Supported Housing Support Worker

YMCA DownsLink Group; Guildford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA DownsLink Group’s Guildford Foyer provides a 33-bed supported housing service for young people aged 16 to 25. The role involves working on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays, to provide low to medium level support in a trauma-informed and psychologically informed environment.

You will assist residents with occupancy agreements, rent responsibilities, safeguarding, and personal development.

Qualifications

• Experience in housing or supported accommodation.
• Strong understanding of occupancy agreements, rent management, welfare benefits, and tenancy sustainment.
• Ability to manage arrears, ASB, and other non-compliance issues using restorative approaches.
• Knowledge of housing legislation, safeguarding procedures, and compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with statutory and voluntary services available to young people and ability to work with a caseload towards independence.

Responsibilities

• Support young people to understand and comply with occupancy agreements and house rules.
• Promote rent payments and financial awareness among residents.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing legislation and organisational policies.
• Respond to breaches of agreement including arrears and antisocial behaviour using restorative approaches.

Skills

Record-keeping

Clear communication

Relationship building

Autonomy

IT skills

De-escalation

Signposting & advocacy

Tools

In-Form (client database)

Job description

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays., We're looking for a compassionate and motivated Supported Housing Support Worker to join our welcoming team at Guildford Foyer. The Guildford Foyer is a 33-bed supported accommodation service for young people aged 16 to 25, providing low - medium level support in a safe and welcoming environment. Our service is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and takes a trauma-informed and psychologically informed approach to helping young people develop essential life skills, build resilience, identify their goals and achieve greater independence. Located in the heart of Guildford, the Foyer has strong links with the local community and plays an active role in supporting young people to move forward positively with their lives.

Housing and Compliance

• Support young people to understand and comply with their occupancy agreements, including coaching them to meet house rules and responsibilities as part of preparing for successful independent living.
• Promote a strong rent-payment and credit culture, encouraging residents to maintain regular payments and understand their financial obligations.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing legislation, welfare benefits, and statutory requirements affecting young people, ensuring practice aligns with current housing law and organisational policies.
• Respond promptly and effectively to breaches of agreement, including rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, or property damage, using restorative approaches where appropriate and working collaboratively with the wider team.

Coaching and Engagement

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives.
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community.
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries.
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person's journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance).

Experience

• Experience in housing or supported accommodation, ideally supporting young people with multiple and complex needs.
• Strong understanding of occupancy agreements, rent management, welfare benefits, and tenancy sustainment.
• Ability to manage arrears, ASB, and other non-compliance issues using appropriate and restorative approaches.
• Good knowledge of housing legislation, safeguarding procedures, and compliance requirements, with the ability to maintain clear professional boundaries.
• Familiarity with statutory and voluntary services available to young people and ability to work proactively with a caseload to support progression towards independent living.

Skills and Abilities

• Confident in record-keeping, including case notes, incident reporting, and health and safety checks.
• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident's progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary.
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills.
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately.

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice. We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen. We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support. Our Values - we do what's right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide us in all our actions.