Service Birmingham Housing Support Lead Worker Services

Location Birmingham

The Cranstoun Group is a charity empowering people to live healthy, safe and happy lives. Our skilled and compassionate teams work with Client s, families and communities, helping them to make positive changes. We offer a wide range of services across England, including community-based outreach, treatment and recovery, detox, supported housing, and specialist services for young people and families and carers. We’ve been making a difference since 1969 by combining our expertise with innovative approaches, and putting people at the heart of what we do.

1

Lead Worker Post Information Pack

JOB DESCRIPTIONJob purpose / Context:

The Lead Worker service is one of a number of housing related floating support contracts commissioned by BCC.

The Lead Worker Service forms part of a wider commissioning model and aims to support vulnerable families by providing targeted support to aid crisis recovery and build resilience so that:

Responsible for:

Lead workers are responsible for offering practical support to client’s, so that they can change their lives and be happy. The role requires excellent communication skills and the ability to connect with people. You’ll work with client in the community and their own homes, supporting them to develop skills and work towards independent, fulfilling and enjoyable lives. You will deliver high quality person centred housing support.

Lead Workers manage a caseload of people, which may include children, young people and adults, helping them to learn and develop skills that will help them to make sustainable changes to their lifestyle. This may include supporting them to:

Support to sustain suitable accommodation Support to acquire suitable accommodation Debt related issue Access primary healthcare Support with benefits/welfare rights/ maximise income Improve and maintain mental health Support to obtain relevant Court Orders Signpost to substance misuse support Support to maintain or access employment or volunteering Support to access education or training Support to obtain essential household items Gain access to other services Support to Stay Safe

Responsible to:

Team Leader / Service Manager

Role Specific Skills & Behaviours

Manage a caseload of clients, helping them to maintain or acquire accommodation and work towards an independent lifestyle. This may include giving advice and support on setting up their home, getting the right benefits, budgeting, health issues, getting access to training and employment and other independent living skills.

Work with the client and other professionals to identify individual Client needs and ensure that an appropriate, purposeful programme of support is prepared, implemented, recorded and regularly reviewed.

2

Manage and attend appointments with clients in community settings or the client’s home. The frequency of appointments will depend on the individual needs of the client.

Contribute to the initial and ongoing assessment (including risk assessment) of client.

Liaise and cooperate with relevant professionals from housing, health and social care agencies, the local community and relatives of the client. This will ensure that all appropriate resources are identified and used for the benefit of the client.

Work effectively in partnership with other service providers, to find solutions that will benefit the client.

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in accordance with organisational and national standards.

Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the field and contribute to the continuing development of Cranstoun’s services.

Prepare reports when required.

Maintain high standards of office security, confidentiality and administration. This includes ensuring the safe and secure keeping of files on Cranstoun’s premises and any work equipment/case management systems used by Cranstoun.

Carry out all aspects of the role cost effectively and in line with Cranstoun’s policies, the requirement of funders and all Bcc Lead worker standards/frameworks. You’ll need to consult appropriate sources of expertise where necessary.

Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of yourself, client’s, relevant others (particularly children and vulnerable adults) and members of the community.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONQualifications

Qualification or demonstrable relevant experience at NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care Evidenced willingness to take part in proactive supportive activity for other people

Knowledge

Evidence of a good knowledge and understanding of welfare benefits and housing related services Understanding of community care issues Understanding of safeguarding issues for children and adults, an awareness of sexual exploitation

And ability to respond appropriately.

Abilities and attributes

Ability to identify and be alert to risk and manage contingency plans effectively

3

Ability to learn and apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations Ability to spot links between issues to solve a problem Ability to show creativity and innovation Ability to make critical decisions in a timely, considered manner

Ability to engage fully with people Ability to work non-judgementally Ability to manage own time, prioritise activities, and maintain accountability for

workload and clients

Skills

Communication Set clear boundaries Adopt a person-centred focus to communication Manage client expectations

Team Work

Participate and collaborate with internal and external teams Liaise with other agencies to support Client s Proactive engagement with change, progressive concepts, openness to learn

Managing effectiveness

Maintain confidentiality of all data and information related to clients and business Accurate record keeping Awareness of range of cultural differences

IT Good IT skills and ability to use MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) Able to use a computerised client record database for case file management

Other Able to travel independently, in a timely manner, within work area

4

5