Fresh Start Team Leader

Job Description

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

This role will be responsible for the delivery of high quality services offered by the Fresh Start service focusing on the engagement of people with work to prevent homelessness by working with both family and single households at risk of losing their homes.

This post is required to undertake good quality case work and assessments of individual with complex needs including challenging mental and physical health needs.

The role will be responsible for processing referrals into the service from a range of sources across the boroughs and act as an entry point into the service. To work closely and proactively with local authorities, statutory and non-statutory health and housing services to improve pathways into a range of statutory and non-statutory services.

This role will be responsible for the promotion of the services across the boroughs, engaging with a range of housing and social care service providers to source referrals into the services. The role will also be responsible for the liaison and communication of case management across any providers engaged with the service.

This service is for single or family households at risk of homelessness in the London boroughs of Merton, Sutton and Kingston.

REPORTING TO:

Operations Director

SALARY:

£27,000 – £30,000

WORKING HOURS:

37.5 hours per week

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Service Delivery

2. Resource Management

To be responsible for the Fresh Start homelessness prevention project and any associated actions as well as promoting and publicizing the project to stakeholders on behalf of SPEAR.

3. Casework Management

To administer an effective service having regard to the needs of the service, customers and ensure that all cases and services are administered in a fair and equitable way.

4. Organisational Responsibilities

To be responsible and accountable for contributing to the running of SPEAR’s integrated services for preventing homelessness

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

1. Service Delivery

· To be responsible for the implementation of the SPEAR Fresh Start project to prevent homelessness amongst private rented sector and LA households in South West London.

· To deliver targeted advice, assistance and support to private rented sector and local authority clients threatened with homelessness, enabling them to remain in their homes wherever possible and preventing homelessness at an early stage.

· To be the main contact for local authorities and partners in matters relating to the Fresh Start project and the delivery of targeted advice, assistance and support to private rented sector and LA households through this project.

· Be the lead for the service, developing relationships and links with local authorities, DWP, substance misuse services, mental health trusts and other stakeholder services across the specified boroughs.

· To lead the Fresh Start team and ensure that the project is delivered effectively and consistently to customers.

· To work with statutory and voluntary partners to develop and maintain effective pathways for all customers.

· To support and deliver agreed initiatives within the sub-region to prevent homelessness.

· To ensure staff carry out comprehensive assessments of people referred into the service, developing engagement plans for those clients with needs. This duty will include: conducting client risk assessments at point of entry into the service and ensuring risk plans are regularly reviewed.

· To build and maintain positive relationships with local homelessness and supported housing services as well as local authority providers.

2. Resource Management

· Assess the accommodation needs of clients and develop personalised housing plans. Deliver holistic advice and support to customers at risk of homelessness.

· Communicate and build effective working relationships with internal and external partners, including local authorities, registered providers, charity and voluntary sector partners and landlords in order to deliver the objectives of the Fresh Start project and prevent homelessness.

· To be responsible for the performance and leadership of the team, ensuring that staff are supported and developed, line managed and supervised

· Establish and implement appropriate project planning, performance and outcome monitoring frameworks to ensure the Fresh Start project objectives are delivered on time and within budget.

· Ensure that all stakeholders are kept up to date with the project progress by providing regular feedback, where necessary and on demand.

· Prepare high-quality reports, updates, briefings and presentations as required and for a variety of audiences.

· Create, manage and lead on the development of effective professional relationships, promoting the service across the specified boroughs. Developing excellent relationships with local authority staff, housing providers, physical and mental health providers and any other external agencies.

· Maintain a working knowledge of available resources for clients, signposting and referring as necessary

3. Casework Management

· Deliver integrated, streamlined and co-ordinated services, in accordance with prescribed legislation, code of guidance, case-law, policies and the needs of the project.

· Prevent homelessness by supporting clients to remain in their homes wherever possible, including through joint-working, mediation and referrals to specialist agencies.

· Collate information on existing and emerging homelessness trends, good practice and opportunities for the benefit of the sub regional local authorities and partners, and prepare briefings on the same.

· Support the team and colleagues with advice and guidance with complex and contentious cases and situations, dealing with personally where appropriate

· Lead on regular case reviews for all clients across the service – working with partner agencies and other SPEAR services to effectively communicate updates on clients and any progress or issues.

· Work with clients seeking support, by developing a holistic approach to care planning and working in collaboration with other services to assess their needs and identify and work towards individual goals, ensuring an integrated approach towards support

· Be responsible for auditing the case management systems and ensuring that accurate information is stored and maintained on the In-Form database for performance management and quality assurance purposes

4. Organisational Responsibilities

· To be responsible for contributing to the running of SPEAR’s integrated services for homeless people

· Facilitate training, workshops, seminars and events in order to share good practice, advice and raise awareness of matters relating to preventing and relieving homelessness.

· Contribute to regular team meetings, away days and staff meetings

· Participate in staff management and support systems in line with SPEAR’s policies and procedures, ensuring regular attendance at line management meetings

· Maintain a safe and appropriate physical environment for staff and service users, in line with SPEAR’s Health and Safety Policy

· Liaise and work with all internal stakeholders to deliver an effective SPEAR wide service

· Undertake other duties as your line manager should require, in keeping with the responsibility of the post

Person Specification

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

· Experience of line managing and supervising a staff team within the social care sector

· Ability to produce reports for the service, with particular focus on performance reports for commissioners

· Experience of working towards contractual targets and ability to manage service performance to meet targets and objectives

· Experience working with homeless people or people at risk of homelessness, including key working, care planning and joint working with statutory agencies, with a particular focus on mental health and substance misuse services

· Experience of supporting people to address their needs by the use of comprehensive assessment and case management and an understanding of involving the person in their own care, taking a person centred approach

· Experience of working to psychological informed approach: IAPT, Motivational interviewing etc.

· To have a good knowledge of substance misuse and/or Mental health services and the range of services and treatment available for people

· Understanding of the causes of homelessness and the pathways to prevent homelessness

· Experience of working with clients who may display challenging behaviour and complex needs

· A thorough knowledge of appropriate legislation, for mental health and homelessness including welfare benefits and housing law

· An ability to represent SPEAR appropriately at all times, work professionally with external agencies and to promote a service to a wide range of audiences

· Excellent administrative, recording and reporting skills that are suitable for case management of clients

· Good IT skills, including competence with databases, word processing, spreadsheets, and email, and the ability to learn how to use new IT applications

· An understanding of and commitment to confidentiality and professional boundaries

· An understanding of equal opportunities and how it can be applied within SPEAR

· An understanding of Health and Safety and an ability to manage the associated requirements practically and professionally. This role will include lone working and some out of hours work, the post holder will be required to assess and mitigate risk for these requirements

· Effective time and workload management

Use of your own transport would be an advantage however, lack of transport would not prohibit you from doing the job.