DATE:September 2016

POST:Floating Progression Coach

CONTRACT:Permanent

HOURS:15 hours

ROTA:Weekends only

SALARY: £21,975pa (pro rata)

HOLIDAY:25 days per annum, excluding statutory holidays pro rata

RESPONSIBLE TO:Service Manager

An enhanced DBS check is required as this position will involve directly working with vulnerable young people or adults at risk.

BACKGROUND

Depaul UK delivers a wide range of support and housing services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. We specialise in the provision of services that; prevent homelessness, increase the resilience of those we work with and energise opportunities for employment, education, training and volunteering in the communities we work within. Our organisation reaches from Newcastle to London, Greater Manchester to Sheffield and Kent.

SUMMARY OF JOB

To work as part of a team delivering an assessment, support and tenancy sustainment to vulnerable clients in their own RSL or private based accommodation. Your work will be underpinned by the Depaul Endeavour model of assets based, psychologically informed delivery. The aim of which is to ensure that every client leaves a Depaul service with the skills and resilience to be confident and self determining in their lives.

Working under the direction, guidance and support of a manager/senior worker you will be responsible for a caseload of clients as well as share responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all clients, volunteers and staff in the service.

In accommodation based services you will ensure that the accommodation is properly maintained and support the client to sustain their tenancy and participate in positive and successful move on.

Where the client lives in the community you will ensure that their tenancy is not at risk and that they have the skills and resources to manage and maintain their accommodation.

The role will have responsibility under Depaul’s commitment to successfully deliver the contracted outcomes.

KEY DELIVERABLES

  • You will ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients in the service at all times possible including using Safeguarding and emergency alert procedures as applicable,
  • You will carry a caseload of clients for whom you will be the named key worker, and you will also take joint responsibility with your team members for the well being and day to day support of all clients in the services
  • To carry out assessments in order help client sustain their tenancies and independent living skills
  • You will lead on risk and needs assessment and support planning for your key clients and contribute to ongoing needs and risk assessment of other clients in the service where applicable
  • You will develop and implement SMART outcomes based support plans for your key clients
  • You will deliver one-to one and group support opportunities within their accommodation and in the local community aimed at increasing resilience in the clients we work with.
  • You will proactively work in partnership with multiple agencies including statutory teams, to support the well being of Depaul clients in accordance with data protection and information sharing protocols.
  • You will be flexible, reflective and creative in your engagement with clients and personalised in your support to them.
  • You will involve clients in the decisions made about them and encourage participation in Depaul’s wider community programme of activities
  • You will support all clients to participate in Education, Training, Employment and Volunteering opportunities as appropriate to the development of their skills, assets and aspirations (Depaul Accommodation Based Clients)
  • You will participate in a rota which may include unsocial hours and weekend working(site applicable)
  • You will have responsibilities as part of the team for ensuring the health and safety of the environment for clients, staff, visitors and volunteers through regular checks and reporting.
  • You will have responsibility as a member of the team for preparing the accommodation for new clients to move into and supporting the client to settle in.(Depaul Accommodation Based)
  • You will support and facilitate the work of the volunteers who add value to the work that we do
  • You will undertake further duties as commensurate to the role and identified by your line manager.

What we are looking for from you – Person Specification

When completing your application form please address all the points set out below.

  • Experience of working with the client group
  • An understanding and commitment to working in an assets based way
  • An understanding of the needs of people who have experienced homelessness, poor mental health, substance use
  • A knowledge and understanding of Risk Assessments and Support Planning.
  • Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills
  • Able to demonstrate clear understanding of safeguarding requirements and procedures
  • Commitment to working in a manner, which promotes diversity and equality ensuring that everyone is treated with respect and dignity and no one, suffers from discrimination.
  • Commitment to promoting an environment, which has the highest regard for the Health and Safety of others.
  • Personal and professional integrity
  • High level understanding of professional boundaries and ability to maintain boundaries
  • Effective collaborative working
  • Ability to effectively reflect on own practices for ongoing learning and development
  • Respect for the values and ethos of Depaul and its founding partners.

What we will do to support you in this role

Will provide the following resources to assist in the successful achievement of the responsibilities outlined above:

  • A full induction and training to enhance the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills required’.
  • Training in the Depaul Endeavour model
  • Continuous support and supervision including reflective practice to develop your learning and skills as a practitioner.

Vincentian Values

The Depaul Group began in the UK in 1989 at the initiative of the late Cardinal Basil Hume, as a response to the needs of the growing numbers of homeless people on the streets of London.

Vincentian values are at the heart of what we do, they focus on:

  • A commitment to rights and responsibilities
  • A focus on putting our words into action
  • Taking a wider role in civil society
  • A belief in the potential of people

You can read more about St Vincent Depaul, Depaul UK and Depaul International on our website.

THE DISCLOSURE & BARRING SERVICE – DISCLOSURE

Depaul UK aims to promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Depaul UK welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Criminal records will be taken into account for requirement purposes only when the conviction is relevant.

As Depaul UK meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013 1198’. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions.

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.

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