Job Description

Post Adults Who Are Chronically Excluded (ACE) Project Worker Office based at Peterborough office and in community locations Location throughout Peterborough Line Manager Joint Head of Services

Hours Part Time 22.5 hours a week

Salary NJC Scale point 21 – 25, starting at £20,138 FTE  To deliver the ACE project. The project is funded and run in conjunction with Peterborough City Council with the overall aim of supporting those who are chronically excluded by society. The role is very much about promoting the prevention of homelessness.  To support people struggling to maintain accommodation who have no other support. They commonly have issues with drugs and or alcohol, mental health needs and can be volatile.  Offer advocacy provision and support work providing Main information and representation to individuals as Objectives requested. Supporting individuals in gaining the skills and confidence to express their views at all levels and within all settings and also supporting them to do everyday tasks when they have managed to secure a tenancy, including budgeting exercises.  To work in a holistic way to addressing client issues through multiagency working with organisations, social services, charities and faith groups across the city whilst ensuring that all activity is service user led. Building networks with these agencies is key.

Vision Our vision is that everyone who faces mental health challenges has equal access to the support they need to recover, and can live a fulfilling life without fear of discrimination

Mission We work towards achieving this vision by providing a range of inclusive, empowering and recovery-based services throughout Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire, underpinned by our core values of:

Charity no 265087 - Respect

- Empowerment

- Inclusivity

- Integrity

- Courage

- Compassion

Specific Duties and Responsibilities  To act upon referrals from City Council lead in an efficient and timely manner, liaising with individuals in both community settings and their own homes to determine their individual needs and desired outcomes.  Working on a one to one basis with clients.  To assess people’s needs, and put in place the appropriate services, sequenced in the correct way.  Supporting clients to access any information they require, including information on treatment, medical rights, legal/welfare rights and community services.  Supporting clients at individual appointments that they have for example those with housing needs officers, GP’s and mental health professionals.  Supporting clients in expressing opinions, concerns and complaints, often at multi agency meetings.  Supporting clients to access services from a wide range of organisations and agencies.  Managing risk associated with outreach work and that of lone working.  Ensuring a high level of customer care of delivered to clients, colleagues, partnership agencies and others coming into contact with the service.  Maintaining electronic records and delivering the quarterly monitoring report to both line manager and Peterborough City Council.  To provide information and signposting about mental health, homelessness and homelessness prevention to individuals, professionals and other organisations.  To work flexibly when required.  To represent the client and the ACE project at multiagency meetings.  To provide information and consultation to other workers/agencies regarding the client and their risk.

Charity no 265087  To work closely with accommodation providers and to share appropriate information with them.  To support clients when they have successfully gained a new tenancy, encouraging them to budget appropriately, to make the appropriate claim for benefits, engage with utility providers and to work with them and local charities to ensure that they have the basic essentials to call a house their home.  To maintain standards of care with regard to health and safety, equal opportunities, confidentiality, individual and personal choice #  To work within the organisation’s policies and procedures at all times with specific reference to the Safeguarding of Adults at risk  To travel independently to community locations, including service user’s homes, to deliver the service  To undertake all other duties commensurate with the role description

General Duties The ACE Project Worker is required to fulfil the role in line with the organisation’s Values:

Equality  Promote the equality, diversity and rights of others by ensuring people are respected and valued as individuals.  Ensure equal access to services, that people are treated with dignity and that no discriminatory behaviour takes place.

Quality  Implement quality assurance systems within Cambridge, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire Mind.  Monitor compliance with quality systems including Mind Quality Standards.  Have due regard for health and safety and security in the workplace and contribute to raising awareness.

Services  Maintain a service which meets the needs of service users  Assess individual needs and circumstances and jointly plan a way forward  Evaluate and manage risk  Liaise with the other services across Peterborough.

People  Create productive working relationships within the Organisation and with partner agencies to gain the best person centred recovery outcomes for the individual  Identify individual and team development needs to continually improve performance and knowledge  Develop personal skills to improve performance and knowledge.

Performance  Carry out plans and methods of working, monitoring and evaluating work and ensuring that reports on performance are available  Participate fully in and complete any relevant training for the post

Charity no 265087  Attend supervisions and team meetings as required  To participate in local and national Mind campaigns by providing case studies, stories and other information  To actively help promote the service, the organisation and mental health in a variety of ways including covering events and meetings  Provide cover elsewhere in the organisation if required.

Resources  Ensure that equipment and materials are available to achieve service outcomes.  Manage limited resources Information  Gather information and outcome measures as required.  Provide regular activity reports to Line Managers.  Be involved in clinical audit.  Act in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated legislation.  To comply at all times with Information Governance related policies. Staff are required to respect the confidentiality of information about staff, people we support and in particular the confidentiality and security of personal identifiable information in line This post is subject an enhanced DBS Clearance

Person Specification

Competency Essent Desirab ial le 1.0 Experience An awareness of current issues in housing and housing needs and triggers √ to homelessness. An awareness of the effects of homelessness, substance misuse and √ physical / mental ill-health. Knowledge and experience of managing professional boundaries √

Understanding of housing legislation √ A knowledge of community support, charities and other professional √ organisations around Peterborough City Excellent communication skills and an ability to communication to a √ variety of different individuals and agencies An ability to work in a multiagency way √

An active member of the team; supportive, collaborative and genuine √ An understanding of Risk Assessment, Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults √ and Child Protection. 2.0 Education and Life Skills Educated to A level or NVQ Level 3 in a relevant subject such as Health & √ Social Care, Counselling, Psychology, Sociology or an equivalent qualification. Ability to engage in individual and group supervision – line management √

Charity no 265087 and clinical supervision.

Self aware, with an ability to manage own wellbeing √

Experience in maintaining a tenancy and budgeting √ 3.0 Organisational Skills Ability to regularly update and maintain information within data protection √ legislation Able to work under own initiative and to prioritise work load in a busy and √ fast moving environment. 4.0 Social Inclusion Positive approach to mental health, wellbeing and tackling stigma √

A positive approach to homelessness and its causes √ 5.0 General Ability to work on own initiative and respond with flexibility √ Ability to use Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, data systems, Outlook and the √ internet and willingness to take on new technology A comprehensive understanding of Equal Opportunities and Diversity √

Car Driver √

Charity no 265087