelessness, long term unemployment, mental health, financial hardship (D) A qualification or experience based upon helping others to learn, such as train the trainer or other practical experience (D)

Work-Focused Skills

Ability and means to travel across a geographical area within a short timeframe (E) Applicants must hold a current driving licence and have the use of a car (D) Applicants should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and must be able to work and work as part of a multi-disciplinary teamn to constantly changing work routines (E) Applicants must be able to manage their own workload, support colleagues and use initiative as appropriate and be open to constantly changing work routines (E) Applicants should have functional IT skills as the role will involve the use of Microsoft packages and specialist performance reporting systems (E) Applicants must be able to demonstrate where they have been able to directly or indirectly support clients to identify their own solutions and deliver person-centred practices (E) Applicants must be able to demonstrate how they use empowerment and a solution-focussed approach to problem solving (E) Applicants must be able to demonstrate being a team player (E) Experience of working in challenging situations and being able to find practical solutions (E)

A full job description is available upon request from hr@accessct.org.

Application Info:

We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness and social exclusion.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role. For support in applying or to request reasonable adjustments, please contact us.

Access Community Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its young people and vulnerable adults using our services and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Please note: this position involves work that is a regulated activity and is therefore subject to receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure with a barred list check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. This is in accordance with the Police Act 1997 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This is to be paid for by the successful applicant and will be reimbursed upon the successful passing of a 6-month probationary period.

Please note: We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the listed closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applicants. We endeavour to respond to all applicants, however if you do not hear from us within 28 days please do assume your application has not been shortlisted for interview on this occasion.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 8 months

Pay: 27,416.00-30,615.00 per year

Work Location: In person