This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of those who are among the poorest in our community.

Your initial remit will be to ensure that rough sleepers are offered prompt and effective support to move away from life on the streets. You will be committed, compassionate, caring and be empathetic to the needs of those among the most deprived. You will work with people who may be chaotic, may have mental health and addiction issues but need your help and support.

The post is based in Central Bedfordshire and you will be required to travel throughout the Borough, therefore having your own transport is essential.

Throughout your work you will have considerable autonomy and significant periods of time lone working enabling you to make a personal difference to people’s lives. You will have excellent time-management, prioritisation, organisational, inter-personal, and administrative skills. You will be competent in IT and communication, have the ability to build relationships with people from many backgrounds and a commitment to help those in need. You will be persistent and undaunted in the face of seeming adversity.

Support Worker

(Assessment and Referral)

Closing date:26 April 2020 at 23:59

Aim of the role: Assessment and referral of customers.

Salary:£23,690 per annum

Location: Central Croydon

Contract: Fixed term till 30 October 2020

Hours: 37.5 hours per week on a 7 day rota. Working on shifts which includes early mornings, late, evening and weekends and occasional nights.

Benefits:

As part of your employment package with us, we offer:

• a competitive salary, comprehensive training and development programme, 

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing each year to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays after 5 years

• option to buy or sell annual leave up to one week’s annual leave

• a health cash plan providing cash back towards healthcare bills and other wellbeing benefits

• occupational sick pay

• contributory group pension scheme

• free life assurance

• cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans

About the Role

Evolve Housing + Support are recruiting for an exciting, new project in Croydon called the  Somewhere Safe to Stay hub (SStS). The Hub will act as a short-term assessment and sleep space for those both at risk of immediate rough sleeping and as a response to those verified as rough sleeping in London Borough of Croydon. It will divert those at immediate risk of rough sleeping and provide “Somewhere Safe to Stay” with intensive move on support.

About You

As an Assessment and Referral Support Worker you will support people accessing the Staying Safe Hub to identify their appropriate housing options, and to access this quickly to prevent homelessness or rough sleeping. You will carry out initial assessment and address immediate needs for people presenting at the Hub ensuring access to health care where necessary, and that basic needs are met. You will identify housing options and the most appropriate pathway, and complete the necessary referral forms, housing applications, benefits forms or other processes in order to effect resettlement. You will act as the link between the people we work with and a range of local authority, community and voluntary sector providers.

A+R Support Workers will spend much of their time based at the Hub, however you will be expected to travel between sites for training and within the local community to support the people we work with. We recognise that working with people who are disengaged and vulnerable can be very stressful. On top of one to one meetings with your line manager, we offer access to an employee assistance programme and regular facilitated reflective practice sessions.

About Evolve Housing + Support

Evolve is a leading homelessness charity in London, providing housing and support to over 2,000 people each year.  Our aim is to help children, young people and adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to become independent and resilient.  We believe in building on people’s strengths, aspirations and goals to help them break the cycle of homelessness.

We offer a programme of support tailored to meet people’s individual needs, including housing, employment and skills training, mentoring and counselling. We work with young parents and children at risk of exclusion to build the skills and resilience that can help prevent homelessness. We campaign to end street homelessness. We build affordable homes to help people move on to an independent life.

Your application

Evolve Housing + Support is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including people who have experienced homelessness themselves.

Please ensure that your answers give a clear outline of how your application meets the criteria for this job.

Support Worker

Assessment and Referral

Role Profile

Job title:

Support worker

Department:

Operations

Reports to:

Team Manager or Team Leader

Location:

See advert

Hours:

37.5 hours comprising of shifts with a rolling rota.

Typical shift pattern (may be subject to some variation dependent on the needs of specific services):

5 days a weeks over 7 days rota (including weekends and nights

About Evolve

Evolve is a leading homelessness charity in London, providing housing and support to over 2,000 people each year.

We believe in building on people’s strengths, aspirations and goals to help break the cycle of homelessness and help them move forward with their lives.

We offer a programme of support tailored to meet people’s individual needs, including housing, employment and skills training, mentoring and counselling. We work with young parents and children at risk of exclusion to build the skills and resilience that can help prevent homelessness. We campaign to end street homelessness. We build affordable homes to help people move on to an independent life.

Our mission is to help children, young people and adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness reach their potential, and move on to live happy, fulfilled lives.

Job description

Overall aim

You will support the people accessing the Staying Safe Hub to identify the appropriate housing option and to access this quickly to prevent homelessness or rough sleeping. You will engage with and empower them to:

• Identify immediate needs for people presenting at the Hub ensuring people access health care where necessary and have basic needs met

• Identify their housing needs and the most appropriate option/pathway

• Complete the necessary referral forms, housing applications, benefits forms or other processes in order to effect resettlement

• Support people to move to the next step in their housing pathway

  You will act as the link between the people we work with and a range of local authority and community and voluntary sector providers.

  What to expect

  A+R Support Workers will spend much of their time based at the Hub, however you will be expected to travel between sites for training and within the local community to support the people we work with.

  We recognise that working with people who are disengaged and vulnerable can be very stressful.  On top of one to one meetings with your line manager, we offer access to an employee assistance programme and regular facilitated reflective practice sessions.

  We provide training to enable you to do your work and build your capabilities.  We will set out a personal development plan with you to ensure you are supported to succeed in your role.

  Support work is challenging, exciting and at times frustrating.  You will need to be prepared to cope with inevitable conflict and setbacks.  Results are usually long term rather than immediate, so patience and perseverance are essential. Your resilience and creativity will be assets in this role.

Key responsibilities

Supporting our customers

• Taking part in a rota to provide 24/7 cover to ensure the Hub is safely staffed

• Work with customers to identify their housing needs through meaningful assessment, identifying and assessing risk to ensure they are able to stay safe.

• Create resettlement plans alongside customers by identifying the most appropriate housing pathway.

• Establish supportive and professional relationships with customers and dealing effectively with unpredictable and challenging situations in a professional and sensitive manner.

• Ensure daily actions are followed up and that ensure that resettlement plans are carried out.

• Liaise with external partners, including accessing appropriate statutory and voluntary services, following up on referrals and resettlement plan and advocating for customers.

• Ensure fair access through assessing the suitability of referrals, based on the criteria of the project.

• Encourage and support customers to raise complaints, comments and suggestions.

Health and Safety

• Ensure customers have up to date information on Health and Safety, and Fire Safety within the Hub environment.

• Ensure customers are given information on the Hub policies including substance use, smoking and visitors policy.

• Be fully aware of, and working within Health and Safety legislation.

• Carry out regular Health and Safety inspections of the Hub and surrounding grounds, taking immediate action to remedy health and safety defects and alerting the appropriate people in line with Health and Safety Policies.

• Report any maintenance issues to the appropriate people and keep a record of maintenance requests and work.

• Maintain a safe, welcoming environment at the Hub.

• Conduct locality checks and patrols and work with the other services on the site to monitor and address Health and safety issues or anti-social behaviour.

Administration

• Complete records on customer database (Salesforce) to deadlines.

• Keep timely and accurate records including customer files, monitoring information etc.

• Provide written reports and information as requested.

• Be aware of, and adhering to, all relevant financial procedures.

• Maintain personal records on the HR database.

General

• Ensure Evolve’s Equality and Diversity Policy and Code of Conduct are actively promoted and adhered to in all areas of work, and that services are accessible to all individuals.

• Work within the GDPR framework.

• Attend and fully participate in one to one meetings, annual reviews, team meetings and all training provided.

• Engage with colleagues and management to fully support the effectiveness of the team.

• Work across other locations, and attending training and meetings on other sites, as required.

This job description provides an indication of the roles and responsibilities for the post of Support Worker, but should not be construed as an exclusive list of the duties that the post holder may be asked to undertake.

All Evolve employees must also be aware of, and adhere to, all Evolve policies and procedures.

Evolve reserves the right to amend this role profile as necessary, after consultation with the post holder, to reflect changes to the role.

Person Specification

Experience and qualifications

• Experience of supporting vulnerable people to achieve resettlement, provision of housing advice or experience of rapid assessment and referral work.

Knowledge

• An understanding of the reasons why people become homeless and the needs and challenges they face

• Knowledge of safeguarding issues and how they apply in day to day work

• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to homeless people including an understanding of housing and welfare benefits

Skills and abilities

• Ability to document clear records and to evidence outcomes achieved with customers

• Ability to engage with customers to complete housing assessments and identify move on plans

• Ability to support customers to navigate swift resettlement and access a number of services

• Ability to work inclusively, as part of a team, and to give and receive support and constructive feedback and also to lone work when required

• Ability to manage time and multiple priorities effectively and take individual accountability for meeting deadlines

• A level of self-awareness in respect of personal resilience and a commitment to engaging in activities to support your own wellbeing

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing, demonstrating a good standard of written and spoken English

• Competent in using Microsoft word, excel and inputting to database

Penrose is recruiting for talented, ambitious and caring staff to help deliver a major new pan-London service supporting people with personality disorders to resettle in the community and lead happy, healthy lives, free from crime.

As part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway, Penrose will be providing supported accommodation for 12 men and 4 women across three residential sites in Lambeth, Lewisham and Redbridge. Working in partnership with NHS England and HMPPS and receiving referrals from the National Probation Service, we will support men and women in the pathway being released from prison, secure healthcare settings or moving on from Approved Premises. Our 24-hour service will provide far more than a roof over people’s heads; it will offer a base for a range of 1-1 and group interventions, delivered by our teams and by external partners, that will equip residents with the skills and confidence to move on safely into independent living.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference supporting some of the most complex people in the criminal justice system and helping make communities safer. We are looking for experienced staff who have the skills and ability to support and engage residents with a non-judgemental attitude within an enabling environment.

Your Role:

Your role will be based in Redbridge supported housing accommodation sites with possibility to work across locations.  We have day shifts as well night shifts available.

 

Duties: 

• To be creative in involving the service users in meetings which ensures they remain at the centre of the discussion and make choices and decisions.
• To support service users to achieve their goals, in line with their support plan.
• As part of service users support plan, to liaise with external professionals, e.g. GP’s, probation officer, Care Coordinators etc.
• Understanding of Risk Management within a Criminal Justice environment
• Facilitate and or support group sessions
• Ensure there is genuine engagement with the service users using appropriate methodologies and interventions
• Provide / arrange for various advice, advocacy and or information to service users in relation to physical health matters, substance misuse welfare benefits, education, employment and training, life skills and any other identified support needs.
• To positively respond to service users who may need assistance, seeking the support of the appropriate manager if necessary, in emergencies.
• Assist the staff team in managing security and safety, health & safety, maintenance, rent/charges collection, arrears and void control.
• Assist service users with arrangements for moving into the property, ensuring benefits are applied for, utilities connected, maintenance problems resolved, and that the property is properly furnished.
• Liaison with Agencies and Local Community
• Ensure timely information sharing with Offender Managers and other key stakeholders to support robust risk management and positive resettlement outcomes
• To undertake administrative tasks as part of regular duties ensuring that these are completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Ensure Service Users receive a high quality and responsive service.
• Communicatee effectively.
• Promote and encourage best practice in HSE.

Excellent communication skills and being able to develop strong working relationships will also be crucial to this role. You will have a passion for working with people with experience of the criminal justice system and/or with other marginalised groups, and a belief that everyone can turn their life around regardless of past or present circumstances.

Why work with us?

Excellent core and on-going training aligned with personal development plan

• Access to employee assistance programme
• Medi-cash which includes the following:
• Discount gym membership
• Routine eye tests, glasses and contact lenses
• Dental treatment via NHS or Private
• Physiotherapy, Indian Head Massage and a range of other therapies
• 25 days holiday increasing to 26 days after 2 years and increasing 1 day per year up to 30 days annual leave
• Life Assurance

All successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhances DBS and provide employment references covering 3 years period including one from your most recent employer.

Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the issues relating to equal opportunities in service delivery and provision and to actively promote ways of eradicating racism, sexism, and other forms of negative discrimination though the group’s policies and procedures.

Rethink Mental Illness have secured a new contract to deliver All Age Advocacy Services across Essex.  We are seeking a Referral and Data Co-ordinator to support the Contract Manager in the delivery of the Single Point of Access for the service.

The Single Point of Access (SPA)  provides a comprehensive intake system for all new referrals to Essex All Age Advocacy, providing all new referrals with timely screening and triage, allocating referrals to our Locality Hubs or signposting to other services or sources of information.

You will be the first point of contact for anyone contacting the SPA; providing first response to clients or referrers and co-ordinating the referral triage process, gathering referral information and working closely with the Contract Manager and Locality Team Leaders to allocate referrals to advocates and our advocacy groups.

We are seeking a motivated, highly organised individual with experience of providing a first-class customer focused service.  You willrespond positively and professionally to a wide range of contacts, working directly with social care and health staff, stakeholders, carers of, and people with learning disabilities, physical and sensory impairments, acquired brain injuries, young people, older people and those with mental health needs. 

About You:

• You will be committed to delivering a timely and personalised response to all contacts, ensuring that our Advocacy service is delivered efficiently and effectively.
• You will have experience of working or volunteering in an Advocacy setting. 
• Strong verbal/written/non-verbal communication skills, able to communicate sensitively and empathetically.
• A good understanding of advocacy practice and key laws, in order to answer non-complex questions around rights under the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Care Act.
• Able to work effectively as part of a team with flexible approach to undertaking a wide variety of tasks.
• IT literate with working knowledge of standard Microsoft Office programs and experience of accurate data entry to databases.
• Experience and skills in statistical data analysis and presentation.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary
• Annual increments to top of pay scale
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• 33 days annual leave including statutory/bank holiday
• Childcare vouchers scheme
• Where appropriate paid eye test plus up to £55 towards the cost of new glasses or lenses
• Excellent career development opportunities with access to further training and advocacy qualifications

This post will initially be based in Southend-on-Sea.  We are currently relocating the SPA to a central Chelmsford location.  We will consider home based working until the Chelmsford office is operational.

Just a couple of final things,

We welcome applications from everyone, applicants with lived experience, LGBTQ+, people with a disability, or who are BAME are actively encouraged to apply. We are proud to have also been awarded Disability Confident employer status and therefore we ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone.

We reserve the right to change the closing date without notice depending on the number of responses received.

DHI is an award-winning charity that challenges social exclusion by supporting people to achieve their potential and contribute to the richness and wellbeing of their community. We are looking for individuals who share our passion for our values of self-direction, stimulation and zest for life and our commitment to our client groups and the local communities we serve.

Are you a proactive multi-tasker who can take a lead on safeguarding issues, manage a team of recovery workers and oversee the delivery of a programme of services developed to support people towards changing their drug and alcohol use with consistent energy & enthusiasm…?

The team provides a variety of support to people including alcohol detox support, initiating opiate substitute prescribing, relapse prevention and motivational interventions. You will need to be resilient and experienced in managing clients with a range of substance use issues, be the ‘go to’ person located in the South Bristol Hub while integrating with community services and partnership working with Hawkspring.

The role involves actively contributing to and supporting the wider Bristol DHI services, Team Leaders and Service Manager to develop and enhance treatment services within ROADS.

If you are interested, please contact HR in first instance to arrange an informal discussion regarding the role.

How To Apply

Please use the Job Description and Person Specification to complete an Application Form and Skills Form and send to HR before Midday 14th April

As part of the wider Oasis family of hubs, Oasis Hub Oldham works to provide integrated, high quality services that benefit the whole person and the whole community.  The Thriving Hollinwood project is an on-going local partnership and is currently looking for a focussed Employability Project Leader to be responsible for improving employability, education and aspirational outcomes for targeted 16+ adults.

As well as engaging with 16+ people who are currently unemployed, you would be:

• designing a targeted project and supporting personal pathways to move individuals closer to the work environment
• working directly with target groups to improve engagement, manage and deliver a case load using a “community-led” approach.
• working with a network of local agencies, community partners and steering groups
• developing relationships with other schools, providers of NEET provision and employability programs.

This position offers you the chance to gain crucial project management experience, develop your ability to create corporate partnerships and have a positive and long-lasting impact in this community. 

Applicants will need to be committed to the project and have the following:

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or demonstrate relevant experience.
• Experience working in an educational, youth, community or adult education setting.
• Experience of 1 to 1 mentoring/counselling
• Proven knowledge of skills, training and employability projects

Oasis offers:

• competitive salary, plus pension and life assurance
• 25 days holiday per year (plus Bank Holidays)
• Flexible working practices and family friendly policies.
• A supportive working environment with a focus on staff development and wellbeing.

For further information or an application pack please download the documents on this page or go to the Oasis UK website.  Please note that CVs alone will not be accepted. 

Closing date for applications is midday, Tuesday 14th April 2020.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 23rd April 2020 at Oldham.

1 Year Fixed Term Contract

Part-time (20 hours per week (0.5FTE), inclusive of breaks)

Salary:  £11,582 per annum (£23,164 FTE)

(We would like to make you aware that Oasis Hub Oldham also have a Lead Youth Worker role and a Hub Community Project Worker role vacant as well – tell your friends!)

Oasis Charitable Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities Employment.

Penrose is looking for a talented and passionate individual to coordinate and deliver a comprehensive programme of activities supporting people with personality disorders to resettle in the community and lead happy, healthy lives, free from crime. A critical component of a new pan-London service, this role will be the designated lead for partnering with local agencies and support services, and ensuring that each site is able to offer a fulfilling range of meaningful interventions and that our residents are involved in all stages of the process.

The Collaboration and Activities Coordinator will also be the lead for ensuring a smooth transition from our supported accommodation into independent living, by ensuring that every resident is equipped with tools and a package of local support services at the point of move-on.

As part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway, Penrose will provide supported accommodation for 12 men and 4 women across three residential sites in Lambeth, Lewisham and Redbridge. Working in partnership with NHS England and HMPPS and receiving referrals from the National Probation Service, we will support men and women in the pathway being released from prison, secure healthcare settings or moving on from Approved Premises. Our 24-hour service will provide far more than a roof over people’s heads; it will offer a base for a range of 1-1 and group interventions, delivered by our teams and by external partners, that will equip residents with the skills and confidence to move-on safely into independent living.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference supporting some of the most complex people in the criminal justice system and helping make communities safer. We are looking for an experienced individual with the motivation and commitment to coordinate, design and facilitate a suite of activities supporting residents within an enabling environment.

Main Duties:

· Designing, coordinating and facilitating a programme of activities and interventions for OPD residents across 3 sites

· Liaising with local and pan-London partner agencies to ensure each site offers a holistic package of interventions

· Provide transitional support for each resident as they move on into independent accommodation, equipping them with tools and a package of local support contacts

· To deliver training to staff (and residents as appropriate) to enable and empower them to deliver activities as required

· To be creative in involving the service users and ensuring they remain at the centre of the discussion and make choices and decisions.

· To work with the team of Engagement workers and support service users to achieve their goals, in line with their support plan.

· To liaise with external professionals, e.g. GP’s, probation officer, Care Coordinators etc.

· Ensure timely information sharing with Offender Managers and other key stakeholders to support robust risk management and positive resettlement outcomes

· Facilitate and or support group sessions

· Provide / arrange for various advice, advocacy and or information to service users in relation to physical health matters, substance misuse welfare benefits, education, employment and training, life skills and any other identified support needs.

· To positively respond to service users who may need assistance, seeking the support of the appropriate manager if necessary, in emergencies.

· Assist the staff team in managing security and safety, health & safety, maintenance, rent/charges collection, arrears and void control.

· Assist service users with arrangements for moving into the property, ensuring benefits are applied for, utilities connected, maintenance problems resolved, and that the property is properly furnished.

· To undertake administrative tasks as part of regular duties ensuring that these are completed accurately and in a timely manner.

· Ensure Service Users receive a high quality and responsive service.

· Promote and encourage best practice in HSE.

Excellent communication skills and being able to develop strong working relationships will also be crucial to this role. You will have a passion for working with people with experience of the criminal justice system and/or with other marginalised groups, and a belief that everyone can turn their life around regardless of past or present circumstances.

You will have an ability to build rapport, motivate and inspire, and a keen eye for detail.

To apply we require your CV along with Supporting Statement (no more than 2 sides of A4) detailing how your knowledge and experience meets the requirements of the job description (this can be found on the attached Job Description) or completion of an application form. Please then send by the closing date.

Why work for us?

• Excellent core and on-going training aligned with personal development plan
• Access to employee assistance programme
• Medi-cash which includes the following:
• Discount gym membership
• Routine eye tests, glasses and contact lenses
• Dental treatment via NHS or Private
• Physiotherapy, Indian Head Massage and a range of other therapies
• 25 days holiday increasing to 26 days after 2 years and increasing 1 day per year up to 30 days annual leave
• Life Assurance