Job Description

The Medway 16+ Care Leaver Service works to advise, support and befriend young people from the age of 16 who are in care and those young people who have left care (up to the age of 25) with a diverse range of complex needs to enable them to manage the transition into adulthood and independence.

The Specialist Housing Advisor will support Personal Advisors and Care Leavers within the 16+ service, who require additional support to address their accommodation and independent living needs, with a focus on those at risk of homelessness and those ready to move onto independent accommodation.

The role will require the post holder to provide assistance, advice, encouragement and support to Care Leavers to ensure they actively participate and contribute to their Housing Plans / Pathway Plans to enable them to move successfully into independent living. This role will focus on those Care Leavers at high risk of homelessness, due to inactivity, vulnerability or other factors. The Specialist Housing Advisor will be expected to keep up-to-date with government guidance and regulations in relation to accommodation, as well as all involved processes and resources, to facilitate the delivery of expert advice on all areas of in independent accommodation.

In return we offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact Debbie Taylor, Service Manager 16+ Care Leavers Service on 01634 337229 or 07773 210505

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

How to apply

Please be advised that we only accept online applications submitted through JobsGoPublic ATS

If you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.

All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation/correspondence in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Resourcing Team on 01634 332878.

Medway Council