The Ashley Foundation
Job Description
Job Title: Support Officer
Hours: 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday
Report To: Support Services Manager
Principal Duties:
1. To provide support to the residents living at the move-on flats to assist them to achieve independent living, jointly managing Individual Support Plans with residents.
2. Working in partnership with the Project Manager and colleagues to promote and maintain the smooth and efficient running of the project in line with the Foundation’s policies and procedures.
3. To maintain accurate records of activities, including accurate case note recording.
Resident Support:
4. Assessing residents’ support needs, providing the appropriate support needed and arranging additional support from other agencies where necessary.
5. In conjunction with each resident, developing, managing and reviewing their Support Plans with goals aimed at independent living.
6. Ensuring each resident receives advice on Housing Benefit and other welfare benefits in order to assist residents in maximising their income.
7. Ensuring each resident has access to advice on money management and debt counselling.
8. Providing advice and support to residents moving into suitable permanent accommodation, assisting with preparation for the move and settling into the new property and community.
9. Providing residents with advice on accessing training, employment, leisure opportunities and independent living skills, in line with the Individual Support Plan.
10. Providing advocacy on behalf of the resident where appropriate.
Staffing:
11. Working as part of the team ensuring delivery of support to residents living at the move-on flats, which will include passing on information to the Support Services Manager and colleagues, ensuring all parties are kept up to date on relevant issues.
12. Developing links and good working relationships with outside statutory and voluntary agencies. In particular, those offering support to single vulnerable persons for example Social Services, Probation Service, Drug & Alcohol Services and Mental Health Agencies.
13. Working creatively with other colleagues in developing an appropriate, resident-centred life skills package for the Foundation.
14. Attending regular staff and team meetings and other meetings as required.
15. Attending relevant training and NVQ training as required.
Amendment to Job Description
This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted. It is the practice of The Ashley Foundation to periodically examine employees’ job descriptions and update them to ensure that they relate to the job as then being performed or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This procedure is jointly conducted by the Chief Executive Officer in consultation with the affected employee who will be expected to participate fully in such discussions. It is The Ashley Foundation’s aim to reach agreement to reasonable changes but if agreement is not possible management reserves the right to insist on changes to the job description.
Flexibility Clause
The above is not an exhaustive list of duties. As a term of employment, you may be required to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation or in a comparable post at any of The Ashley Foundation’s establishments wherever they may be located.
Prepared By: Laura Cooper (Housing Services Manager) November 2017