Job Description: Personal Advisor (Advice and Support Team)

1Background

Providence Row tackles the root causes of homelessness to help people get off, and stay off, the streets. The charity was founded by Father Daniel Gilbert in 1860 to work with vulnerable people living in the East End of London. The organisation was run by the Sisters of Mercy, an order of Nuns originating from Dublin. The Sisters offered shelter and refuge to people living in extreme poverty in the area. An important feature of the charity was that it was non-sectarian and offered help to people of any faith or no faith.

The charity has continued to grow and develop over 150 years. We work with some of the most vulnerable adults in society including people experiencing severe mental health problems and those dependent on alcohol or drugs. Providence Rowspends approximately £1.1 million each year to run services for people to stabilise their situation and get the support and motivation they need to recover.

The charity has embarked on a period of strategic development over the coming 3 years based on four strategic aims as follows:

Providing a safe, welcoming and high quality environment for vulnerable people; supporting them into a stable, secure and positive way of life.
A leading frontline agency, working in a thoughtful and strategic way with other organisations across all sectors to prevent homelessness.
Financially robust, independent and sustainable
Focused, efficient and making a difference

Our Advice and Support Team works withpeoplewho are sleeping rough or in very insecure accommodation. The Team is comprised of 6 full time staff and 1 trainee under the guidance of the Advice and Support Services Manager. The main emphasis in the service is to do everything possible to move people into appropriate accommodation in a borough, community or country in which they have rights and entitlements to services. This work is often done in partnership with other organisations some of which are funded to help people move away from a life on the streets or which may operate in other sectors such as health.

The main differences we plan to make for clients as a result of the Advice and Support Team are:

Increasing clients’ motivation and ability to take responsibility through provision of excellent support.
Improving the ability by clients to care for themselves by offering a regular meal and washing facilities.
Improving a client’s social networks and relationships by providing a postal address, access to digital technology and help to reconnect with friends/family/community of origin.
Improving accommodation/tenancy by helping clients to access or secure accommodation.
Improving the financial situation of clients through advice and support to achieve appropriate financial support including (but not exclusively) benefits claims.

The role of Personal Advisor (Advice and Support Team) is to engage with and support people who are sleeping rough or vulnerably housed. Key objectives for the role are:

Deliver excellent support to people who are sleeping rough or vulnerably housed, consistent with the values of Providence Row of respect, compassion, empowerment, justice and inclusion. (65%)
Ensure that all recording, evaluation and monitoring systems are used to demonstrate the impact of our work. (15%)
Promote the services of Providence Row through partnership working, networking and promotion of our work, building confidence and credibility in our work. (10%)
Contribute to the delivery of the Advice and Support Team Service according to business and operational plans, funding and budgetary requirements. (10%)

2Key objectives & Responsibilities

In order to support the achievement of these aims, the Personal Adviser (Advice and Support Team) will:

2.1Deliver excellent support to people who are sleeping rough or vulnerably housed, consistent with the values of Providence Row of respect, compassion, empowerment, justice and inclusion. (65%)

Liaise with relevant partners to accept and assess new client referrals into the service based on the agreed criteria.
Agree plans, in conjunction with clients, to move into accommodation and access specialist services which will address the underlying causes of their homelessness. This may include:

Advice and support with accommodation
Help with benefits and other money issues
Reconnecting with an alternative country or community
Accessing mental health or substance misuse services
Linking clients to primary health care
Ensuring clients access other services on site, in particular the Recovery and Progression Service and Trainee Scheme.

Regularly meet clients to review and update goals
Work with other Providence Row staff to provide joint support to clients where appropriate

2.2Ensure that all recording, evaluation and monitoring systems are used to demonstrate the impact of our work. (15%)

Implement Providence Row action planning systems with clients
Record accurate data using the charity’s client database
Provide information and evidence to Managers to fulfil internal and external reporting requirements
Participate in reviews and evaluations of work, reflecting on practice and continuously improving service delivery.

2.3Promote the services of Providence Row through partnership working, networking and promotion of our work, building confidence and credibility in our work. (15%)

Liaise with partners and key agencies to ensure that client action plans are met consistently and professionally
Attend meetings with relevant agencies and undertake visits to services which will support successful client work.
Participate in the promotion of the service to clients and key referring agencies, including providing input to promotional materials, making presentations about the service, disseminating literature etc.

2.4Contribute to the delivery of the Advice and Support Team Service according to business and operational plans, funding and budgetary requirements. (10%)

Engage in the charity’s planning process each year, contributing to the continuous improvement of the Team.
Provide information on good practice and developments
Participate in learning and continuous professional development which will meet both individual and business needs.
Keep a watching brief on agreed issues (such as domestic violence, street drinking, sex work etc) which inform the success of the Team.
Contribute to review, improvement and implementation of Providence Row policies, procedures and systems, ensuring legal compliance and best practice.
Work alongside volunteers with the role of adding value to the work of the service, providing supervision and support where necessary

3Other Duties

Take responsibility for specific areas of work such as rough sleeping, hospital discharge project, private rented sector etc over a period of time.
Take responsibility for occasional pieces of work as agreed between the Advice and Support Services Manager and the Deputy Chief Executive as required (duties will fall within the scope of the post at the appropriate grade).
Work unsocial hours as required by the role.
Work in accordance with the Charity's values, guiding principles, policies & procedures.

4Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience / Essential / Desirable
Experience of providing advice, support and high quality support planning to vulnerable people using a solution focused approach. / Essential
Knowledge of homelessness and housing agencies and policies / Essential
Experience of managing challenging behaviour in an assertive, positive and supportive way / Essential
Ability to work in partnership with other staff (both internally and from external organisations) to achieve good results with clients / Essential
Understanding and experience of working within professional boundaries / Essential
Excellent IT skills / Essential
Excellent verbal and written communication skills / Essential
Excellent time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines / Essential
Ability to work outside of normal office hours as required / Essential
Competencies
Takes the time to understand difficulties without pre-judgement and with a view to overcoming them (Compassion) / Essential
Exercises the same degree of consideration and care for all those who come to Providence Row, whatever the reason (Respect) / Essential
Welcomes and seeks to involve everybody, whatever their background, presenting issues, ethnicity, nationality or faith (Inclusiveness) / Essential
Works with people, not for people, to enable them to realise their gifts, abilities and talents (Empowerment) / Essential
Acts fairly and promotes justice within the organisation and in relation to the needs and rights of people who use our services (Justice) / Essential

The information provided in this Job Description outlines the expectations of the post holder. It is not intended to be prescriptive in every detail and as such it describes the main elements of the role only.

4Main terms and conditions

Responsible to: The Advice and Support Team Manager

Liaison with:Recovery and Progression Service Team

Salary:£24, 240 + up to 5% employers pension contribution

Place of Work:Wentworth Street, E1 7SA

Hours:35 hours

Disclosure:Enhanced