Job Title: Housing Coordinator
Responsible to: Head of Services
Location: Bethnal Green & multiple locations
Hours: 35 hours per week
Status: Six months with possibility of extension up to a year (maternity cover). Secondments will be considered.
Grade: NJC Scale Pt 31 (£30,834 inclusive of London Weighting)
Date: 9 September 2016
Interviews: 16 September 2016
NRPF Accommodation Project
Praxis Community Projects provides accommodation and support to migrant individuals and families who are destitute and have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
Through our partnership with Commonweal Housing, and following a cross-subsidy model, Praxis provides accommodation and support to migrant families with No Recourse to Public Funds supported by Local Authorities under s17 of the Children Act 1989. As part of this project, a limited number of spaces are available to single destitute migrants in shared accommodation.
In addition to the housing support, residents are able to access immigration advice and casework provided by Praxis Advice Team. Residents are also encouraged to support each other through house meetings and participation in community groups.
Praxis and Commonweal Housing are committed to Action Learning, which this project uses as part of its framework for monitoring and evaluation.
Praxis, jointly with Housing Justice, and as part of the London Hosting Network, also works towards developing hosting capacities across London, sourcing bed spaces for NRPF migrants within faith groups or people interested in becoming hosts. Praxis manages a number of hosting placements, ensuring all parties are adequately supported and residents have access to immigration advice and casework from Praxis Advice Team.
Purpose of your job
The Housing Coordinator ensures that Praxis provides a safe and supportive accommodation package to destitute clients and families referred to our services by Statutory Services and Voluntary Organisations. An important part of this job is also to work with colleagues within Praxis and other organisations and networks in developing further accommodation for destitute migrants with NRPF.
Reports to: Head of Services
Line manages:
· Volunteers
· Co-manage Housing Officer.
Key Responsibilities
Service Delivery
1. To coordinate service delivery and manage referral system, liasing with statutory and voluntary organisations ensuring contractual targets and service level agreements are met.
2. To minimise voids, ensuring coordinated work with referral agencies as well as planned move on.
3. To carry a caseload of clients in Praxis accommodation, providing a bespoke package of support including referrals to other specialist organisations.
4. To assess clients needs/risks and support individual/families residents through co-planning and monthly reviews.
5. Liaise with Praxis advice team to ensure occupants are fully supported and the project is meeting the demands of clients and responding to stake-holders requirements.
6. Maintain high standards of recording and reporting.
7. To work jointly with Praxis Advice team, signposting and maximising access of destitute clients to NRPF accommodation within Praxis and other organisations in the sector
Housing management
8. To oversee the housing management of up to 8 properties ensuring relevant licensing.
9. To ensure properties are managed to a high standard and that Health & Safety standards are adhered to throughout the project, including monthly H&S checks.
10. To manage hosting arrangements with a number of hosts, including hosting agreements and hosts DBS checks.
11. To manage a Housing Management and support budget, including a hardship fund to NRPF clients (including those in hosting accommodation).
12. To monitor payments from Local authorities as well as to ensure effective payments of running costs (i.e. utilities).
13. Jointly with the housing officer, to ensure properties are maintained to a high standard, outsourcing necessary works as required.
Community Development
14. Anchor project in the local community by developing relationships with local partners
15. Support residents to develop peer support, group activities and to access local services
16. Facilitate house meetings and attendance to Praxis support groups.
Other
17. To work with Praxis fundraiser and Advice team in fundraising for hardship fund.
18. To produce quarterly operational reports for Commonweal and attending related meetings, ensuring fluent communication between both organisations.
19. To work with London Hosting Network, Street Legal and other relevant networks promoting best practice and building capacity in meeting the needs of destitute migrants with NRPF.
20. Work in an environment which is subject to frequently changing circumstances and conflicting priorities and in which support is not always readily available
21. Work with colleagues in Praxis in maintaining its commitment to human rights, community development and best practice in working with vulnerable migrants.
22. To support, train and manage volunteers in carrying out specific housing roles.
23. Undertake other duties which may be required by Praxis from time to time.
Application = A; I = Interview
Person Specification / Essential or Desirable / Assessment MethodEducation and qualifications
1. A relevant qualification in one of the following disciplines: housing, community work, advice giving or social work / D / A
Knowledge
1. Experiences of undocumented migrants living in the UK
2. Legislation and public service provision relating to undocumented migrants and social policy
3. Knowledge of housing, homelessness and community care law, policy and issues.
4. Knowledge of HMO regulations / E
E
E
E / A + I
A
A
A
Experience
5. Minimum of two years experience working in housing projects
6. Management of accommodation and liaison with occupants
7. Working with refugee and migrant communities in the UK or other marginalised group
8. Experience of working with families, including children
9. Experience of facilitating group activities and meetings
10. Experience of managing a budget
11. Experience managing volunteers / E
E
E
E
E
E
E
D / A
A + I
A + I
A + I
A + I
A + I
A +I
A
Skills
12. Ability to identify needs/risk and formulate an effective response
13. Ability to relate well and communicate with a diverse group of people
14. Ability to problem solve and manage conflict
15. Ability to plan and organise own work and meet deadlines
16. Ability to work as an effective team member
17. Ability to communicate to an advanced level in spoken and written English
18. Ability to record and report to a high standard, using Microsoft Office IT packages
19. Ability to speak a community language / E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
D / A + I
A + I
A+ I
A + I
A + I
A + I
A + I
A + I
A
A
Other
20. Commitment to learning
21. Commitment to working in a inter-cultural environment
22. Commitment to Praxis aims, values and ethos
23. Commitment to maintaining client confidentiality and delivering a high quality professional service / E
E
E
E / I
I
I
I