Senior Hostel Support Lead – Trauma-Informed Housing

Portsmouth City Council; Gosport; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Gosport Borough Council is seeking an experienced Senior Hostel Support Officer to lead the Hostel Support Officer team in Housing Needs & Advice. You will provide day-to-day supervision, mentoring, and ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, person-centred support for residents in temporary accommodation.

You will mentor staff, manage complex cases, and develop risk assessments and support plans, while ensuring safeguarding and partnership cooperation across agencies.

Qualifications

• Experience of working within a homeless hostel, supported housing or homelessness service.
• Experience of supervising, mentoring or supporting staff.
• Experience of managing complex and high-risk cases.
• Experience of completing, reviewing and managing risk assessments and support plans.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and the needs of vulnerable adults.
• Knowledge of homelessness legislation, welfare benefits and tenancy-related matters.
• General understanding of income collection and debt management.
• Good IT skills including Microsoft Office applications and case management systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day supervision, guidance and support to Hostel Support Officers.
• Support staff in managing complex behaviours, safeguarding and risk-related issues.
• Allocate and monitor workloads to ensure effective service delivery.
• Support recruitment, induction, training and ongoing development of staff.
• Conduct quality assurance checks on support plans, risk assessments, case notes and other records; ensure risks are identified, managed and mitigated.
• Promote best practice and consistency across the service.
• Assist in development and continuous improvement of hostel services; deputise for the Accommodation and Lettings Manager when required.
• Lead on complex, high-risk cases and provide professional guidance to colleagues.
• Respond effectively to incidents, emergencies and safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, risk management, health and safety including fire safety and property standards.
• Maintain hostel safety, security and maintenance.
• Develop relationships with partner agencies and liaise with social care, health services, police and voluntary organisations.
• Monitor service outcomes and performance indicators; contribute to audits and quality assurance.
• Identify service improvements and support new initiatives.

Skills

Staff supervision

Homelessness knowledge

Trauma-informed practice

Safeguarding

Risk assessment

Communication

Report writing

IT skills

Case management systems

Debt management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Case management systems

Job description

Gosport Borough Council is seeking an experienced Senior Hostel Support Officer to lead the Hostel Support Officer team in Housing Needs & Advice. You will provide day-to-day supervision, mentoring, and ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, person-centred support for residents in temporary accommodation.

You will mentor staff, manage complex cases, and develop risk assessments and support plans, while ensuring safeguarding and partnership cooperation across agencies.