Project Worker, Housing First, Wexford

at  Focus Ireland

Project Worker, Housing First
Location: Wexford
Contract: Full-time, Specific Purpose Contract
(Starting Salary €36,687.63 - €39,856.49)
The purpose of this role is to support people who are sleeping rough and/or experiencing long-term and multiple exclusion homelessness to move into secure, permanent housing at the earliest opportunity, without preconditions for sobriety or treatment compliance.
The Project Worker will be responsible for supporting people prior to, during, and following their move through case management and key working, to build their capacity to meet their goals, address their support needs, and sustain their housing: processing referrals, conducting assessments; care/support planning and implementation of care/support plans; engaging with service users; supporting service users with move on plans; managing maintenance issues; participating in practice supervision.
Where appropriate the Housing First Worker will play a key role in recruiting, mentoring and supporting staff and students in order to ensure that the highest level and standards of social care practice are further developed and maintained in the service.

Provide leadership by demonstrating the highest standard of social care practice.
Ensure that the service responds effectively to the needs of the service users in areas such as referral, induction, key working/ case management and move on.
Ensure service users access services / community supports/ welfare allowances which they are entitled to.
Carry out duties in accordance with the values, ethos & mission statement of the Focus Ireland.
Contribute to the on-going development of standards, policies and procedures in (Focus Ireland).
Ensure staff-handovers are conducted to the highest standards, are effective, and in-line with (Focus Ireland) policies and procedures.
Attend regular team-meetings with all staff to ensure effective communication sharing, discussion and review of practice, service user welfare and outcomes.
Report to the Team Leader challenges, changes or resources needs as they arise
Attend and participate in supervision with Team Leader.
Provide the Team Leader with the data and information required for meetings, and to attend meetings and present reports as required.
To have the ability to deal with and resolve difficult situation, when they arise in a calm and professional manner. Using proven crisis management techniques (MAPA/TCI)and following policy and procedures to ensure safety and relationships are maintained.
Work collaboratively with other agencies engaged in Outreach and Emergency accommodation services, to establish and maintain contact with people in Tipperary who are sleeping rough and/or experiencing long-term and multiple exclusion homelessness.
Follow up on referrals received to Tipperary and through the Homeless Action Team (HAT).
Advise people of the supports available through the Housing First Service and how Housing First differs from other approaches.
Signpost people to more appropriate services where necessary.
Ensure consent for record-keeping, information-sharing, referral and advocacy prior to proceeding with any of those activities.
Proactively identify and engage with service users experiencing homelessness.
Assess how the Service can assist them and prioritise their support needs.
Complete screening/ initial assessment, develop and implement care/support plans, and conduct regular key working appointments as appropriate to the service user’s needs.
Carry out risk assessments and risk management plans as appropriate.
Work with the person to identify areas for support which may include: Physical and Mental Health, Independent Living Skills, Substance Use / Addiction Support, Education, Employment and Training goals, Family / Child Contact and other issues which impact upon the person’s well-being and housing stability.
Work with the tenant to devise and regularly review support plans with the understanding that the type, level and duration of support provided should be determined by the tenant.
Ensure access to Health Services as appropriate. Identify any urgent or immediate health needs and refer as appropriate to medical, mental health, addiction and counselling services.
Identify other agencies that the person is involved with for support and, with permission, make contact with them in order to establish a Case Management approach. Where appropriate, take on the Case Manager role in relation to the shared support plan.
Organise and attend inter-agency meetings as appropriate to support and progress the shared support plan.
Use skills such as motivational interviewing to work with the person toward considering options for positive changes
Facilitate and encourage accessing both specialist and mainstream medical /mental health services, addiction and counselling as appropriate.
Provide assistance in form filling, medical card, social welfare benefits, housing entitlements.
Provide home visiting (where possible in the context of risk assessment) and carry out practical support as needed to help the person to build independent living skills and coping strategies as needed.
Work with the person according to their wishes and preferences to maintain and/or build a social network / contacts and relationships with family and friends
Assist people in building the competence and capacity to meet their own personal needs: e.g. personal hygiene, cooking skills, laundry, budgeting, diet and healthy living, sexual health etc.
Assist and advise the participant in building positive relations with neighbours including avoidance or resolution of disputes.
Ensure that all paperwork is completed including consent forms, enabling the service to advocate as appropriate with external agencies.
Foster positive relationships with external agencies in order to maximise the supports and resources available to clients to help them address the issues which have resulted in them becoming homeless.
Attendance at the weekly Homeless Action Team meeting as delegated in Team Leader’s absence.
Advocate with external agencies for the provision of appropriate housing
Report defects in housing and arrange repaired quickly.
Maintain positive relationships and communication with property owners involved in social rentals or private rentals to which Tipperary Coco refers tenants.