JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Tenancy Support Worker
Responsible to: Housing Manager – Gt Yarmouth
Location:Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth
Job Purpose:
To provide an effective customer focused tenancy support service through strong partnership working and delivering a range of pro-active solutions. To assist with the safety and security of the dwellings utilised within the service and to manage the impact of the clients on their local community. To assist service users to move towards greater levels of community integration and enhanced independent living.
Key Responsibilities
- To provide a customer focused tenancy support service to residents to enable them to maintain their tenancies and live independently within their homes.
- To undertake key housing management tasks including responding to referrals to the scheme, ensuring voids are kept to a minimum.
- Controlling access and facilitating and monitoring site visits from contractors and other professionals.
- Undertaking health and safety risk assessment of property within the scheme.
- To plan budgets with clients to ensure rent is prioritised and reduce risk to loss of accommodation.
- To provide housing management support aimed at reducing the risk of loss of accommodation by clients.
- To advise prospective tenants on their housing rights and responsibilities and be fully conversant with the detail of occupancy agreements.
- To promote effective communication between YMCA Norfolk and its residents and encourage opportunities for tenants’ participation, community development and the formation of residents’ associations/working groups, forums, etc.
- To work with the maintenance department to agree works, priorities and to check the standards of work upon completion.
- To manage complaints relating to the service from clients and other community members.
- To contribute to the review and implementation of policy and procedures, liaising with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure residents’ support needs are met.
- To ensure the provision of appropriate support to residents on income maximisation and benefit entitlement.
- To provide effective support and assistance on financial inclusion issues in line with current legislation, case law and best practice.
- To liaise with other agencies such as the Benefits Agency, utility providers, and where appropriate, assist with and attend reviews and appeal hearings.
- To develop and implement a broad range of pro-active solutions to help sustain tenancies, identifying areas of preventative work.
General Responsibilities
- To liaise with management regarding all housing management related issues and to co-ordinate the day-today management of tenancies.
- To liaise regularly with the Great Yarmouth Housing Manager, other tenancy support workers and other relevant YMCA staff.
- To ensure service user confidentiality whilst maintaining accurate client notes, files and records and make this information readily available for review.
- To develop the knowledge and ability to work within the statutory framework relevant to the client group.
- To implement and adhere to YMCA’s policies and procedures.
- To ensure the structure, principles and ethos of the organisation are adhered to.
- To implement and adhere to policy and practice in relation to health and safety in all aspects of the post holder’s work. To adhere to the post holder’s own responsibilities to health and safety within the workplace, and to colleagues, service users and the general public.
- To work within established definitions of acceptable and unacceptable risks to carry out risk assessments and participate in risk management in accordance with YMCA’s policies.
- To operate within clear professional and confidentiality boundaries and to work within YMCA’s code of conduct.
- To incorporate Equal Opportunities policy and anti-discriminatory practice in all areas of work.
- To undertake some light cleaning duties as part of the weekly task schedule.
Personal and Professional Development
- To participate in regular professional line management, annual performance review and attendance at team meetings.
- To be responsible for own personal and professional development, to actively participate in identifying training needs and to be willing to undertake training where a need has been identified and agreed with the line manager, to ensure that an effective service is provided.
- To maintain knowledge and keep abreast of change in policy, practice and relevant legislation and inform the Manager of these changes.
- To be able to work outside normal shift patterns as required to cover staff holidays/sickness
- The post will normally be located at Great Yarmouth Hall Quay, however, the post holder may be required to cover colleagues at other YMCA sites in Great Yarmouth.
- To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the Manager that may reasonably fall within the scope of the post.
Terms & Conditions:
Pay: £9.18 per hour
Hours: 32 Hours per week (Monday to Friday 10.00am – 4.30pm)
Contract: Permanent open ended
Annual leave: 25 days + Bank & Public Holidays (pro rata)
Pension entitlement: Access to contributory stakeholder pension scheme after three months
Period of Notice Offered and Required: 1 month
Conditions of Appointment: Satisfactory medical examination, satisfactory references including an enhanced CRB check.
In Service training: Time allowed for in-service training, subject to budgetary provision
Miscellaneous: All appointments are subject to a six month probationary period and annual staff appraisal.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Requirement
/ Essential / Desirable / Application Form / Selection Test / InterviewEducation and formal training/qualification:
City and Guilds 3806 supporting the development needs of vulnerable and homeless people Level 2 / /
Information, Advice and Guidance Level 2 or 3 / /
Evidence of Continuing personal development /
O Level/GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English / /
Knowledge
Basic Knowledge of housing benefit, income support and other welfare benefits. / /
Knowledge of Admission and Initial Risk Assessments / / /
Knowledge of statutory framework for Safeguarding Children and Young People. / / /
Knowledge of the resources available to young people in the local community. / / /
Experience
Experience of working within a support or care setting and or dealing with vulnerable people with a range of support needs. / / /
Requirement
/ Essential / Desirable / Application Form / Selection Test / InterviewExperience of assessing and monitoring service user’s housing management needs and skills / /
Experience of working as part of a team and within a multi - agency approach. / /
Experience of operating within the voluntary sector supported housing field. / /
Skills and Abilities
Ability to implement safe practice in accordance with risk assessment processes / / /
Ability to work independently without constant supervision / / /
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of professional settings / /
Ability to manage difficult situations and to use initiative / /
Ability to work under pressure / / /
Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries in the workplace / / /
Ability to adapt to change and undertake self-development and training. / /
Requirement
/ Essential / Desirable / Application Form / Selection Test / InterviewAbility to be able to use computerized systems including word, email, databases / /
Christian Ethos
V1. In sympathy with the Christian Identity of the YMCA / / /
Personal Qualities
P1Able to present self and work effectively / / /
P2High levels ofhonesty, integrity and discretion / / /
Circumstances
C1Able and willing to work flexible hours / /
Health
H1Able to meet the requirements of the post with or without reasonable adjustment / / /
Requirement
/ Essential / Desirable / Application Form / Selection Test / InterviewEquality and Diversity
O1An understanding of equality and diversity / / /