Senior case worker jobs

Occupational Requirement
Due to the nature of this role, which includes leading and providing direct support within our Women’s Night Shelter, this post is open to women only under the occupational requirement provisions of Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
The post holder will work closely with vulnerable women who have experienced multiple disadvantages, including domestic abuse, sexual exploitation and gender-based violence. We consider that being a woman is a proportionate occupational requirement for this role in order to maintain the safety, dignity and wellbeing of the women using the service and to deliver effective trauma-informed support.
Please not the successful candidate will also work alongside colleagues and provide support to guests, of all genders, as part of their wider duties.

Team: Casework

Location: Argon House, 2 Argon Mews, London SW6 1BJ, at our partner sites and from home

Duration: Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Casework

Responsible for:          Caseworkers based across our partner Day Centres plussome budget allocation for MD casework expenses

Hours of work: 40 (5 days per week including lunch break)

Overview of the role

The Senior Caseworker – MD Lead plays a dual role in delivering high-quality casework services while providing specialist support and guidance to colleagues working with guests experiencing multiple disadvantages. The role provides advice, advocacy and casework support to a caseload of guests across our homelessness and vulnerable housing services, with a particular focus on those presenting with long-term, complex and multiple needs.  The postholder will share their knowledge, skills and experience to support colleagues, strengthen their understanding of complex needs, and develop their confidence and ability to work effectively with guests. The role will also contribute to a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach, ensuring guests receive coordinated, person-centred support.

Internal relationships

All staff, volunteers and guests

External relationships

External service providers and partner organisations

Areas of responsibility

1. Advice and advocacy

· Providing an advice and advocacy service to a caseload of guests from across all our services for the homeless and vulnerably housed who present with long-term and complex needs, caseworking a smaller and more consistent caseload than other members of the team but working with them more intensively. 

· Employing creative thinking and practices to ensure that guests are supported and motivated to achieve their goals, primarily to access and maintain accommodation and develop durable support networks 

· Attending appointments with guests as needed and carrying out home visits 

· Working with Caseworker colleagues to strengthen their understanding of complex needs, developing their confidence and ability to work effectively with guests

· Creating best practice guidelines to ensure consistency and accessible support.

· Working with colleagues to ensure acceptable workloads are maintained.

· Providing advice, advocacy and support to Emergency Night Shelter Guests; visiting Emergency Night Shelters in the evening as required.

2. Internal liaison

· Building and maintaining working relationships with Caseworker colleagues.

· Liaising with the Fundraising & Comms team to develop meaningful case studies to assist with fundraising campaigns.

· Working with the Operations team to ensure the Emergency Night Shelters are successful and building relationships with Night Shelter staff to encourage communication and team building.

3. External liaison

· Referring guests to accommodation providers, health services and other relevant support services, as necessary, and actively facilitating their ongoing engagement with these 

· Maintaining good communication with the Managers of our partnered Drop-in Centres, Glass Door colleagues and local statutory and non-statutory services 

· Attending meetings with the casework team, external service providers and partner organisations when required, engagement with Reflective Practice sessions 

· Liaising with volunteers at both Night Shelters and Day Centres.

4. Women’s Night Shelter lead

· Responsible for the day-to-day leadership and coordination of the casework provided to the women’s night shelter over the winter months.

· Ensuring that women accessing the service receive high-quality, person-centred support, advice and advocacy, both by taking on a caseload of clients and supporting the other caseworkers involved in the women’s night shelter. Helping guests to address immediate needs, while supporting them to access appropriate housing, health, welfare, legal and other specialist services.

· Participating in a weekly casework drop-in for guests of the women’s night shelter over winter; providing a safe, welcoming and trauma-informed environment to deliver casework to women experiencing homelessness, insecure housing and multiple disadvantages.

· Maintaining all safeguarding and risk management protocols.

5. Monitoring impact and administration

· Collating statistics and outcome measurements of the casework service for both internal and external use 

· Maintaining a well-organised and easily accessible administration system for the casework programme in line with relevant legislation (e.g., GDPR), including accurate and up-to-date case notes using our internal In-Form system 

· Adherence to all Glass Door policies and procedures, including compliance with safeguarding procedures 

· Managing a small casework budget 

· Proactively identifying areas for improvement and development of service provision

· Undertaking any other duties to aid the good running of the project, as required by the charity 

6. Line Management responsibilities

· Line manages up to three Caseworkers, providing support, direction and accountability.

· Carry out annual appraisal, track training & development and oversee professional development.

Person Specification

Essential

· At least two years’ experience of working one-on-one with - and assessing the needs of - homeless people or similar disadvantaged client groups 

· Empathetic attitude to homeless and vulnerably housed people, including those with ongoing complex needs 

· Ability to sensitively maintain boundaries with challenging individuals whilst promoting a trauma-informed approach to care 

· Ability to adopt an assertive approach when needed

· Personal resilience while working with challenging individuals coupled with an understanding of one’s personal and professional limits 

· Up-to-date knowledge of the welfare issues and legislation affecting homeless people 

· Ability to expand own knowledge and to adapt in order to advocate for guests in unfamiliar areas of care and support 

· Knowledge of relevant support services available to homeless people, particularly in West London 

· Confident approach to, and experience of, dealing with persistent challenging behaviour, conflict and distress 

· Ability to maintain good relationships with colleagues and external service providers 

· Highly organised with strong time-management skills 

· Ability to keep clear and up-to-date case records 

· Proactively identifying areas for improvement and development of service provision

· Undertaking any other duties to aid the good running of the project, as required by the charity 

· Ability to work independently and take the initiative to make important decisions

· Flexible and supportive team member with excellent communication skills 

· Ability to adhere to and implement Health & Safety, HR and operational policies 

· Understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities 

Desirable

• Experience of working alongside volunteers

Other

• Has eligibility to work in the UK
• To be able to adhere and work within Glass Door’s policies and procedures
• To participate in meetings, supervision meetings and in any trainings as required
• To be responsible for own’s professional development