Developing Health & Independence

Transcription

1 Developing Health & Independence Job Title: NJC Scale Point: Hours: Annual Leave: Location: Pension: Accountable to: Responsible for: JOB DESCRIPTION SDAS Housing Support Worker Pt (depending on skills and experience) 37.5 hours per week, including evenings and weekends as required. 26 days plus statutory and bank holidays (1 additional day after each year of service, up to a maximum of 31 days). Wells/Yeovil (or any other location your Employer may reasonably specify) Contributory pension scheme (employer s contribution 7% to a minimum 3% contribution from employee). Senior Housing Support Worker Not applicable. Principle Purpose of the Job The post holder will work as part of integrated Somerset Drug and Alcohol Service (SDAS) within Somerset. This service offers specialist housing related interventions for service users at all stages of their drug treatment journey. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of housing support to those living in our abstinent based dry houses, scripted housing and specialist housing interventions to people accessing SDAS. The post holder will also offer specialist advice and signposting to professionals within partner services. Key Duties and Responsibilities Referrals, Assessment and Support Planning 1. Liaise with other agencies, including (but not exclusively): SDAS partners, probation; rehabilitation projects, local authority housing teams and housing agencies to identify potential service users for the project. 2. Carry out needs and risk assessments with all potential applicants using joint assessment processes where possible. 3. Develop appropriate ways of working with service users that reflect their needs, and draw up support plans involving outside agencies as appropriate. 4. Ensure that support plans are reviewed at regular intervals and that all service users are receiving regular one-one support as identified within their support plan. 1

2 Specialist Interventions 1. Provide mediation/crisis intervention between service user and hostel/housing providers to resolve drug and alcohol related tenancy issues threatening tenancy sustainment and/or client disengagement from treatment. 2. Provide a range of brief interventions alongside existing accommodation support at critical points of change e.g. rapid reducing script, waiting for rehab or hospital detox (and post detox). 3. Deliver intensive time limited detox support packages, providing practical interventions to maximise the success of treatment and support recovery Supporting the wider treatment system and other partners 1. Offer specialist housing related advice and signposting to SDAS partners and act as a link into SDAS services for Somerset Housing Services, including undertaking initial triage assessments when appropriate. 2. Support treatment providers to ensure housing needs, benefit and debt issues are identified, explored and clients have/are appropriately referred or signposted to appropriate sources of support/accommodation. 3. Offer advice/telephone support to accommodation providers dealing with chaotic drug or alcohol users and related issues. 4. Contribute to the development of a Housing Toolkit and Information Pack for treatment providers and mutual aid groups covering the full range of housing options. 5. Deliver housing clinics offering information on housing pathways and options available at treatments centre and a range of suitable locations across Somerset. Supported Housing 5. Maintain a notional waiting list of potential clients and work with them and their key workers to effect a smooth transition to SDAS Housing Services. 6. Liaise with other professionals regarding the support needs of residents, in line with SDAS and DHI s confidentiality policy and procedure. 7. Develop service user involvement activities in consultation with volunteers, peer mentors and service users. 8. Carry out regular monitoring of service user satisfaction and implement any findings. 9. Work with service users to facilitate the move into new accommodation by providing advice on such areas as budgeting, grants and general advocacy 10. Offer resettlement advice to service users when moving on and identify and refer residents to appropriate support agencies for on-going support where appropriate 11. Offer HAP training to service users to develop tenancy awareness and management skills 2

3 12. Complete sign up with new residents in conjunction with the housing management worker ensuring that the licence or tenancy agreement and house rules are fully explained to the resident and that all documents are signed. 13. Develop and implement an induction process for all new residents that cover the rules and ethos of the project. 14. Support all residents to pay their personal rent promptly and as agreed and inform the Housing Management Worker where there are problems with the prompt payment of arrears. 15. Ensure that house rules are maintained at the project and refer for appropriate action in line with the DHI warnings and evictions policy and procedure to the housing management worker. 16. Ensure that all repairs are reported to the Housing Management Worker/and appropriate landlord or maintenance contractor for the project Team Duties 1. To participate in regular case-conferences and supervision. 2. To participate in on-call out of hours rota. Monitoring and Administration 1. Keep accurate and up to date records in line with relevant policy and ensure that data is collected as required. 2. To carry out all necessary administration in relation to casework task including monitoring, and participate in DHI service evaluation audits. 3. To carry out any other duties necessary to the smooth running of the project. Organisational Responsibilities 1. At all times adhere to DHI policies and procedures, with specific reference to: Confidentiality: ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity. Data Protection Act and Information Governance: to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and all policies and procedures relating to Information Governance and security of data. Equal Opportunities and Diversity: to ensure that all service users, their partners, colleagues both within DHI and other partner organisations are treated as individuals by following DHI s Equality and Diversity Policy. Health and Safety: to ensure you comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety regulations and DHI s Health and Safety Policy and 3

4 Procedures. You are responsible for taking reasonable care with regard to yourself as well as any colleague, client or visitor who might be affected by an act or failure to act by yourself. Quality Assurance: to ensure all activities are managed in a way that supports DHI s Quality Assurance systems. Safeguarding: DHI is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Lone Working: to work in accordance with the DHI Lone Working policy and procedures. 2. To participate in regular support and supervision. 3. To operate within the framework of DHI s Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plans and contribute to their outcomes. 4. Participate in the organisational planning processes and contribute to the establishment and maintenance of DHI s Business Plan. 5. Any other duties in line with the above as required. This job description contains only the main accountabilities relating to the post and does not describe in detail all the duties required to carry them out. As duties and responsibilities change, the job description will be reviewed and amended in consultation with the post holder. 4

5 Essential Skills Developing Health & Independence SDAS Housing Support Worker PERSON SPECIFICATION 1. An in depth understanding of housing issues facing people with problematic substance misuse including accommodation and support needs. 2. Person Centred Assessment and Recovery planning skills and experiences. 3. Substance misuse and harm reduction knowledge. 4. Motivational interviewing/cognitive Behavioural Therapy skills. 5. Knowledge of housing and welfare benefits. 6. Ability to work in a solution focussed way. 7. Ability to empower service users and promote independence. 8. Partnership/ collaborative working skills. 9. Excellent communication skills written and verbal. Good level of IT literacy in Word, Excel, Powerpoint and case management databases. 10. An understanding of equality and diversity awareness and practice. 11. Knowledge and commitment to Adult and Child Safeguarding principles and procedures. 12. A flexible approach to working hours in alignment with the Working Time Regulations 13. Access to own transport and full driving licence. 5