Job Purpose:
To assist the Project Team Leader with all aspects of the running of the Southwark Young People’s Supported Housing Service (including an Ofsted Registered project); ensuring projects are safe, supportive homes for the children and young people resident within them, and that all young people receive trauma informed, holistic, personalised support, in line with relevant pathway and safety plans. The service supports 56 young people at any given time; in one 16-bed Ofsted Registered 24-hour staffed supported housing project for 16-21 years olds with medium-high needs, plus visiting support to young people living in properties across the North of the Borough. The Senior Support Worker will assist in the day-to-day delivery of the service, deputising where necessary. To work closely with Southwark Council, including Children’s Services, to ensure children and young people achieve the best outcomes, in line with project specific aims and objectives. Under the guidance of the Team Leader and Registered Service Manager, to ensure the service is compliant with the Supported Accommodation Regulations and we maintain successful Ofsted registration.
Organisation Context:
Oasis Community Housing (OCH) is a Christian response to homelessness and disadvantage providing housing, support and other specialised 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 sympathise with the Christian vision, ethos and culture of the organisation. However, it will be an occupational requirement that a practising Christian is 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 an experienced charity, with its Central Office in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
This post is located in Southwark; based primarily in one Peckham based project, plus two projects in the North of the Borough. Plus providing floating support across all service properties.
Our projects are places of safety, Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), from which we work with children and young people using person-led, holistic, trauma-informed and solution-focused approaches. We aim to provide accommodation and support that helps children and young people find self-worth and the belief that they deserve a better future, supporting them in safe, positive transitions including where relevant from care into more independent accommodation, and from childhood to adulthood; providing holistic support to gain essential life skills, achieve health outcomes, to realise and achieve their aspirations, and reach their full potential.
Duties and Responsibilities:
· To deputise for the Project Team Leader as and when required.
· To organise the staff rotas and shift cover.
· To coordinate multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approaches around the young people in our projects; working closely with other professionals and partner agencies. To include; attending meetings and coordinating information sharing.
· To work in close partnership with colleagues from Southwark Council and other partner agencies; professionally representing Oasis Community Housing and the individuals we support.
· To support the Project Team Leader in the interviewing and assessment of potential new residents.
· Under the leadership of the Project Team Leader, to oversee and supervise Relief Support Workers.
· To be part of the organisation on call management team and rota, providing support to staff during unsocial hours.
· To provide holistic (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual) support to children and young people within our supported housing projects, in accordance with the ethos and values of Oasis Community Housing. Ensuring support provision is personalised to individual needs, and progress is regularly reviewed.
· To maintain records needed to ensure excellent and consistent support provision; maintaining comprehensive case files, using our In-Form data system, completing reports and assisting in the measurement of outcomes.
· To assist the Team Leader, under the guidance of the Head of Supported Housing in preparing for audits, reviews and inspections as required by partners, funders and stakeholders including regulatory bodies such as Ofsted.
· To assist the Team Leader, under the guidance of the Head of Supported Housing (Registered Service Manager), in ensuring our Young People’s Service is compliant with the Supported Accommodation Regulations, and we maintain successful Ofsted registration for the projects.
· To assist the Team Leader in reporting to senior management on project performance; supporting to ensure regular incident reporting, performance reports and management reports are completed.
· To support the active participation of residents in project design, delivery and evaluation; working with our Head of Service Improvement to encourage involvement, and assisting in recording access and engagement.
- To ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are adhered to in your practices, and that concerns are reported appropriately and expediently, both internally, and externally, as needed.
· To work closely with the Housing Management Team, liaising regarding;
o The collection and recording of service charges and housing benefit,
o Void turnarounds,
o Repairs and maintenance - ensuring all properties are maintained to Oasis Community Housing standards,
o Issuing of sanctions
· To attend regular supervision sessions with your line manager
· To attend relevant training sessions as required by the role / your line manager
· To undertake any other reasonable duties as required
· To ensure all working practice and interactions are in line with organisational ethos and values
Personal Specification/Key Competencies:
Qualifications:
· Relevant qualification to NVQ Level 3 (Essential)
Knowledge and Experience:
· At least two years’ experience as a Support Worker within supported housing projects, including needs and risk assessment, delivery of holistic support, health and safety, working closely with partner agencies to provide support (Essential)
· Experience working in the safeguarding arena (Essential)
· Experience working with children and young people, especially those experiencing homelessness including leaving the care system, and related issues including mental ill health, trauma, abuse, alcohol and substance misuse and offending (Essential)
· Experience of working in registered/regulated services (Desirable)
· Experience of using person centred support plans (Essential)
· Experience of participating in MDT meetings (Essential)
Skills, Knowledge and Aptitude:
· Excellent organisational skills, including time management and prioritisation (Essential)
· Ability to manage a varied workload in a demanding and challenging environment (Essential)
· Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to build cooperative working relationships both within a team / organisation and with other agencies (Essential)
· Emotionally Resilient (Essential)
· Ability to develop and maintain professional staff/resident boundaries and support others to do the same (Essential)
· Able to challenge inappropriate behaviour (Essential)
· Ability to effectively use computer software packages i.e. Microsoft Office (Essential)
· A mature, professional and flexible approach; excellent personal emotional intelligence and self-awareness, with an ability to work calmly under pressure, to reflect on own practice and accept feedback (Essential)
Motivation:
· Be passionate and enthusiastic about supporting individuals, having a heart for people and believing that everyone has the potential to change, given the right support and circumstances (Essential)
· To have perseverance and never give up hope in those who use our services, instilling that hope into their daily lives (Essential)
Be in sympathy with the Christia
Pay: £31,831.04 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Sick pay
Application question(s):
- Are you eligible to work in the UK? (Please be advised that we do not offer visa sponsorship for any positions at Oasis Community Housing).
- To your knowledge, have you ever had any allegations made against you relating to the safeguarding of children or adults at risk which has been reported to and investigated by Social Services and/or the Police?
- Please specify any special requirements or equipment which may assist you to participate in the recruitment / interview process.
- Each of our core values comes from an element of the Christian faith, reflected in the work and life of Jesus. We seek to reflect these in our work.
- How would you seek to incorporate the OCH ethos and values into your working practice?
- Why you want this particular post? What qualities and experience you can bring to the post?
Work Location: In person
