Job Description

Due to the nature of our work and funding arrangements, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK

Key Overview

The Housing First Worker will be responsible for coordinating and providing a person centered, strength-based support service to create long term sustainable tenancies by empowering customers, increasing independence, and maximizing connectivity with the local community.

All activity will be underpinned by the following Housing First Principles:

1. People have the right to a home

2. Flexible support is provided for as long as it is needed

3. Housing and support are separate

4. People have choice and control over all aspects of their lives

5. The service is based upon individual's strengths, goals, and aspirations

6. An active engagement approach is used

7. A harm reduction approach is used.

Reporting to the Housing First Team Leader, the Housing First Worker is responsible for coordinating and providing a personalized, trauma informed support service to people with complex needs facing multiple exclusion in line with Housing First Principles.

Organization Context:

Oasis Community Housing (OCH) is a Christian response to homelessness and disadvantage providing housing, support and other specialized services. The support provided aims to develop life skills that will enable people to live successful independent lives.

Oasis Community Housing is part of the Oasis group of charities. The group includes national charities dedicated to education, housing, and campaigning against human trafficking and we work to a common vision of creating communities in which everyone can thrive and reach their God-given potential.

We welcome applicants from all faiths or none, but it is important that all employees understand and sympathies with the Christian vision, ethos, and culture of the organization. However, it will be an occupational requirement that a practising Christian be needed for some specified roles. This will be highlighted in the qualifications section of the job description and will be clearly stated in the job advert.

Oasis Community Housing is a growing charity, with its Central Office in Gateshead.

Duties & Responsibilities:

To assist the Project Team Leader/senior worker in ensuring holistic (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual) support is provided to people in accordance with the ethos and values of Oasis Community Housing. Work with Housing First individuals to help them articulate their goals and aspirations offering personal, therapeutic, and emotional support. The work will be informed by core Housing First principles. Undertake comprehensive needs and risk assessments with each allocated resident. Develop and maintain relationships with Housing First individuals to enable person centered support, promoting personal choice and wellbeing. This will be done through regular contact, including visits to individuals' homes and appropriate community settings. Be adaptive and flexible, resilient to challenges and rejections, to support the stability and progression of Housing First individuals to achieve personalized outcomes. Liaise with accommodation providers and actively encourage Housing First individuals to move into appropriate Housing First accommodation of their choice. Identify barriers to acquiring and maintaining accommodation and provide support, including practical help with furniture, benefits advice, budgeting, neighbor relations and liaising with landlords. Offer advice, guidance, and support on ways in which substance misuse and other harmful activities can be practiced more safely. This includes anticipating and supporting the reduction of harmful challenges while maximizing opportunities. Support individuals in attending AA/NA and taking first steps to address their substance misuse issues. Be empowered and persistent in advocating for individuals to access all services, including reconciliation work with agencies, if required. Develop, maintain and coordinate effective working relationships with external agencies, promoting effective communication for and about individuals ensuring the Housing First project is widely known and promoted. Identify cases requiring further help (specialist advice, alternative support) referring and supporting engagement as appropriate. Support individuals to access community resources to develop positive peer networks and meaningful leisure opportunities, including social, recreational, sport, faith, learning and arts. Regularly review individuals support plans to update, maintain accurate monitoring and evaluation records using InForm, including detailed information on people worked with. Actively participate in achieving targets as set by the Housing First senior/Manager. Actively engage with supervision with line manager, including review of training needs. To be responsible and accountable for the delivery of high-quality support. Undertake any other duties consistent with the role.
To assist in the recording of access to, participation in and evaluation of services; to encourage and facilitate consultation and participation at all levels of service development.

Supporting in the active participation of people resident in Housing First project design, delivery, and evaluation

Providing support in the process surrounding the refusal of applicants and move on decisions for Housing First referrals.

To be involved with, and facilitate, group work activities e.g. Life and Employability Skills Workshops, Social Events, Personal Development Programe activities and keep records of such activities. To ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are adhered to in your practices, and that concerns are reported appropriately and expediently.
To signpost and support people to access other professional services.

General:

To have solid experience in a previous support work role; having lived experience of multiple disadvantages is also deemed valuable.

To understand the complex interdependencies of mental health, substance misuse and offending behavior.

The ability to work flexibly, creatively and in a solution focused way.

To be assertive, confident, and resilient; ability to not let the work phase you

To show leadership qualities; skills of a strong negotiator; ability to advocate and be diplomatic

To be non-judgmental, empathetic, and tenacious

To have a sense of humor, be personable and accept that things won't go as you think.

To be good at recognising the need for, and ensuring, self-care due to the intensity of the work

To understand the limitations of the Housing First worker role and be competent at multi-agency working

The ability to work effectively with partner agencies and develop contacts and networks across a wide range of local services to enable effective signposting.

The ability to promote the service locally and engage and inform their own organisation around Housing First

Personal Specification/Key Competencies:

Qualifications:

Relevant qualification to NVQ Level 2 (Desirable)

Professional qualification in a related field (housing management, social work etc.) (Desirable)

Work Experience:

At least 2 years' experience as a support worker (Essential)

Good understanding of housing first principles.

Experience of using person centered support plans (Essential)

An awareness of the impact of worklessness on homeless people (Desirable)

Knowledge of drug and alcohol misuse (Essential)

Knowledge of mental health issues (Desirable)

Skills, Knowledge & Aptitude:

Strong attention to detail and skills in the production of reports

Ability to work collaboratively and constructively within a team setting

Ability to influence and motivate a diverse range of stakeholders to develop best practice

Flexible and adaptable, able to respond to ongoing change and lead others through change (Essential)

Ability to manage a heavy and varied workload (Essential)

A mature and flexible approach; excellent personal emotional intelligence and self-awareness, with an ability to work calmly under pressure (Essential)

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build effective working relationships with other organisations (Essential)
Excellent organisational, time and resource management skills (Essential)

Excellent IT skills and ability to effectively use computer software packages i.e. Microsoft Office (Essential)

Motivation:

Be passionate about ensuring excellent standards of support provision for the benefit of the individuals we serve (Essential)

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 24,531.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension
Work Location: In person