Post:Outreach Caseworker Westminster CAS

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post:Outreach Caseworker – Westminster CAS

1 Year Fixed Term Contract

Salary:£25,776 pa inc LW point 26 NJC scale range – 26-28

Hours:35 hours per week excluding meal breaks working a 7 day rota

Annual Leave33 days per annum which includes bank and statutory holidays

Probation6 months

Responsible toTeam Manager and Coordinators

Responsible forStudents and volunteers as agreed with the Team Manager/Coordinator

Notice Period4 weeks

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An enhanced DBS check is required for this post as the post holder will be directly working with vulnerable adults.

JOB PURPOSE

To help eliminate rough sleeping and associated street activity in the City of Westminster by providing advice, support and assistance to enable rough sleepers to access accommodation and other services relevant to their needs. This is to be carried out within a multi-agency partnership framework and through a combination of building based provision and targeted outreach work.

1. KEY DUTIES
2. Attend and play a regular part in team meetings, client allocation meetings, debriefing sessions and other meetings as required by the Team Manager.
3. Using either CSTM or The Passage as a base, undertake client work and administration as detailed in the staff rota, undertaking flexible duties to cover for sickness and holidays, as designated.
4. Undertake regular client and line management supervisory sessions as arranged with the Team Manager or Coordinator.
5. Communicate effectively with other team members about all aspects of the postholder’s particular task.
6. Assist in the recruitment, induction and support of new staff, volunteers, etc. as requested.

1.6Record, as required, all work undertaken with clients, including writing case notes, inputting of statistical information and recording client outcomes.

1.7Undertake joint work with other teams within The Passage as appropriate.

1. GENERAL DUTIES

2.1Be committed to reducing the numbers of people rough sleeping on the streets to zero.

2.2Conduct thorough, needs led assessments and offer informed, accurate action plans to rough sleepers both on the streets and in buildings

2.3Work within a flexible rota with shifts being conducted between 6am and 3am Monday to Sunday.

2.4Facilitate supported reconnections to rough sleepers to the services and areas most appropriate for them

2.5Be committed to reducing associated anti-social behaviour and rough sleeping hotspots in Westminster. Work alongside partners and the Hotspot Team, engaging the local community as well as statutory services with a view to delivering permanent solutions

2.6Improve the health and wellbeing of our clients

2.7Respond to the needs of your allocated Ward(s), liaising with buisnesses and residents as required.

2.8Advise rough sleepers of, and assist them to obtain, their welfare, housing and related rights. To keep well informed of changes and developments in relevant legislation and benefits.

2.9Refer people to specialist services, such as substance misuse, welfare rights, mediation services, medical and legal services as appropriate.

2.10Maintain individual, up to date and accurate client data by inputting into The Passage client recording systems.

2.11Take part in pan-Westminster operations and audits as requested by the Team Manager or Coordinators

2.12Develop specialisms in areas of need or partnership working as agreed with the Caseworker Coordinators.

2.13To liaise as required with other statutory and voluntary organisations including collecting and providing information and attending external meetings.

2.14To take a multi-agency problem solving approach working in collaboration in regard to street counts, case conferences and joint work with other agencies involved with the client (such as The Joint Homelessness Team, treatment providers, local day centres, the Metropolitan Police Safer Streets Unit, health professionals and hostel providers, etc.)

2.15Ensure Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Children legislation and local protocols are adhered too.

2.16To attend and partcipate actively in supervision, appraisal and team meetings, Case Conferences, Case Review, Contract Monitoring, training and other internal/external events that inform the work of the work of CSTM and the Passage as required.

3.Internal Policy

3.1Assist in the formulation and review of CSTM and The Passage policy.

3.2Provide reports on the day to day work as required.

4.External Relations

4.1Assist in the promotion of the work of CSTM and The Passage to government, funders, press and media, visitors.

4.2Represent CSTM and The Passage at outside meetings as agreed with the Team Manager.

5.General

5.1To participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal, and help identifying your own job-related development and training needs.

5.2To participate in internal/external meetings as required, and attend training events, conferences and other functions when necessary.

5.3To ensure that all Passage policies and procedures are being adhered to, particularly those relating to Health and Safety, Code of Practice and Confidentiality.

5.4To contribute to the effective implementation of the Passage’s Equality and Diversity Policy as it affects both the Passage and its work.

5.5To at all times undertake the role in a professional manner maintaining a high quality standard of work, and to always work in accordance with the aims, valuesand ethos of The Passage[1].

5.6To work in a professional manner maintaining a flexible attitude towards short notice rota changes to facilitate primary service cover, e.g. during training and staff illness. This will include availability during weekends.

5.7To undertake any other duties that may be required which are commensurate with the role.

Note: The details contained in this Job Description summarise the main expectations of the role at the date it was prepared. It should be understood that the nature of individual roles will evolve and change as service, service users and funders needs change. Consequently The Passage will revise this Job Description as required in consultation with post holders.

CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECKS

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

As The Passage meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, 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.

Person Specification Outreach Caseworker

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The person specification sets out the essential abilities and qualities that will be used in the selection criteria for this post. When completing your application form, please demonstrate your understanding and experience of all the points, addressing each point in the order in which they are set out below, and give evidence of your experience and abilities.

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1. EXPERIENCE

Essential

1.1In depth experience of working with homeless and vulnerable people either through paid or voluntary capacity

1.2Experience of advocacy work on behalf of vulnerable individuals.

1.3Experience of liaising with voluntary and statutory agencies

1.4Experience of assessing client need

Desirable

1.5Experience of working with homeless people.

1. SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Essential

2.1Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing skills

2.2Excellent assessment skills

2.3Ability to work effectively and constructively with external agencies.

2.4The ability to use IT packages effectively (i.e. Microsoft office applications – Word, Email,) including databases

2.5Ability to negotiate support for, and advocate on behalf of, vulnerable people and/or people who present with challenging behaviour from the wider staff team and external agencies.

2.6The ability to work on your own initiative within agreed boundaries

2.7The ability to manage and prioritise a diverse work load, working within agreed targets

2.8The ability to work as part of a team and be pro-active in ensuring good team work

2.9Ability to act calmly in emergencies and respond in a professional manner to stressful and challenging situations and incidents.

2.10Have a flexible, positive and solution orientated approach to work.

2.11The ability to work directly on the streets with clients who are difficult to engage

2.12The ability to work one weekend in four.

3.KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING

Essential

3.1An awareness of the issues that face street homeless and vulnerable people

3.2Knowledge of equal opportunities and related issues for homeless and vulnerable people

3.3Knowledge of relevant housing legislation and the housing options available to homeless people

3.4Knowledge and understanding of the issues involved when resettling and supporting single homeless people

Desirable

3.5A working knowledge of the main welfare benefits

3.6A working knowledge of the main housing legislation relating to homeless people

4.OTHER

4.1To be able to carry out the post with or without adaptations.

4.2An interest in homelessness issues

4.3Demonstrate a commitment to the Passage’s aims and objectives

4.4Demonstrate a commitment to communicate the Passage’s mission which is to encourage, inspire and challenge homeless people to transform their lives.

4.5A respect for the ethos of The Passage (as set out in the Ethos Statement).

4.6To have a flexible and enthusiastic approach to work.

[1]Vincentian Ethos

As a Vincentian organisation, The Passage strives to be inclusive; encompassing a diverse and rich culture from within our members, clients, volunteers and staff. This approach is reflected in our core Values and it is important that all staff have respect for this. (refer to fullVincentian Ethos Statement).