Encircle Housing is an expert in housing people with a wide range of needs across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Encircle Housing provides high quality homes for people who are in housing need, facilitating creative support services unique to each person with the aim of enabling them to recognise and reach their full potential. We work with support providers, local authorities and other statutory and third sector partners to target areas where there is a high priority need to tackle homelessness to create suitable accommodation for single homeless people.

Our Values

· We are approachable and passionate about everything we do.

· We are honest and respectful, and open about everything we do and say.

· We are committed to helping our tenants find a personalised housing option.

· We understandpeople’s housing needs and we do our best to help people achieve their goals.

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our housing support team in South Tyneside to... provide housing and support services to vulnerable homeless adults living in supported accommodation. We are looking for full-time and part-time housing support workers to compliment our current staffing team.

We are looking to appoint committed individuals who will contribute to the delivery of an effective homeless support service. You will be part of a team responsible for supporting tenants to sustain their tenancies and to provide early interventions to reduce arrears.

Service Management
• Lead the day-to-day operational demands, considering the best outcomes and appropriate actions in the prevention of homelessness, supporting team members to identify and meet the needs of Encircle Housing service users.
• To provide line management and feedback to staff on a day-to-day basis and responsible for the effective management of the staff rota and annual leave.
• To ensure services are provided in accordance with the organisations delivery promise and in line with set policies and procedures.
• To support managers in delivering a successful service through the identification of emerging issues in relation to crisis situations, ensuring all deadlines and priorities set are delivered in a timely manner
• Assess prospective new Service Users to ensure that that their support needs fall within agreed referral criteria.
• To assist and safeguard vulnerable residents to ensure that their immediate needs are met including, but not limited to healthcare, hygiene, diet.
• Undertake needs and risk assessments and develop appropriate support plans initially from the details from the Housing Options referral and regularly update this ensuring that progress targets can be measured and reported.
• Build professional relationship with Service Users to enable identification of all relevant support needs and maintain support plan enabling them to sustain their Occupancy Agreement and develop the confidence and skills to manage move on or their own tenancy.
• Advocate on the Service Users behalf if required or work with their advocate and fellow professionals where appropriate to deliver a holistic package of wellbeing support.
• Contribute to developing sound working relationships Housing Options referral lines, Housing Benefit department other relevant statutory support and voluntary agencies as required.
• Provide information in relation to the service as and when required by senior managers.
• Respond promptly and sensitively in line with procedures to all reports of harassment, domestic violence nuisance and anti-social behavior.
• Carry out weekly welfare checks.
• Ensure all Service Users have a good understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the tenure agreement.
• Ensure Service Users involvement and consultation over decisions that affect them.
• Work closely with colleagues to share relevant information on Service Users, e.g., safeguarding matters.

Housing Management
• To report monthly KPIs to senior management
• Monitor and report on health and safety assessments and implement control measures
• Creating and developing good relationships with local authority and housing providers
• Work closely with the Income team to keep up to date on housing related benefits and advise tenants on these to maximize and manage their income
• Support the Income team with Housing Benefit Claims and collation of any relevant information from Service Users.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure that the voids targets are met.
• Complete regular inspections of properties and ensure that properties are maintained to a high standard.
• Encourage Service Users to take responsibility for maintaining their home and to learn the skills they need to work towards more independent living.
• Conduct health and safety risk assessments and implement control measures.
• Contribute to the testing of equipment and systems on site as per health and safety and fire procedures, following up any actions required.
• Reporting of repairs and liaison with internal Assets Team.
• To support with service user disputes and complaints, breaches of license including rent and service charge arrears, nuisance, breaches of tenancy and misuse of property in line with the organisation’s procedures
• To monitor the inputting of data within the organisational computer system to ensure consistency and accuracy

Our ideal candidate will have:
• Experience of working with vulnerable groups
• Experience of working with homelessness.
• Experience of support planning and completing risk assessments for the service users
• Good IT skills
• A good knowledge of safeguarding procedures.
• Good standard of general education, including written communication skills the ability to produce accurate and concise support plans.
• Proven technical skills with a record of accomplishment for delivering outcomes
• Effective stakeholder management skills
• Resilience and be able to adapt and be flexible to the demands of the role.

To be shortlisted for an interview, you will need to demonstrate how you meet the above criteria.

We are looking for you to tell us about yourself by way of an expression of interest alongside your CV outlining your work experience, skills, qualifications and, please tell us what interests you in the role with Encircle.

Key Information – experienced support staff required 9am to 10pm Monday to Friday and weekends. Rota available and full-time and part-time applicants will be considered. Applicants must be able to work a minimum of 16 hours per week/weekends.

Closing date for applications

Midday Thursday 25th May 2023

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Therefore, please apply early to ensure you are considered for the post.

Interview date Thursday 1st June 2023

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 6 months
Part-time hours: 40 per week

Salary: £11.50 per hour

Benefits:
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life insurance
• Sick pay
• Store discount

Schedule:
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 25/05/2023
United Kingdom

Salary Criteria