About Us
First Housing Aid and Support Services is a voluntary sector non-profit making organisation in operation since 1989 which provides professional advice on housing in Northern Ireland and solutions to people who find themselves in housing difficulties.
Your New Role with First Housing
You will work within a residential setting providing support service to vulnerable service users.
Information about our Dillon Court and SATH Projects
Dillon Court, situated at Church Street in Strabane, is located in a mainly rural environment offering 38 units of supported housing with single cover on a 24/7 basis. Within the complex there is a mixture of both 30 permanent apartments and 8 temporary apartments focused on the needs of vulnerable people. Referrals to the service come through the NIHE and are suitable for people who are homeless, and those in crisis due to vulnerability and mental ill health.
SATH, situated at Lisnafin Park in Strabane, has 6 individual flats and one 3-Bedroom House and is open to Families and Single People.
Long standing in the Strabane community; SATH provides a temporary accommodation solution and support package to those experiencing homelessness.
The aims and objectives are of the projects are:
- To facilitate the delivery of appropriate services through holistic needs assessment processes, which increase the individual’s capacity to move towards achieving social inclusion.
- To support individuals by re-establishing support networks that have traditionally been hard to reach due to homelessness and health issues
- To provide a supported housing environment inclusive of structured support tailored to individual need.
- To enable The Northern Ireland Housing Executive to meet its statutory responsibility to homeless people with a view to both the initial prevention and re-occurring of homelessness.
FIRST HOUSING AID & SUPPORT SERVICES JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: Accommodation Support Worker
Reports To: Manager
Purpose & Objectives:
- To be part of a team providing residential provision with a high level of support to vulnerable people. These support procedures will include monitoring, assessment and review of residents as well as ensuring a healthy, safe and secure living environment is maintained.
- To act in a professional, proactive capacity that will contribute to the strategic objectives of the organisation in enhancing the well-being of its service users through a network of support.
Location: Strabane (to work across 2x Strabane based accommodation projects)
Salary £25,930 per annum
Hours of Work 37.5 hours per week (Mon - Fri, Shift rota basis, daytime)
Probationary Period 6 months
Annual Leave 5 working weeks, exclusive of bank and customary holidays
Sickness Scheme 3 working weeks contractual pay in any 12 month rolling period under current terms and conditions of employment
Pension Company Pension Scheme available, further details available on request
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To cover rota duties of day shifts including weekends.
2. To carry out operational tasks in a consistent manner, including keeping a register of all residents and visitors on site whilst ensuring management of keys on site
3. Ensure health, safety and security of the building and its residents and visitors, at all times, through regular checks, taking appropriate action where required
4. To keep concise recording of service incomes, utilising appropriate logging systems.
5. To participate in a range of designated household tasks ensuring the smooth running of the facility to include regular cleaning duties as required.
6. To assume a key worker role for designated individuals through continuous assessment where required. To participate in monitoring and review processes that will contribute towards tailored packages of support and to initiate a support planning structure in consultation with the service user. The support structure will be guided by Supporting People to be delivered using their Quality and Monitoring Tool.
7. Seek to build a healthy working relationship with service users/residents in keeping with agreed areas of support plan where appropriate.
8. To carry out appropriate procedures and protocol that deal with high risk behaviours, decision making and conflict situations within openness and understanding.
9. As key worker to contribute to multi-agency assessment of individual needs of the service users
10. To ensure appropriate support networks with voluntary, community, statutory sectors and referring agencies.
16. To carry out enhanced monitoring and evaluation of vulnerable individuals who have been identified as ‘as risk’.
17. To participate in the implementation of fire safety procedures on a regular and consistent basis and to adhere to our overall health and safety policy.
18. To use databases and other electronic management systems focused towards service provision improvements and quality outcomes, which will include secure remote access to third party systems such as that of the NIHE
19. To carry out other duties appropriate to the post as may be required.
RELATIONSHIP WITH FIRST HOUSING
- To be an active team member, supporting colleagues, being prepared to receive support as necessary and to contribute fully to team workload.
- To participate in staff meetings as required
- To participate in staff development and review
- To attend training as identified and required in relation to personal and professional development
- To comply with the policies and procedures in place that meet with health and safety legislation
- To respect our policy of promoting equality/valuing diversity
- All staff members are required to adhere to the implementation of recording and monitoring procedures as set out within the ‘Supporting People’ Quality Monitoring Tool.
- To ensure adherence to Northern Ireland Social Care Council standards of conduct and practice (where NISCC registration is required)
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Accommodation Support Worker (ASWS.R4.01)
Qualifications / Education / Training:
- Minimum of three GCSE’s at grade C or above (or equivalent) including English Language.
- A relevant recognised qualification in health and social care or related field (minimum NVQ level II or equivalent)
- First Aid Certificate (Desirable)
- Health and Safety Certificate (Desirable)
Experience:
- At least two years recent experience of working in accommodation or community work setting with vulnerable individuals.
- Ability to work with challenging behaviour
- The post holder must be able to demonstrate a good attendance/performance work record
- Ability to deliver concise recording systems and reports
- Ability to work effectively and meet deadlines
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of the support needs of individuals with alcohol misuse issues
- Knowledge of Vulnerable Adults, protection from abuse policies and procedures (Desirable)
- Knowledge of the work of the statutory, voluntary agencies associated with young people/Homelessness (Desirable)
Skills & Competencies:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Competent in the use of IT software
- Flexible, approachable and can work under pressure
- Able to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to take managerial direction.
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise workloads to deliver within agreed deadlines
Personal Attributes:
- Ability to retain confidence and discretion.
Other:
- No health problems which would adversely affect ability to carry out all the duties of the post.
- First Housing operates a Child Protection and Adults at Risk Policy
To be eligible for this position you must complete an Access NI Enhanced Disclosure. Having a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position. A copy of the Access NI Code of Practice will be made available to all applicants upon request. Copies of First Housing Aid & Support Service policies on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders & Access NI Disclosure Handling Policy are also available on demand.
This position is also subject to compulsory registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council. (NISCC)
When you apply for this position, we will contact you to complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £25,930.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Application question(s):
- Do you have a Minimum of three GCSEs at grade C or above (or equivalent) including English Language.?
- Do you have a relevant recognised qualification in health and social care or related field (Minimum NVQ level II or equivalent)?
- Do you have at least two years recent experience of working in an accommodation or community work setting with vulnerable individuals?
- Do you have IT skills?
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
