We are seeking a Senior Homeless Support Service Officer who is passionate about working with those currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The post holder will work alongside the Homeless Service Manager to coordinate and deliver services within our established Homeless Support Service and Winter Shelter. They will also work with the Homeless Service team to plan and develop new initiatives to enhance our offer to those in need.
The role involves helping rough sleepers and those vulnerable or at risk of eviction access housing opportunities and other necessary support. As a Homeless Support Officer, you will be responsible for assessing clients’ needs and producing and delivering effective support plans to find solutions to clients' presenting needs. We are looking for a highly motivated individual who can hit the ground running and work to ensure that we positively impact our clients’ lives and achieve positive results.
A full training programme will be given to the successful candidate.
Main Duties
• Work with clients who have complex needs to identify their personal aims and ambitions and work towards achieving them. This entails assessing clients’ needs, advising them of their rights, producing support plans, and resolving their issues. For clients seeking services outside of the Rainbow Centre offering, you will be expected to make referrals to specialist organisations and services, follow up and ensure that clients receive the help they need.
• Assist clients in securing housing options and offer move-on outreach support for up to 3 months after securing housing.
• Work as part of a dedicated team of staff and volunteers and share responsibility for meeting clients' practical needs. This involves:
o Ensure that the breakfast club, run by volunteers, is well organised and that volunteers have the support to offer showers and postal and food parcels to clients.
o Attend to the reception, responding to the intercom and answering calls, in the absence of volunteers.
o Ensure that the service has adequate volunteers and is available to support volunteers and help them resolve queries to support a smooth service.
Maintain the HSS database by monitoring and logging clients' records and activities on the HSS database, taking full ownership of the administrative records relating to your client caseload in our In-Form database.
• Help develop and support a befriending scheme.