JOB DESCRIPTION

October2015

Job title: HousingCoachDepartment: Client Services

Team: Crisis Skylight South Yorkshire (CSSY)Job holder: Vacant

Reporting to: Progression Manager

Aim

  • Coach and motivate Crisis Skylight members who have been supported to access housing in the private rented sectorvia our bond scheme. You will provide up to twelve months of one to one support to enable members to sustain their tenancies.

Dimension

  • No formal budget management, but will be required to control spending in certain key areas.
  • Management of volunteers where required.

Circumstances

  • 35 hours per week
  • Some evening and weekend work will be required and time off in lieu will be given in accordance with Crisis TOIL policy.
  • The role will require travel across the UK for training and meetings. In some instances this will require overnight stays.

The role involves working with vulnerable adults and young people and so a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service is required

  • The Crisis South Yorkshire office is currently based in Sheffield, but is relocating to the Manvers area early next year.
  • The project operates an outreach model and as such this role will work with members across South Yorkshire, so access to own transport on a daily basis is essential. Please note that this is an essential criteria of the role and as such applicants who do not meet this requirement at the point of application will not be shortlisted.

Salary

  • £29,872per annum

Organisation Chart

Please note the team structure is subject to change

Principle Accountabilities

Referral and assessment

  • Carry out joint casework with Crisis Skylight staff who are responsible for supporting members in engagement/education/employment
  • Be a point of contact within CSSY for complex and protracted housing advice queries
  • Contribute to the quality assurance of housing advice provided by staff within CSSY
  • Seek to prevent homelessness where possible by enabling members to remain in accommodation if it is appropriate and sustainable for them to do so
  • Prevent homelessness through negotiation and liaison with family members / landlords / housing providers / housing benefit departments / DWP
  • Prevent homelessness by maximising members income to enable them to afford rental payments
  • Supporting the Housing Coach, use coaching and support for members to ensure they remain engaged in the process of finding suitable accommodation

Establishing and supporting sustainment of tenancies

  • Provide support to colleagues and members in identifying suitable, affordable and reliable sources of accommodation
  • Complete accurate affordability calculations with members preparing to move into settled accommodation where required
  • Assist members to understand and complete their Housing Benefit application as required
  • Liaise with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that fire safety and fire plans are in place for all new tenancies. This will include ensuring that the property meets safety standards and is well maintained.
  • Provide members with practical support to equip their rented accommodation. e.g. accessing furniture projects, setting up utilities
  • Ensure that tenants understand and comply with the terms of their new tenancy
  • Support the client to set up a credit union account as per the terms of their bond.
  • Assist members to establish regular payment of rent and service charges to their landlord
  • Provide tenancy sustainment support and carry out follow up visits once the member is housed
  • Provide practical feedback on proposed methods of increasing housing supply to members initiated by the wider housing team
  • Promote the take up of the Renting Ready pre-tenancy training programme to Crisis members and to selected partner organisations

Monitoring & Evaluation

  • Ensure the accurate and timely input of member and outcome data
  • Assist in the collation of accurate monitoring information for reports to internal and external stakeholders

Contribution to team and organisation

  • Prioritise own workload and ensure timely delivery on all tasks
  • Participate in team meetings and professional development activities
  • Take part in wider Housing Team meetings across all Skylight Centres
  • Contribute to sharing of best practice relating to housing amongst Skylight Centres and wider housing team
  • Support the management and development of Crisis’ overall work
  • Ensure that any safeguarding concerns are identified and reported in line with Crisis’ procedures
  • Support and manage volunteers as required

General

  • Actively encourage and support member involvement within Crisis
  • Develop and maintain an understanding of the charity’s work and the needs and circumstances of homeless people.
  • Comply with Crisis policies and procedures, including Health and Safety policies, for which all employees owe a duty of care both to themselves and others, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act
  • Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in the light of the main purpose of the job.

Person Specification

Essential

  1. Ability to provide direct support to homeless, socially excluded and disadvantaged individuals, including empathetic and practical support and advice through a process of personal change, preferably using a coaching approach.
  2. Demonstrable knowledge of the benefits system in relation to members accessing private rented accommodation
  3. Demonstrable in-depth knowledge of housing and homelessness legislation as it relates to tenancies and private rented housing specific to the Skylight Centre
  4. Demonstrable knowledge of how to access private rented sector accommodation and the necessary requirements to secure a tenancy.
  5. Direct experience or knowledge of bond schemes and their role in accessing the private rented sector.
  6. Ability to manage and support a caseload and achieve targets
  7. Ability to effectively plan and organise work, including a high level of contact with members on a day to day basis, assessing priorities and meeting deadlines
  8. Ability to communicate effectively in a group setting and one to one and relay complex information in a manner easily understood
  9. Ability to negotiate with and influence a range of people in order to achieve outcomes
  10. Good computer skills, particularly using MS Office applications such as Excel, Word and Access
  11. Flexibility to work hours as required in order to meet members’ needs. (This could involve out of office hours working- including some evening and weekends).You will also be required to travel across the UK for training and meetings. In some instances this will require overnight stays.
  12. Access to own transport on a daily basis to enable travel across the County to support members.
  13. Knowledge of and ability to comply with safeguarding procedures
  14. Commitment to Crisis’s purpose and values including equality and social inclusion

We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness.