Support Practitioner – Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme (RSAP)

at  YMCA Liverpool

RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will be required to have contact with a variety of people during the course of their work. The context of this contact will vary from formal ‘Key working’ to informal networking and relationship building with the Local Authority and other relevant agencies.
Annual appraisal and regular work review with line managers is an operational requirement, as is attendance at weekly support team meetings.
It is recognised that the organisation is operating in a dynamic environment and as such this job description may be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect evolving needs of the business and changing nature of the job.

JOB PURPOSE

This service will provide support to individuals that have a history of homelessness or rough sleeping with medium support needs who currently live within our RSAP(rough sleepers accommodation programme) supported housing services.
As a support worker you will be focused on facilitating permanent move on accommodation and preparing for fully independent living. The aim of the support is to ensure that those you work alongside are supported and empowered to make positive choices about their life and to continue to live their life free from homelessness. As a support worker you be expected to have specific skills and experience of working in a housing related setting or around tenancy management. It would be an advantage of you had knowledge of housing related law and local support services
As a support worker you will recognise that the people that we support have often experienced trauma and will work in a way which understands this.
You will manage a caseload using a critical time intervention model which means you will understand the need for transition, trying out and transfer of support throughout the journey of your tenant within the service.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Carry out new tenant welcomes, inducting into their new properties and identifying immediate support needs.
• Ensure that tenants have a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities during their stay.
• Support tenants to achieve permanent move on accommodation as defined/ agreed within their support plans and empower them to reach their aims.
• Ensure that tenants will have the right skills and be able to manage the transition into more independent accommodation.
• Manage, update, and communicate tenants risk assessments in line with YMCA Together policy and procedure.
• Ensure Tenants shape their own support and understand the purpose of the support provided.
• Hold planned key-work sessions as well as ad hoc support each week with Tenants using the Critical time intervention model as the framework for support.
• Assess support needs and plan support around individual need. Regularly review and develop mutually agreed support plans with service users and any other professional involved in the support of those individuals e.g., Social Workers, CPNs, Probation Officers
• Up to date records must be kept on both support planning systems MainStay and DAVE.
• Ensure that all housing related requirements are kept up to date including managing building and fire checks.
• Ensure that all maintenance requests are managed and go through the correct reporting channels while empowering the tenant to where able mange the process
• Conduct monthly/quarterly risk assessments with Tenants keeping relevant parties informed of updates/changes.
• Support all Tenants with future tenancy planning ensuing that everyone has the skills to live independently away from a supported housing pathway.
• Liaise between tenants and external agencies regarding the provision of specialised support when appropriate.
• Encourage involvement and participation among Tenants in the running and shaping of the wider service provided by planning and attending regular service user meetings and forums.
• Deal promptly with all complaints and protection from abuse disclosures.
• Demonstrate creativity in overcoming obstacles and a commitment to working with and providing support to vulnerable people.