Developing Health & Independence

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:Housing and Peer Support Apprentice
Apprentice Salary:(£10,586.88 for 1st year, £13,398.22 2nd year both inclusive of NI, tax and pension)
Hours:30 hours per week on site plus 7 hours per week ofdirected study and such additional hours as are required to complete study assignments.
Annual Leave:26 days plus statutory & bank holidays (1 additional day after each full year of service, up to a maximum of 31)
Location:South Glos Drug and Alcohol Services
Pension:Contributory pension scheme (employers contribution 7% to a minimum 3% contribution from employee).
RESPONSIBLE TO :Reintegration Team Leader
Principle Purpose of the Job

To undertake training to be able todeliver housing related support to service users referred to the Reintegration Team, and to work alongside the Peer Support and Activities Champion to develop activities to support service users’ recovery.

In addition to work-based responsibilities at DHI, the post holder is required to undertake study to work towards a Level 2 or Level 3 NVQ in Housing and to complete and pass all assignments required to pass the qualification within the fixed term of this post.

The duties and responsibilities outlined below are the activities which are expected to be undertaken independently following training and supervised practice. By the end of the fixed term, the post holder will be expected to be able to accept referrals directly from the Reintegration Team Leader and complete the following duties and responsibilities independently.

During training the apprentice will be expected to assist in the delivery of these duties and gradually develop to take on their own caseload.

Key Duties and Responsibilities
Operational Duties
  1. To offer housing support to service users of South Glos Drug and Alcohol Services, who are homeless, moving on from temporary accommodation, in unsatisfactory accommodation or at risk of losing their homes. To provide support to enable service users to gain and sustain independence within the community.
  1. To complete comprehensive needs and risk assessments with individual service users in line with the service operations procedure.
  1. To complete support/recovery plans with individual service users and provide or signpost and refer to the necessary support as identified in the plan. Assist and encourage service users to make their own decisions and choices.
  1. In line with the service operational procedures, conduct reviews of support plans with service users.
  1. To ensure that service users have access to specialist support, where appropriate, and to provide support to enable them to access and engage with specialist services.
  1. To implement working protocols with relevant agencies that will allow information sharing and joint working to benefit the service user.
  1. To liaise with relevant agencies and, with the agreement of the service user, act as an advocate with those agencies on the service users behalf.
  1. To develop and sustain professional relationships with service users and appropriate external agencies.
  1. Positively promote the service to external agencies and relevant statutory bodies.
  1. Participate in some out of hours work with other team members; eg evening groups.
  1. Stay abreast of developments in best practice, legislative and other changes, and integrate them into day-to-day work and the development of strategies and plans.
  1. To assist the Peer Support worker to develop a programme of service user activities and to provide the opportunity for service user feedback.

Monitoring and Administration

  • To comply with data collection procedures and reporting to ensure effective recording of performance monitoring, outcomes and service user information
  • To carry out all necessary administration in relation to casework task including monitoring, and participate in DHI service evaluation audits.
  • Prepare and present clear verbal / written reports as required.

Organisational Responsibilities

  • At all times adhere to DHI policies and procedures, with specific reference to:
  • Confidentiality
    Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.
  • Data Protection Act
    To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
  • Equal Opportunities and Diversity

To ensure that all service users, their partners, colleagues both within DHI and other partner organisations are treated as individuals by following DHIS’s Equality and Diversity Policy

  • Health and Safety

To ensure you comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety regulations and DHI’s Health and Safety Policy and Procedures. You are responsible for taking reasonable care with regard to yourself as well as any colleague, client or visitor who might be affected by an act or failure to act by yourself.

  • Quality Assurance

To ensure all activities are managed in a way that supports DHI’s Quality Assurance systems.

  • Safeguarding

To adhere to the implementation of risk management procedures (including child and adult safeguarding protocols) taking personal responsibility for keeping up to date on the requirements of these procedures.

  • Lone Working

To work in accordance with the DHI Lone Working policy and procedures.

  • At all times adhere to contract requirements, relevant legislation and good practice, with specific reference to: The DoH Drug Misuse and Dependence – Guidelines on Clinical Management; Ethical Framework for Good Practice NTA, NICE.
  • Participate in the organisational planning processes and contribute to the establishment of DHI’s business plan.
  • To contribute to the periodic review of service policies and procedures.

NB.This job description contains only the main accountabilities relating to the post and does not describe in detail all the duties required to carry them out.

Developing Health and Independence

Reintegration Team/Peer Support Apprentice

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This opportunity is open to people facing significant barriers to employment such as:

  • a criminal record
  • no recent work history
  • holding no qualifications at or above level 2 unless the applicant faces significant other barriers to employment, and in any event holding no qualification at or above level 4 (degree level).

Candidates need to satisfy the following other essential criteria

  1. Experience or understanding of homelessness issues
  1. Experience or understanding of the importance of provide effective advice and guidance
  1. Willingness to learn about floating support services, and willingness to attend training as directed
  1. Experience or understanding of empowering service users and promoting independence
  1. Willingness to learn about multi-agency working
  1. Willingness to learn about assessment support planning and risk management
  1. Willingness to learn about health & safety legislation and regulations
  1. Willingness and aptitude to achieve a good level of IT literacy
  1. Good communication skills – written and verbal
  1. A flexible approach to working hours, in alignment with the Working Time Regulations
  1. Commitment to Equal Opportunities

Desirable

  1. Access to own transport and full driving licence

Job Descriptions & Person SpecsJuly 2012