BOLTON YOUNG PERSONS HOUSING SCHEME
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post:Project Worker –LUCAS Project
Hours:28 waking hours per week
Plus 2 or 3 sleep ins based on a maximum of 156 per year.
Salary scale:£18,000 (starting salary)- £24,000 per annum. Increments follow successful annual appraisals. The salary includes shift allowances for sleep ins.
Hours of DutyEach shift 5.00pm – 9.00am, including 7/8 hour sleep and day shifts at weekends. (9am – 5pm)
Location and Setting:Farnworth, Bolton
Accountable/ Reports to:Senior Project Worker and Project Manager
Works with:Externally, works with local authorities, benefits agency, housing benefit, contractors, police and voluntary agencies, young people aged 16-25 years. Internally, works with Director, Administrators, Project Managers, Support Workers.
Overall purpose:To provide a concierge, monitoring, information and contact point in a housing project for homeless young people aged 16-25 years. The aim being to ensure the smooth operation of the scheme in line with BYPHS service standards. This will be done by working alongside a team of support staff delivering services through the day.
Job Context
LUCAS Project aims to provide short to medium term supported accommodation to homeless 16-25 year olds. It is run as part of Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme, which already provides various other services for homeless young people.
Key Responsibilities
Provide Comprehensive, Efficient & Effective Service Provision
-Develop effective and professional working relationships internally and externally promoting a positive image of the service and of BYPHS
-Reinforce the license agreements with young people and complete housing benefits claim and records.
-Induct users in the rules and show them their room and the building of occupation
-Record information promptly and accurately as per scheme procedures;
-Ensure the quality of service to residents is not compromised and standards are maintained to the highest level at all times;
-Where necessary, in line with Scheme guidelines, enforce warnings and exclusions policy
-Ensure residents are up on time to vacate the building as necessary
-Liaise with day time support team and referring agencies as applicable each morning by providing an accurate handover following shift end
-Encourage service user participation and involvement.(to reduce likelihood of isolation and anti social or unsafe behaviour)
-Deal with EDT/ emergency services and GM Police were necessary
-Produce incident reports
-Ensure support service is client focussed and complies with BYPHS policies and practices
-Ensure service meets the best practice standards required under any management agreements
-Ensure BYPHS complaints process is used to inform service standards
-Liaise with agencies and local authority departments on client or scheme based queries
-Review and update all case notes, resident files, service risk alerts/ assessments, health & safety logs
-Produce correspondence, reports & minutes accurately & timely
-Prompt collection of service charges, recording all transactions
-Ensure compliance with the Scheme’s policy and practices in relation to the allocation of tenancies under the referral process.
-Assist clients with out of hours queries i.e. accessing doctor
-Monitor visitors to the scheme and manage concierge access to intensive units.
Provide Staff Support
-Provide mentoring, support & training forvolunteers and bank staff ensuring staff are motivated to work to the best of their ability
-Daily handover to colleagues following end of shift, with update on any actions/ issues
-Ensure bank staff & volunteers comply with all BYPHS policies, procedures
Provide Financial Support
-Manage petty cash and submit expenditure returns
-Keep accurate records,including making up-to-date Housing Benefit applications and to ensure a prompt information flow with BYPHS office.
-Implement BYPHS policies and procedures in a conscientious manner.
-Monitor payment by residents of service charges
-Support Project Manager to recover unpaid rent and other charges
Provide Premises Management
-Preparation of rooms for occupation between lets, aiming to maintain high standards of accommodation with regard to fixtures and fittings, furnishings and decoration;
-Maintain a safe and secure environment for residents, including monitoring access to the building and carrying out regular building checks, reporting repairs, liaising with emergency services etc;
-Undertake light cleaning duties, minor repairs and domestic tasks, including putting out refuse
-Use BYPHS approved contractors for property maintenance and supply of household goods
-Welcome visitors to the offices, dealing with enquires were able or direct to correct department/ officer
-Responsible for Health, Safety & well-being off all staff, residents and visitors to the scheme
-Responsible for fixtures, fittings, furniture and equipment and keys
-Shredding of confidential waste paper/ documents
-Ensure building is adequately cleaned and maintained, repairs reported
-Conductregular building risk assessments, fire drills, lighting & risk assessments, accident book, food hygiene records complywith Health & Safety Requirement
-Responsible for security of the premises, use CCTV to monitor entry and exit points and ensure no breaches of licences
Maintain Information systems
-Update SASSHA system daily, alerting housing benefit of any changes
-Daily review of housing benefit & tenants term details
-Daily update room register, bookings, food hygiene records, reviewing and sign off approval of logs
-Maintain accurate including making up-to-date housing benefit applications to ensure prompt information flow with the BYPHS office
-Preparation and issue of occupancy statistics.
-Ensure office filing is maintained
-Maintain accurate client and property records
Flexibility
-Provide cover for the team as required
-Be flexible in approach to work in order to meet the needs of users
-To undertake any other duties as may be requested by BYPHS Director/ Project Manager, broadly consistent with the job description and level of the post
Policies & Legislation
-Adhere to all BYPHS systems, policies and procedures
-Take responsibility for the Health, Safety & Welfare of yourself and your working environment, escalating issues to responsible person were necessary
-Actively follow Health & safety Policy, procedures and safe systems of work
-Comply with Equal opportunities and diversity policies and regulation
-Co-operate with any legal steps the organisation may take to fulfil its obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAW).
-Reporting any concerns relating to safeguardingvulnerable adults and children
-Upholding safe and efficient working policies and practices, undertake supervision and training
Person Specification
Requirement / Essential / DesirableAssessment
A/I / Education/Qualifications
A / Minimum 5 GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications graded C or above, to include Maths and English) /
A / Food hygiene certificate /
A / Safe manual handling certificate /
A / Appointed first aider certificate or equivalent
A / Enhanced DBS Check /
Knowledge/ Work Experience/Skills
A / Min 1 years previous experience working in comparable role, preferably housing, youth work, social care, residential care or social housing
IF YOU CANNOT DEMONSTRATE THIS IN YOUR APPLICATION YOU WILL NOT BE SHORTLISTED /
A / Experience of working within a residential setting or building or facilities management /
A / Knowledge of Housing Legislation and Licence Agreements /
A/I / Experience & understanding of young people in relation to their housing and support needs including services available /
A/I / Experience of working with young people or vulnerable adultsin crisis or with complex needs e.g social care system, ex-offenders or substance misuse /
A / Broad knowledge and understanding of housing (or related) sector and thorough understanding of the statutory and regulatory environment relating to housing organisations, particularly focused on supported housing for young people /
A/I / Knowledge of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice /
A/I / Knowledge of safeguarding & responsibilities for health & safety issues at work /
A/I / Knowledge & awareness of safeguarding vulnerable adults, drug misuse, mental health and sexual exploitation /
A/I / Knowledge of the causes and effects of homelessness /
A / Knowledge of welfare benefits available to homeless young people & completion of housing benefit forms /
A/I / Ability to communicate at all levels and gain rapport with others quickly and easily /
A/I / Ability to work on own initiative /
A/I / Effective Team player /
A / Confident manner, experience in and ability to set professional boundaries and manage difficult situations /
A / Developing and maintaining effective reporting systems and administrative processes /
A / Excellent IT Skills incl. Outlook, Word, Excel /
A / Use of a rent, referral, resident & property database /
A / Knowledge of cash handling, financial recording, budgeting /
A / Excellent Numeracy skills /
A / Strong organisational and planning skills, able to prioritise, be able to multi task /
A/I / Excellent written and verbal communication skills /
A/I / Ability to undertake cleaning and domestic duties /
Special Attributes (characteristics/qualities)
A/I / Active commitment to helping young people (age 16-25 years) to achieve their ambitions and goals /
A/I / Excellent interpersonal skill, in particular ability to develop relationship of trust with residents and agencies /
A / Demonstrate high levels of integrity, can do attitude & practical approach /
A / Ability to encourage and develop user participation /
A/I / Ability to maintain accurate, up to date personal files on service users /
A/I / Enthusiastic and caring & non judgemental approach /
A / Effective time management /
A / A calm, professional and methodical approach in crisis situations /
A/I / Ability to mediate and diffuse challenging situations /
A / Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines /
A / Ability to make decisions within policies and procedures /
A / Reacts to changes well, inclined to respond quickly and resourcefully /
A/I / Keen to develop and generate ideas to solve immediate and long-term needs and problems /
A / Ability to adapt to a fast paced, changing environment, demonstrating an adaptable and flexible approach to circumstances /
A / Work weekend, evening and public holidays /
A / Willing to participate in in-service training and attend meetings outside normal working hours /
Review
The details contained in this Job Description reflect the content of the job at the time it was prepared. However, it is inevitable that over time the nature of individual jobs will change; existing duties may be lost and other duties gained without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Consequently, the Trustee Board will expect to revise this Job Description from time to time and will consult with the postholder at the appropriate time
Created November 2014