Intensive Project Worker
Patrick House, Southampton
37 hours per week
Salary Scale 22-23 (£26,023 to £26,789 per annum)
About Us:
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.
The Role:
You will work in the Society of St James’ (SSJ) 24/7 Assessment & Intensive Homelessness Accommodation Service providing harm minimisation, support planning, individual key-works & life-skills to individuals with complex needs through a trauma informed, strength-based approach.
Harm Reduction, Support Planning and Keywork:
· Participate in the referral and assessment process for new service users to ensure that all risks associated with the individual are identified correctly and reviewed to ensure that their needs can be met safely within the service.
· Manage a caseload of service users which, through a trauma informed, strength-based approach including structured support planning and key-working, to identify and access meaningful activity, including leisure activities, groupwork and accompanying them where necessary to ensure they are able to participate.
· Promote harm minimisation where possible, including when facilitating the needle exchange.
· Promote the concept of recovery to service users emphasising the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and personal responsibility for their own long-term health outcomes.
· Work in partnership with other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, to provide effective support and achieve the best outcomes for individuals.
· Facilitate group work with service users, including co-facilitating with relevant partners; CGL, Wellbeing staff etc.
· Assist service users to learn and develop essential life-skills that will enable them to begin to work towards more independent living, including: budgeting, housing and tenancy processes, and any other life-skills identified in support plans.
· Assessment & Low Threshold Beds– undertake relevant assessments, and provide harm minimisation and trauma informed support to service users with a view to assessing for more permanent appropriate accommodation. Complete all relevant reporting documentation as required by commissioners and line manager.
Accommodation:
· Support the landlord (Two Saints) to book new service users into the accommodation and help them understand the terms and conditions of their Licence or Tenancy Agreement, including their rights and responsibilities under their Agreement.
· Ensure that all service users understand their obligation with respect to the payment of their accommodation charge and advocate to the Landlord where appropriate.
· Liaise with DWP to ensure that the service user is in receipt of the correct benefits.
· Liaise with the landlord to ensure that all routine maintenance and repair work is reported, and follow up as appropriate.
· Ensure that service users participate in regular house meetings to encourage them to resolve disputes amicably and to consult with them on service delivery and development.
Finance and Administration:
· Adhere to the Handling Client Monies Policy when a services user receives individual support with managing their own money.
· Ensure all relevant service user information is uploaded to the appropriate IT system and is regularly updated.
· Maintain service user case notes and records to the standard required including any handover logs.
Health and Safety:
· Ensure all service users understand their responsibility for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness of their own personal space as well as communal areas.
· Participate as required in all regular welfare checks.
· Ensure all safeguarding concerns relating to service users are reported following the correct procedures.
· Participate in any relevant safeguarding meetings when appropriate.
· Contribute to supervision of residents in communal areas as necessary.
· Adhere to our Health & Safety policy, following all additional policies and procedures, with specific regard to your responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
· Ensure all needle exchange processes are followed correctly and equipment is replenished/collected as appropriate.
· You will be required to undertake training and to administer naloxone.
The Ideal Candidate:
· Good time management skills and the ability to work alone and as part of a team.
· Confidence and ability in using IT systems, email and the world-wide Web.
· Compassionate approach to dealing with individuals with complex needs and challenging behaviour.
· To work in a trauma informed-strength based approach.
· Able to maintain professional boundaries at all times and demonstrate self-awareness at all levels.
· Able to use own initiative to respond to emergencies and other unexpected situations.
· Able to communicate in all ways effectively with service users and colleagues.
Experience, Knowledge and Ability – the successful candidate must demonstrate the following:
· Experience of working with people with histories of homelessness, mental health problems and substance misuse
· Experience of liaising with statutory and voluntary organisations in relation to the support and care of vulnerable people
· Experience of developing and reviewing structured, strength-based support plans
· Knowledge of harm minimisation and overdose prevention
· Knowledge and understanding of the effects of alcohol use on mental health
· Knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity, with respect to staff and service users
· Knowledge of other local organisations providing support and interventions to people with complex needs
· Knowledge and understanding of health and safety issues relating to working in a supported housing environment
· Knowledge of safeguarding and protection procedures and protocols for vulnerable adults
· Knowledge of lone working procedures and staying safe at work
· Ability to listen, consult and communicate effectively with service users
· Ability to carry out risk assessments, develop risk management plans and actively manage risks presented by service users
· Literacy and IT skills sufficient to demonstrate ability to write letters, emails, reports and comprehensive support plans
· Ability to motivate service users and encourage them to seek meaningful occupation and to live more independently
· Ability to liaise effectively with external agencies and the Society’s other services
· Ability to deal with difficult and challenging behaviour calmly and effectively
Staff Benefits:
We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:
· A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
· Flexible working options
· Buying additional annual leave
· Comprehensive induction and training
· Counselling, financial, personal support and health and well being services via our Employee Assistance Programme
· Company cycle to work scheme
· Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
To apply, please send your CV & cover letter explaining why you would be suitable for the position. Please note that CV's alone will not be considered during shortlisting.
SSJ are an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.
*We will be assessing candidates as they come through and reserve the right to end this post at any time*
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £26,023.00-£26,789.00 per year
Benefits:
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person
