ROLE PROFILE

JOB TITLE Project Worker SERVICE PROVISION Homelessness Service SCALE POINT Starting at Scale Point 19; Scale Range 19-23 CONTRACT TYPE Permanent LINE MANAGER Service Manager DATE OF ISSUE September 2015

Area of Work:

You will work in the Society of St James’ (SSJ) homelessness accommodation service providing lifeskills and housing related support to individuals with complex needs through structured support planning and keywork.

Client Outcomes:

 Improved daily living skills  Improved engagement with support and treatment services  Improved self-esteem and confidence  Improved long-term health  Better engagement with meaningful occupation opportunities

Specific Duties:

Support Planning and Keywork 1. Participate in the referral and assessment process for new clients to ensure that all risks associated with the client are identified correctly and to ensure that their needs can be met safely within the service 2. Promote the concept of recovery to clients emphasising the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and personal responsibility for their own long-term health outcomes. 3. Work in partnership with other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, to provide effective support and achieve the best outcomes for clients. 4. Assist clients, through structured support planning and keyworking, to identify and access meaningful activity, including leisure activities, volunteering, training and employment, accompanying them where necessary to ensure they are able to participate. 5. Assist clients to learn and develop essential Lifeskills that will enable them to achieve and sustain independence, including budgeting, cooking, housing and tenancy processes and any other lifeskills identified in support plans.

Accommodation and Housing Management 1. Ensure that all new clients are booked into the accommodation properly and

Role Profile – Project Worker Page 1 of 5 understand the terms and conditions of their Licence or Tenancy Agreement, including their rights and responsibilities under their Agreement. 2. Ensure that all clients understand their obligation with respect to the payment of their accommodation charge. 3. Liaise with the Benefits Agency and Housing Benefit to ensure that the client is in receipt of the correct benefits. 4. Ensure that all maintenance and repair needs and requests for replacement of furniture and furnishings are submitted following the correct procedure. 5. Ensure that clients participate in regular house meetings to encourage them to resolve disputes amicably and to consult with them on service delivery and development.

Finance and Administration 1. Account for and record all incoming monies, including rent and petty cash, in accordance with the Society’s Financial Procedures. 2. Prepare claims and invoices for the direct payment of accommodation charges from Housing Benefit. 3. Monitor rent arrears and liaise with statutory agencies and the SSJ Finance Team to initiate remedial action. 4. Adhere to the Handling Client Monies Policy when a client receives individual support with managing their own money. 5. Ensure all relevant client information is uploaded to the appropriate IT system and is regularly updated. 6. Maintain client files and records to the standard required.

Health and Safety 1. Ensure that all clients understand their responsibility for maintaining the hygiene and cleanliness of their own personal space as well as communal areas. 2. Participate as required in all regular health and safety checks and procedures. 3. Ensure that all accidents and incidents are reported following the correct procedures. 4. Ensure that all safeguarding concerns relating to clients are reported following the correct procedures. 5. Adhere to the Society’s Health & Safety Policy and follow all additional policies and procedures relating to health and safety contained within the Health and Safety Management System, with specific regard to your responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 that requires you to be responsible for your own health and safety at work as well as that of those around you (colleagues, clients, visitors etc.).

Additional Requirements: 1. Provide day to day work-based supervision for Assistant Project Workers when required. 2. Attend all staff meetings, supervision meetings and other meetings as directed by your Line Manager. 3. Participate in setting, monitoring and achieving annual organisational and team targets.

Role Profile – Project Worker Page 2 of 5 4. Attend all training courses as directed by your Line Manager. 5. Adhere to all of the Society’s Policies and Procedures when undertaking any work for and on behalf of the Society. 6. Willingness to work flexibly in order to meet the needs of the service. 7. Undertake any other duties that reasonably fall within the scope of the job role as and when required to ensure the safe and smooth running of the Service.

Experience, Knowledge and Ability – the successful candidate must Assessment demonstrate the following:

Experience of working with people with histories of homelessness, FORM mental health problems and substance misuse INTERVIEW

Experience of liaising with statutory and voluntary organisations in FORM relation to the support and care of vulnerable people INTERVIEW

Experience of developing and reviewing structured, person-centred FORM support plans TEST

FORM Experience of providing day to day supervision and management of staff INTERVIEW

FORM Experience of dealing with challenging and dangerous behaviour INTERVIEW

Knowledge and understanding of the effects of alcohol use on mental FORM health INTERVIEW Knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity, with respect to staff and clients INTERVIEW

Knowledge of other local organisations providing support and interventions to people with complex needs INTERVIEW

Knowledge and understanding of health and safety issues relating to working in a supported housing environment INTERVIEW

Knowledge of safeguarding and protection procedures and protocols for vulnerable adults INTERVIEW

Knowledge of lone working procedures and staying safe at work INTERVIEW

Ability to listen, consult and communicate effectively with clients FORM INTERVIEW

Ability to carry out risk assessments, develop risk management plans INTERVIEW and actively manage risks presented by clients TEST

Literacy and IT skills sufficient to demonstrate ability to write letters, FORM emails, reports and comprehensive support plans TEST

Role Profile – Project Worker Page 3 of 5 Ability to motivate clients and encourage them to seek meaningful occupation and to live more independently INTERVIEW

Ability to liaise effectively with both external agencies and with the INTERVIEW Society’s other services

Ability to deal with difficult and challenging behaviour calmly and INTERVIEW effectively

The SSJ Competency Framework

SSJ uses a Competency Framework as part of its recruitment procedures. The SSJ Competency Framework identifies specific competencies that staff in each job role are required to demonstrate. As well as being able to demonstrate the experience, knowledge and abilities required for the role, all staff are required to demonstrate competencies that contribute to each area identified in the Framework Model below:

Role Profile – Project Worker Page 4 of 5 Competencies – Project Worker: 1. Good time management skills and the ability to work alone and as part of a team. 2. Confidence and ability in using IT systems, email and the world-wide Web. 3. Compassionate approach to dealing with individuals with complex needs and challenging behaviour. 4. Able to maintain professional boundaries at all times and demonstrate self- awareness at all levels. 5. Able to use own initiative to respond to emergencies and other unexpected situations. 6. Able to communicate in all ways effectively with clients and colleagues.

Role Profile – Project Worker Page 5 of 5