Job Title: Mobile Support Worker

Department: Ealing DVA Service – Supported Housing

Reports to: Service Manager/Deputy Manager

Location: Ealing

Overall Aim

Working on placements covering short and medium term staff vacancies across all supported housing services as designated by director of supported housing

Work alongside other support staff to provide a safe and empowering environment for women and their children/dependents within our services

To be responsible for implementing a range of interventions and support measures as part of an integrated package of support to women experiencing DVA, escaping DVA and/ or resettling following release from prison with additional complex needs.

Key objectives are to advocate on women’s behalf or empower them to fully access their welfare, legal, social and housing rights and deliver quality services within our Quality Assessment Framework ensuring continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Focus

Take responsibility for the effective day to day management and smooth operation of the service:-

• Manage own case load, key working women using individual support plans
• Working innovatively and creatively in order to engage hard to reach, chaotic and complex needs women.
• Managing and supporting a caseload of women with high and complex needs either in the community or in refuge accommodation, including high risk women referred through MARAC (multi agency risk assessment committee).
• Actively manage new referrals from relevant agencies and individuals, conducting interviews, risk assessments, obtaining relevant information by communicating with relevant agencies and feeding back the outcome of the decision to the potential service user and the referral agencies.
• Undertake licence agreements and induction of new service users, allocate key workers for new referrals, ensuring that full assessments including risk assessments and support plans are developed and actively managed.
• Ensure the provision of practical and emotional support to vulnerable women and their children/dependents including:-
  • assist with welfare and benefits applications and act as advocate for them o enable service users to access appropriate health care and specialist support o provide information about and help service users engage with local agencies and community resources
  • encourage and support service users to identify, access and maintain appropriate education, training and employment
  • Plan and facilitate group sessions which explore understanding of DVA , problematic substance use ,mental health. support life skills, including healthy lifestyles and support social interaction.
  • Support women to understand and access their criminal and civil legal rights
  • Advocate for and support women to take up their housing rights as victims of domestic violence
  • As a priority promote the safety of women and their children
• Support the implementation of the move on strategy and plan for the Refuge ensuring the minimisation of voids and an appropriate balance of women/children is maintained.
• Provide ongoing advice and support to women who have left the project working in cooperation with the Floating Support Worker.

Housing management:-

• Monitor rent accounts weekly, ensuring that procedures are followed and rent collection maximised and arrears minimised
• Ensure that voids are actively managed and that empty properties are let within the target timescales
• Take appropriate action in respect of breaches of licence arrangements in consultation with the Supported Housing Manager.
• Carry out regular health and safety checks

Maintenance

• Ensure repairs are reported promptly and work completed within appropriate timescales, ensuring the continued provision of good quality housing, equipment, fixtures, furnishings and fittings.
• Undertake quarterly inventories of fixtures and fittings, updating information when new equipment is purchased or replaced
• Ensure the provision of appropriate service contracts for the Refuge equipment and appliances working with the Maintenance Team

Promote Independence

Facilitate and support service users in decision making; promoting choice and independence acting as keyworker to identified service users.

Ensure that service user’s individual needs are met through effective support planning and review and that risk assessments are updated regularly.

Service user participation

Promote service user empowerment; working with service users to develop appropriate methods and techniques to enable service users to express their views and inform decisions in respect of: - •

• complaints and concerns
• care and support plans
• how services are delivered and managed,
• the maintenance and repair of the buildings and equipment
• house activities and community engagement
• the appointment of staff

Managing and developing services

Support the Service Manager/ Deputy in developing activities and services to meet identified needs that will support individual/community wellbeing and individual and cultural identity.

Working with the Service Manager/ Deputy, Children’s Worker and volunteers provide excellent customer services and ensure continuous improvement of services.

Work positively and proactively within HfW, participating in Refuge Meetings, HfW staff meetings and other HfW events and training.

Team working

Support Managers/Deputy to induct train and develop new staff and volunteers in accordance with HfW policy and procedure and best practice.

Contribute positively to working in a team, actively participating in team meetings and positively facilitating service user

Play a key role in service audit and reviews.

Maximise own personal development by positively contributing to induction, supervision, training, appraisal and team meetings.

Working with others

Develop positive working relationships with external agencies and relevant professionals to support the delivery and development of quality services that meet the needs of service users, ensuring that the interests of HfW are protected.

Act in a constructive and professional manner at all times, recognising the role is representing HfW and educating the community about our services.

Financial management and control

Follow all internal financial procedures and controls

Ensure that residents’ claims for housing benefit and service charges are collected weekly and that pro-active action is taken to collect late payments and recover debts.

Record keeping, data management

Ensure that accurate and up to date service user, financial and other relevant service records are maintained.

Ensure service user files and support plans and other written documents are accurately completed and understandable and that data are entered onto relevant computer based systems normally within 24 hours.

Ensure that confidentiality of records and information relating to service users and staff is maintained in accordance with HfW’s Confidentiality Policy

Health and Safety

Minimise risk to service users, self, the team and others by undertaking formal risk assessments, developing safety plans and maintaining accurate records.

Ensure the safety and security of the building, including residents and visitors.

Comply with all health and safety legislation in respect of food hygiene, lifting and handling, cleaning and chemical storage.

Quality and regulatory compliance

Keep up to date with changes in legislation, policy and best practice and contribute to services reviews working in conjunction with service users to ensure compliance.

Undertake all duties in accordance with HfW policies, procedures and guidelines, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and guidance.

Other

No job description can be entirely comprehensive and the post holder will be expected to carry out such duties as may be required from time to time and are broadly consistent with the job description.

All staff should be aware of the Association’s risk management policy and undertake their duties in accordance with risk management procedures in place.

Staff are encouraged to discuss with their line managers ways in which controls and procedures can be improved.

Please also be aware of and follow Housing for Women’s policies and procedures, with particular attention to health and safety, equality and diversity and customer service excellence. To further your development and knowledge you will be expected to attend training as necessary.

Housing for Women reserves the right to amend this role profile as necessary, after consultation with the post holder, to reflect changes in or to the role.

Role Experience, Knowledge and Skills Profile