About Aspire
Aspire is a multi-award-winning employment and housing charity. We empower people facing homelessness, poverty and disadvantage to find employment and housing. In 2023-24, we engaged with over 1,700 people across our projects and programmes throughout Oxfordshire and the wider Thames Valley.
EQUALITY & DIVERSITY
We celebrate the diversity of our people and are committed to building on an inclusive culture that encourages and supports both our employees and beneficiaries to thrive. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Whoever you are, if you like one of our jobs, we would love to hear from you. If you require any accessibility adjustments to support your application or if you would like to submit your application in a different format (such as video or audio), please contact us at your earliest convenience.
Salary: £25,254 FTE (£18,856.32 pro rata)
Purpose of the role
Aspire seeks to recruit a part-time Housing Progression Support Worker to join our programme lead in the highly successful Accommodation for Ex-Offenders service (AFEO). The accommodation has a strong move on focus; ensuring that whilst individuals are with us they develop their readiness, willingness and sense of being prepared to access, and sustain, a tenancy in the private rented sector (PRS).
Key tasks
Key tasks are intended to be a guide to the range and level of work expected of the job holder. This is not an exhaustive list of all tasks and employees will be expected to carry out such other reasonable duties which may be required from time to time.
1. Provide support to individuals accessing our AFEO programme – building tenancy sustainment and renting ready skills, with the end goal of individuals progressing to securing their own stable, affordable and safe private rented accommodation.
2. Assist the programme lead to develop avenues into private rented accommodation through letting agents and direct with landlords.
3. Create support plans that are person-centred – with a focus on rehabilitation from prison into the community, including, but not limited to living skills, health, wellbeing, employment and social activities.
4. Form respectful relationships with residents – creating a positive environment where individuals can recognise and manage their feelings, needs and access to opportunities – contributing to their own sense of safety, their living environment and the wider community.
5. Focus on individual’s strengths and motivations, and work in a trauma-informed way to achieve meaningful, sustainable rehabilitation and recovery outcomes.
6. Complete Risk Assessments and safety plans; working closely with our designated safeguarding lead, in compliance with Aspire’s Safeguarding policy and procedures.
7. Confidently engage with probation and police, and any other bodies involved in the Justice system.
8. Support the HOME Project Managers during data and reporting collation.
9. Support residents to access Aspire’s wider projects and activities, for further development opportunities, including: employment, education, training and development support, digital and social inclusion.
10. Provide Aspire representation, as required, at relevant forums to update partner agencies on our activities and client engagement including quarterly meetings with Oxford City Council local authority partners.
11. Support residents to understand and access the benefits they are entitled to, particularly Housing Benefit & Universal Credit applications.
12. Attend training or other professional development activities as required to effectively perform the role of Housing Progression Support Worker.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
* Be able to demonstrate experience within the criminal justice system.
* Be able to demonstrate awareness/understanding of housing instability/risk.
* Experience with placing people in private rented accommodation.
* Knowledge of barriers faced by ex-offenders and structuring appropriate support to help overcome these and sustain their progression.
* Knowledge of the statutory and voluntary sector services available to support community engagement and personal progression.
* Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
* Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with a wide range of colleagues.
* Ability to prioritise and deliver on a changing work-load, sometimes with short deadlines.
Desirable
* Knowledge of employment support for people making a transition from the benefits system.
* Experience in developing support packages that aid effective rehabilitation and integration back into the community.
Please use your covering letter to demonstrate how your skills, qualities and experience meet each of our requirements listed in the Person Specification and how they have helped you achieve relevant, positive results, as this will give you the best possible chance of being shortlisted.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £18,856.32 per year
Expected hours: 28 per week
Benefits:
* Casual dress
* Employee discount
* Health & wellbeing programme
* On-site parking
Schedule:
* Day shift
Experience:
* Complex needs support work: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 24/11/2024
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