Gateway Assessment Worker

Brackenberry Limited; Newport; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Brackenberry Limited, in partnership with a Local Authority in Newport, seeks a Gateway Assessment Worker on a 7.5-month contract to assess housing support needs and risks, deliver short-term housing interventions, and act as an information hub for housing teams.

The role supports Welsh Government and Council objectives to prevent homelessness, ensuring services are timely, person-centred and GDPR-compliant. GCSEs or equivalent experience are required.

Qualifications

• Understanding housing needs of vulnerable groups and knowledge of housing sectors.
• Experience delivering housing support or assessing housing needs.
• Ability to work with internal teams, external providers and partner agencies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct full assessments of housing support needs and risks with person-centred planning.
• Act as main contact for housing support enquiries from those facing homelessness or financial difficulties.
• Provide early intervention and short-term housing support, submitting applications for long-term cases.
• Support project work during decommissioning or remodeling to ensure smooth transitions.
• Signpost to specialist advice and liaise with Housing Advice teams to access services.
• Stay updated on Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and Housing (Wales) Act 2014 for user rights.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Time management

People handling under pressure

Building relationships

Education

5 GCSEs (A-C) or substantial experience

Job description

We are working closely alongside a Local Authority in Newport to assist with the appointment of a Gateway Assessment Worker, on a 7.5-month contract, highly likely to be extended at clients discretion. The Gateway Assessment Worker is to undertake housing-related support need and risk assessments, deliver short-term housing interventions, and serve as an information hub for housing teams. The primary goal is to actively contribute to Council and Welsh Government objectives in preventing homelessness, ensuring instances are rare, brief, and unrepeated.

Responsibilities

• Conduct full, effective assessments of housing support needs and risks using person-centred planning, keeping accurate case notes per GDPR guidelines.
• Act as a main point of contact for housing support enquiries from individuals/households facing homelessness or financial difficulties.
• Provide early intervention and short-term housing support, submitting applications to the Supported Housing and Floating Support Gateway for long-term cases.
• Support project work for commissioned provider services during periods of decommissioning, remodeling, or failure to ensure smooth service transition.
• Offer effective signposting to specialist advice and liaise with the Housing Advice and Prevention Team to secure service access.
• Stay updated on key legislation, particularly the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and Housing (Wales) Act 2014, to advise service users on their rights.

Educational standard equivalent to 5 GCSEs (Grade A-C) or substantial relevant experience.

Essentials

• Detailed understanding of the housing needs of vulnerable groups, knowledge of social and private housing sectors, and familiarity with support planning processes.
• Proven background working directly with vulnerable groups, delivering housing support, or assessing housing needs.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and time-management skills under tight deadlines.
• Ability to handle complex, emotive situations and deal directly with the public professionally
• Demonstrated capacity to build positive working relationships with internal teams, external providers, and partner agencies.