Resettlement Worker: Job Description and Person Specification

Transcription

1 Resettlement Worker: Job Description and Person Specification Job Title: Working location: Salary: Hours of work: Reporting to: Resettlement Worker North Tyneside 17,000-20,000 (pro-rata) 29 hours per week. Hours of work are flexible and include evenings, weekends and bank holidays Housing Services Manager Organisational Context: YMCA is a large voluntary sector organisation undertaking community programme work in areas of North Tyneside. YMCA North Tyneside has become recognised as a well established services delivery Voluntary Organisation in the area as well as playing an active role both sub-regionally and regionally. The 3 core areas of the YMCA s business: Supported Accommodation: which comprises 23 supported accommodation units with 9 move on accommodation units coming on stream in late 2016 and 6 move on units in early 2017 The Fitness Centre: which comprises a large fully equipped fitness area with cardiovascular and strength training equipment, changing facilities and a reception area. Youth Work: a variety of youth programmes that includes YMCA Music, Training & Education, Children s Art and Heritage. Job Purpose: To support the successful move on of young people in supported accommodation from the entry stage through to the resettlement stage, via the learning and developing of independent living skills YMCA North Tyneside is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No Registered Charity No Provider of Social Housing No Our Registered Offices are at Church Way, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 0AB.

2 Job Description Independent Living To identify the independent living skills young people require in order to progress through stages of supported living through to independent living (such as budgeting, cooking, cleaning, health and safety in the home, being a good neighbour) To empower and support young people to learn and develop independent living skills To use the Homeless Link Outcomes Star Model to monitor progress and motivate changes in behaviour (to achieve set goals) To support young people to set realistic and SMART target goals when planning for move on To identify opportunities for young people in our Training & education operations. To motivate and encourage young people to access and engage with employment, training, education or volunteering To work with other housing providers and agencies to establish realistic move on and resettlement plans for young people To develop effective links with appropriate organisations and agencies (both voluntary and statutory) who would help support the young people on their journey to employment, education or training To develop effective and professional relationships with external agencies and services in the surrounding area To work closely with North Tyneside Council s Housing Team to create appropriate and timely move on opportunities for young people To build relationships and increase communication with private landlords, raising awareness of YMCA North Tyneside s supported accommodation service To signpost young people to appropriate support agencies as necessary, such as drug and alcohol services, YOT, Probation, Mental Health Services, Job Centre Plus, CAB and other Statutory, Community and Voluntary agencies Communication To communicate effectively and professionally with young people To build and sustain strong, supportive, professional relationships with young people To communicate effectively and professionally with management and external agencies such as Social Services, Youth Offending Team, Community Rehabilitation Company, Probation Services, North Tyneside Council Housing Team, Mental Health Services, Substance Use Services, Job Centre, CAB and other Statutory, Community and Voluntary agencies To use Inform Recording System to record all work and interaction with young people To develop effective links with the young person s family or significant other people to enable family outreach and liaison work Welfare Benefit To support young people to navigate the Welfare Benefit system, maximise their income and ensure continuation of income To support young people to understand the Housing Benefit system and ensure continuation of housing benefit payments To understand welfare reform and the impact it may have on young people s housing options. To advise young people around welfare reform.

3 Responsibilities Following and abiding by all policies and procedures (including Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Lone Working, Recording, Reporting of repairs, Professional Boundaries) To be part of the Housing Rota at Supported Accommodation Projects To assess risk and identify potential hazards, reporting these to management for assessment To improve outcomes for young people by providing additional support over and above our responsibilities as a social landlord To present outcomes and positive case studies to Management To develop and maintain good relationships with the local community To promote the holistic approach of YMCA North Tyneside towards housing, health and wellbeing through in-house opportunities, such as the Gym, Music Studio and activities Person Specification Essential Abilities and Skills Relevant work experience in the area of resettlement Significant experience of working in a support role with young people aged 16 to 25 Ability to engage and motivate young people whilst upholding rules and managing conflict and resistant behaviours Significant experience of building positive relationships with young people Experience and understanding of the significance of strong independent living skills in the successful resettling of a young person from supported accommodation to independent living In depth understanding of housing options for young people In depth understanding of the welfare benefits system including housing benefit Ability to manage challenging behaviours such as conflict and resistance Ability to uphold rules in a positive manner Ability to use a range of interventions to identify needs and achieve positive outcomes with young people Confidence and ability to calmly and constructively challenge behaviours and attitudes in a positive manner with young people who have a range of support needs Knowledge and working experience of developing and maintaining partnership relations Conducting person centered, outcome focused support and move on plans An ability to plan, meet objectives and deadlines, make informed decisions and problem solve within a changing environment Ability to work alone and disciplined to work to deadlines Excellent written and verbal skills communication skills and good administrative and project management skills Computer literate and confident using computer systems Personal Commitment to working with young people to enable them to participate fully in the community Enthusiastic and positive attitude

4 Patient and calm personality To be committed to a non judgmental and anti-oppressive working practice Keen to attend training and seek out appropriate and relevant training opportunities for your own professional development Resilient, highly motivated and disciplined Able to work on own initiative and without intensive supervision Flexible approach to hours of work (including evenings, weekends and bank holidays) Dynamic with an ability and willingness to appropriately develop the project to respond to changing needs Ability to be flexible and to adapt in order to meet the changing demands of a developing service Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team Commitment to equal opportunities Sympathy with the aims and purposes of YMCA North Tyneside Ability to drive and undertake travel in the North Tyneside area Desirable Experience of resettlement work Work with clients with a range of support needs including, mental health and drug and alcohol issues Understand the needs of the BME communities Relevant homelessness or housing qualification Relevant degree Duties and responsibilities: Programme To ensure that the needs of the young people are prioritised within programme development and delivery. The role will involve encouraging participation across all levels of the support service. To develop an individual support plan to include plans for housing and other resettlement needs To develop an individual risk and housing assessment To access appropriate services and enable planned transfer to other support agencies when appropriate. Develop Positive Working Relationships To assist in the promotion of a positive image of the YMCA committed to a holistic development of young people To develop professional, empowering and supportive relationships with clients To keep relevant agencies informed about important changes in the young person s situation and to keep the young person informed about their progress with other agencies. To liaise with YMCA North Tyneside colleagues and other voluntary and statutory agencies that can contribute to the successful resettlement of young people

5 Monitoring To create case studies for use in positively promoting the project and wider housing services. To work on case studies for a newsletter to promote the housing service outcomes and achievements To contribute to data collection for statistical returns & funding requirements. In addition, produce reports on work as required by your line manager To ensure that time is made available for planning, monitoring and reflection on the effectiveness of activities and to complete records of the work with each young person To create, monitor and update action plans for the young person Resources To ensure that any delegated financial budget and other non-financial resources are managed effectively To assist in local fundraising activities where appropriate To assist your line manager in identifying and securing the use of other non-financial resources in order to further the effectiveness of the project Personal To be an ambassador for YMCA North Tyneside, help to promote it s ethos and raise a positive awareness of the work being undertaken To attend work with other YMCAs as necessary (deemed by your line manager) and attend any other meetings with the aim to help increase the capacity of key local YMCAs working with clients caught in statutory services. To promote equal opportunities and diversity Other Duties To carry out any other duties, commensurate with your existing level of responsibility, as may be appropriate in agreement with your line manager. This may include duties in other establishments within reasonable travelling distance of your place of work, subject to discussion and agreement Scale and Impact To take a lead role in a pioneering YMCA North Tyneside project that requires innovation and development work with local stakeholders while also achieving appropriate targets To play a major part in promoting the YMCA North Tyneside image and achieving the appropriate strategic aims for the YMCA North Tyneside Discretion to Act To act with minimum supervision from your line manager to perform your role within the YMCA North Tyneside strategic plan, policy framework and budget To share with your line manager ideas and agree procedures on major concerns and significant actions

6 Environment The position will require lone-working Relationships The post holder will be required to initiate and maintain professional relationships with members of staff and external stakeholders. Job Description agreed on: Post Holder Signature: Line Manager Signature: Head of Operations Programme Support & Strategy Signature: Terms and Conditions: Salary: Hours of work: Paid Leave entitlement: Sick pay provision: Pension entitlement: 17,000-20,000 (pro rata) 29 hours per week. Hours of work are flexible and include evenings, weekends and bank holidays As per Terms and Conditions of Employment. As per Terms and Conditions of Employment. You are eligible to contribute into the Pension Scheme. Period of notice offered and required: As per Terms and Conditions of Employment.

7 Conditions of appointment: Subject to satisfactory references, and criminal background check through the Disclosure & Barring Service. A requirement to training / events / courses deemed relevant and appropriate when post requires. In service training: Miscellaneous: Time off for own in-service training in negotiation with Line Manager. Outside paid employment must not take place within, overlap, or interfere with YMCA contracted hours. This job description sets out the task requirements required of this post. Along with the Staff Handbook and the Terms of Appointment it forms the terms and conditions of employment within the Association. It is recognised that the Association is involved in a dynamic environment and as such, job descriptions will be required to be periodically reviewed and amended, reflecting the changing nature of the job. Such reviews will be carried out in conjunction with the staff concerned and one month s notice given of any change in the job description.