Job title: Hostel Key worker (Internally this role is called Independent Living Officer)
Exciting opportunity to join Huggards Support Team providing help and support to people experiencing chronic homelessness.
Responsibilities and Duties
Key Aim: To provide individual dedicated support to residents in Huggard’s accommodation, focusing on:
* Providing a Safe, Welcoming and Supportive environment for people experiencing Homelessness.
* Working with residents to establish aspirations and goals that are realistic and achievable.
* Helping individuals to identify and overcome the barriers that can cause a return to homelessness and may prevent them from moving into more sustainable accommodation.
* Supporting individuals to engage with existing housing, health and support services.
Hostel Key worker Job description
Job Title: Hostel Key worker (Internally this role is called Independent Living Officer)
Responsible to: Independent Living Team Leader
Based within Huggard's on-site accommodation setting you will provide advice, support and manage a caseload with our residents. Our supported living service provides person-centred support to people experiencing homelessness that have faced compound trauma and complex needs including substance misuse and mental health issues.
The role is focused on empowering residents by addressing needs and building the skills and resilience on their journey out of homelessness. This will be achieved by carrying out quality casework, and support planning with individual residents. Working towards positive outcomes for our residents and inspire hope.
Please include information with your application as to why you are applying for this role.
Responsibilities and Duties
* Be a warm and welcoming presence for when people access our service
* Delivering brief, extended and more structured interventions or signposting to the appropriate people within our service or externally
* Working with residents to assess and identify their support needs, agreeing support plans, recording outcomes and reviewing progress towards achieving their goals.
* Provide housing related support to support residents to engage in meaningful activities and equipping them with necessary skills to take forward into independent living
* Supporting and liaising with other agencies to support our clients and ensuring partnership working.
* Support our residents within Huggard hostels with independent living skills, this may include group and 1:1 work
* Provide excellent listening and communication to those who are in crisis
* Employing effective de-escalation/conflict resolution skills aimed at supporting behaviour change
* Ensure important and relevant information is handed over to the necessary people
* Update and complete relevant documentation
* Promote and uphold the dignity of Huggard clients
* Undertake risk assessments for each customer and reviewing them regularly
* Engage with a range of individuals who have multiple and compounded support needs with a view to engaging them in appropriate services, build on their skills and strengths and supporting them in their own homes
* Hold a caseload of residents and provide bespoke support which is realistic for each individual
* Assist residents in accessing and maintaining accommodation and help to reduce the breakdown of tenancies
* Facilitate rapid access to relevant specialist services such as health services or benefits advice.
* Work closely with the Harm reduction team within the service to ensure that residents are able to access support, advice and treatment.
* Work closely with Cardiff Single Persons Gateway in order to maximise accommodation opportunities for service users
* Support service users in their accommodation and help them to adapt and build the skills and resilience to sustain living in their own accommodation.
* Support GP registration
Person specification
It goes without saying that you’ll be a people person with the passion, drive and enthusiasm for delivering quality services to vulnerable people.
* A calm, resourceful and enthusiastic individual who is well motivated, and enjoys a challenge.
* Ability to work under pressure and remain composed whilst working with people in crisis
* A willingness to work in a psychologically and trauma informed way adhering to evidenced ways of working and best practices
* A willingness to engage in team meetings and reflective practice
* Ability to use initiative and to raise any concerns in relation to staff or client welfare
* Confidence working with people who may be reluctant to engage
* Empathy and understanding towards people Huggard supports
* The ability to problem solve, work dynamically and adapt to change
* Confidence to ask for help or support
Rewards of working for Huggard
* The opportunity to work as part of a multidisciplinary service
* Support from an extremely experienced and competent staff team who will help you in your role
* The opportunity to actively participate in team meetings, reflective practice and with opportunity to put forward ideas and suggestions to improve practice
Pension Scheme:
Huggard operates a Group Personal Pension Scheme through Standard Life for all contracted staff and pays an employer’s contribution equivalent to 7% of each employee’s salary into the scheme.
Holidays and Time off:
Huggard is proud that its holiday entitlement is in excess of the legal requirement. It starts at 5 weeks’ holiday (6.6 weeks including Bank Holidays). The number of days leave each member of staff is entitled to is calculated based on the number of days and hours that they work. Staff required to work Bank Holidays will be given time off in lieu and some Bank Holidays also attract additional pay.
Health Benefits:
Huggard encourages all staff to ensure that they have up to date vaccinations including Hepatitis B and Tetanus. Huggard will meet the cost of these vaccinations if a member of staff is unable to get them free of charge.
Huggard pays for Benenden Healthcare for all contracted staff. The immediate benefits for staff include:
* 24 hour GP advice line
* 24/7 counselling helpline (relationship, money, employment, anxiety)
* Health advice line
* Independent care advice. After 6 months in the scheme, staff have access to: Treatment and surgery, Local consultations and tests, Physiotherapy, Counselling & psychology for stress, bereavement, anxiety or depression as well as other mental health problems. Financial help with cancer or TB.
Meals:
Staff are able to make use of Huggard’s kitchen services at a subsidised rate.
MyScheme:
Huggard has signed up to MySchemes, where staff who have completed their probation period can access:
* CycleScheme: providing staff with the benefit of being able to purchase bicycles at a reduced rate through a salary sacrifice scheme. A number of staff have already taken advantage of this benefit.
Contract length: 12 months
Job Types: Full-time
Salary: £25,518.00 per year
Pay: From £27,518.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Cycle to work scheme
* Health & wellbeing programme
* Sick pay
Shift:
* 12 hour shift
Work days:
* Monday to Friday
* Weekends only
Experience:
* Computer literacy: 1 year (required)
* Numerical literacy: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 23/01/2025
Reference ID: ILO
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