Project Worker Complex Needs - Homelessness

Corus Consultancy; Greater London; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Corus Consultancy is seeking a temporary Housing Support Worker to join our team in London. You will cover 37.5 hours per week on a rotating early/late shift pattern and manage a caseload of up to 10 clients in a residential setting.

Key duties include risk and needs assessments, person-centred safety plans, and helping residents access benefits and services while maintaining professional boundaries and trauma-informed approaches.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with people who have experienced homelessness or are in temporary/insecure accommodation
• Ability to produce person-centred safety plans reflecting clients' needs
• Understanding trauma and adversity and its impact on outcomes
• Knowledge of mental health legislation and how it affects services
• Ability to navigate multi-agency working to support clients
• Proficient IT skills and accurate record keeping

Responsibilities

• Hold a caseload of up to 10 clients and conduct regular sessions to develop recovery-focused plans
• Complete comprehensive risk and needs assessments
• Develop and monitor safety plans with clients who may have complex needs
• Respond to referrals within agreed timescales
• Assist residents to maximise entitlement and secure income through rents and benefits
• Support residents to overcome barriers to accessing services and maintaining housing
• Work with NRPF individuals to access income/services
• Provide information and practical budgeting support
• Ensure voids are managed to maximise income for the scheme
• Record, monitor and report maintenance issues within the scheme
• Participate in housing management procedures and health and safety checks

Skills

Case management

Risk assessment

Trauma-informed practice

IT skills

Communication skills

Advocacy

Time management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Database systems

Job description

The successful candidate will be required to work 37.5 hours per week, working across Monday - Friday on a rota basis covering early (8AM - 4PM) and late (1PM - 9PM) shifts.

You’ll work one week of early shifts following by one week of lates on rotation.

Temporary cover is required for approximately 2 months.

In this position, you will be required to:

• Hold a caseload of up to 10 key clients and conduct regular key working sessions resulting in Support Plans that are person-centred, trauma informed and enable progression
• Complete comprehensive risk and needs assessments
• Conduct skilled and sensitive support and safety plans with people who may be ambivalent about taking-up support and who may have had difficult experiences in the past
• Respond in a psychologically informed way to the challenges posed by complex needs in a residential setting
• Respond to all referrals within agreed timescales
• Make use of the service cluster by ensuring that residents who are readying/willing to move to step down are able to do so without the creation of unnecessary barriers
• Assist in the delivery, evaluation and development of the in-house recovery programme in partnership with the Recovery and Opportunities Coordinator
• Enable residents and other staff to identify the psychosocial factors that impact the use of coping mechanisms such as hospital presentations, substance use, aggression/conflict which may be no longer be helpful
• Work with residents to maximise benefit entitlements and secure project income through efficient rent collection and the minimisation of arrears and void loss
• Support individuals to address and/or challenge benefits sanctions/suspensions, including where benefits have not been awarded.
• Work with those who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) to secure an income and/or access services to meet their basic needs
• Support the development of independent budgeting skills where appropriate through the use of information and advice giving as well as looking at practical skills
• Ensure that all voids are prepared to an acceptable standard and re-let in a timely fashion in order to maximise income receivable from rents and charges
• Monitor, record, report and follow up all maintenance issues within the scheme
• Participate in housing management procedures, such as room checks, locality checks and Health and Safety checks

To apply for this role candidates must have;

• Experience of working with people who have experienced or been threatened with homelessness including those who live in temporary or insecure accommodation
• Case/key working experience, including working with people who have complex or troubling experiences and/or behaviours
• Ability to produce high quality, personalised support and safety plans that are reflective of the clients you are working with
• An understanding of how trauma and adversity have the potential to create re-occurring incidences of multiple disadvantage
• An awareness of the legislation that governs mental health services and the application of such legislation
• An understanding of the multiple issues that can lead to homelessness and how such experiences can impact on people's willingness to then engage with services
• Ability to navigate across various specialties whilst working with multi-agency professionals, to create support and safety plans for clients
• Ability to spend time getting to know people and understand them, particularly when it seems that they are disinterested.
• Strong I.T skills including the use of Microsoft Office programmes and database recording systems