Floating Support Worker

<p><strong>Are you looking for an opportunity to make a real difference and help change people&rsquo; lives at the times when they most need support?</strong></p> <p><strong>Join a vibrant, expanding organisation as part of our Croydon Floating Support and help us provide high quality support to people who use our service across Croydon.</strong></p> <p><strong>If you are looking for an organisation with a broad range of services and opportunities for further development, please apply!</strong></p> <p><strong>We welcome applications from candidates with lived experience.</strong></p>

Croydon, London

Hestia

<p>Hestia is a vibrant, London wide charity that has supported vulnerable adults and children for over 40 years. We empower people across the community to rebuild their lives, realise their potential and live fulfilling and independent lives.<br /><br />We use our 45 years of experience to support 9,000 adults and children across London. We try to help anyone who needs us, whatever their circumstances helping survivors of Domestic Abuse and their families to rebuild their lives, creating a stronger future for themselves in a safe and healthy environment.<br /><br />Contact Us: Tel: +44 (0)20 7378 3119<br /><br /></p> http://www.hestia.org/

keywords: working at hestia,vision,mission,values,main purpose of post,work schedule,about the service,teamwork,strategy,support,risk management,relationships,maintain,technology,analysis,knowledge,experience,build,management,support,key relationships,leadership,communication,solutions,training,diversity,teamwork

Grade: 18-19

£20,124 rising to £20,760 per annum after 1 year

Overview: <p>Working at Hestia is all about bringing hope and focuses on coproduction and recovery. Rather than look at someone&rsquo;s limitations, we look at what they are capable of doing and help them take charge of the road to get there. This approach provides a very positive environment to work in.</p> <p>Our dynamic team offers a wealth of knowledge and varied experiences who work with a wide range of client groups.</p> <ul> <li><strong>VISION</strong>: Our vision is &lsquo;Empowering people, changing lives&rsquo;. We reach out when vulnerable adults and children find themselves in crisis and we provide ongoing support to help transform their lives.<br /> <br /> <strong>MISSION</strong>: The needs of the people who use our services are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to deliver high quality and empowering housing, support, protection and care services in partnership with service users and local communities.<br /> <br /> <strong>VALUES</strong>: Our aim is to support vulnerable adults and children to realise their aspirations and fulfil their potential. We take great pride in the work that we do each day and in the values that strengthen our ethos.<br /><br /><strong>MAIN PURPOSE OF POST: </strong>To provide high quality housing-related support to service users across Croydon. To be responsible for the support and well being of an allocated group of service users living within their own homes. To carry out duties in line with organisational policies and procedures.<br /><strong><br /></strong></li> <li><strong>Location:</strong> Croydon Generic Floating Support</li> <li><strong>Hours:</strong> 39 Hours per week, core hours are 9am &ndash; 8pm and occasional weekends may be required.</li> <li><strong>Working Pattern: </strong>Monday to Friday 9am &ndash; 5.18pm</li> <li><strong>Closing date:</strong> 1 September 2017</li> <li><strong>Interview date:</strong> 11 September 2017</li> </ul> <br /><strong>About the Service:</strong><br /> <p>The Croydon GFSS provides high quality Floating Support to adult Croydon residents with housing-related support needs. The service consists of a team of 8 staff, supporting up to 200 service users at any given time, and operating predominantly Monday to Friday, 9 am to 17:30.<strong><br /><br /></strong>The overall aim of the service is to prevent homelessness; either through sustainable resettlement of people who have been homeless or though tenancy sustainment to prevent homelessness. Being a &lsquo;Generic&rsquo; service entails working with clients affected by a variety of support needs (i.e. mental and / or physical health, substance and / or alcohol use, and criminogenic needs).<strong><br /></strong>The service works in close partnership with a range of statutory organisations, carers, relatives and voluntary organisations to support service users. It also aims to support people to understand and exercise their personal responsibilities, and thereby prevent or minimise future demand on public and charitable resources.<strong><br /></strong><br />The service places strong emphasis on co-production, thus ensuring that the needs and strengths of service users are paramount in delivering and developing the service, including developing and maintaining access to other community services and activities (i.e. signposting to culture specific services).</p> <strong>Terms and Conditions:</strong> <br /> <ul> <li>Salary:&pound;20,124 per year, rising to &pound;20,760 per year after successful completion on 9 month probation period and 12 month continuous service.</li> <li>Pension:As required under pension reform legislation you will be automatically enrolled into a personal pension scheme (Legal &amp; General) where Hestia will match your personal contributions up to a maximum of 5% of your salary. Your initial contributions will be at 1%, if you wish to increase up to 5% or opt out of the scheme, please contact our payroll department.</li> <li>Hours of work:39 per week on average</li> <li>Holidays:195 hours per year, plus 62.4 hours public holidays. Our holiday year runs from April until March.</li> <li>Sickness: <ul> <li>Length of employment: Annual sick pay entitlement pro-rata</li> <li>Up to 9 months: 10 standard working days (78 hours) on full pay</li> <li>9 months to 2 years: 20 standard working days (156 hours) on full pay / 20 standard working days (156 hours) on half pay</li> </ul> </li> <li>Over 2 years: 30 standard working days (234 hours) on full pay / 30 standard working days (234 hours) on half pay</li> </ul>
Responsibilities: <p><strong>KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:</strong></p> <ul> <li>To be responsible for developing, supporting and maintaining independent living skills and general wellbeing and maximising independence of a specific group key service users within the Croydon Generic Floating Support Service.</li> <li>To reduce the service users&rsquo; requirement to use emergency accommodation or emergency services.</li> <li>To work with referring agents including the SNAP Team.</li> <li>To enable positive resettlement from first stage supported housing for service users maximising independence</li> <li>To use organisational needs, risk and aspiration based assessment tools with the service user to gain a clear understanding of their individual situation to ensure the delivery of a personalised service.</li> <li>To assess and support service users with a range of needs, risks and aspirations including mental health, substance misuse, families, offenders and ex-offenders, multiple needs, rough sleepers, young people including those leaving care and teenage parents, those with multiple and complex needs, single homeless people with support need, adults with HIV, people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), people at risk of domestic violence or abuse, gypsies or travellers and refugees.</li> <li>To adopt a &lsquo;Think Family&rsquo; approach that recognises the needs of the whole family where there are children and other household members.</li> <li>To formulate, implement and review personalised, client-focused SMART support plans with service users and associated professional participation to develop, review and achieve goals and aspirations.</li> <li>To engage service user&rsquo;s supporters in their support plans (with consent) including families, carers, statutory and voluntary sector providers.</li> <li>To utilise key-working sessions with key clients to enable them to develop, sustain and maximise independence, maintain their accommodation and enjoy a good quality of life.</li> <li>To deliver a flexible, dynamic, proactive and responsive service according to client needs which will include work outside of ordinary offices house including weekends and evenings.</li> <li>To motivate service users in all aspects of daily living.</li> <li>To engage in activities which support their physical and mental wellbeing including meaningful day time activities and maintaining healthy relationships.</li> <li>To enable the service users to take responsibility for their health needs particularly in relation to preventing relapse in mental health and keeping up to date with all necessary medication.</li> <li>To support service users to access appropriate physical and mental health and other appropriate treatment services within the local community such as Substance Misuse Services, accompanying them as appropriate.</li> <li>To minimise unplanned and emergency hospital admissions for people facing mental health relapse.</li> <li>To support service users to maximise their financial security and independence through addressing arrears, maintaining benefits claims and accessing employment, training and volunteering opportunities to progress into paid employment.</li> <li>To liaise effectively with other agencies involved in the care and support of service users and to engage in multi-agency case conferences and support planning where appropriate. These include but are not limited to Care Managers, Social Workers, CPNs, Probation Officers, Tenancy Officers, Incomes Officers, PATHS Team, Neighbourhood Wardens, RSLs, Private landlords, and the Police.</li> <li>To work with Croydon Generic Floating Support Service users to enable them to work alongside staff as partners in the delivery of services.</li> <li>To define the relationship between service users and staff as one of mutuality and reciprocity rather than of dependency.</li> <li>To provide co-production projects that can help participants to extend their social networks and friendships and the range of opportunities open to them.</li> <li>To develop co-productive way of working by focusing not just on service users&rsquo; needs and issues, but on their abilities and aspirations.</li> <li>To ensure that the organisation&rsquo;s strategies are met and policies, procedures and values are adhered to in all matters of service delivery.</li> <li>To ensure service users are consulted including the development of best practice of the organisation and individual services including the service user care charter and service user involvement strategy.</li> <li>To ensure that service users have relevant information about service user activities including information on Hestia&rsquo;s service user involvement forum, the &lsquo;Better Lives Forum.</li> <li>To assist the Team Leaders and Service Manager to plan, negotiate and manage the budgets of the Croydon Generic Floating Support Service by operating within agreed organisational financial policies and procedures.</li> <li>To make the best and appropriate use of property, equipment and information technology belonging to Hestia or another provider within any formal agreement.</li> </ul>
Requirements: <strong>KEY SKILLS:</strong><br /> <ul> <li>Experience of working with people with a range of different support needs, aspirations for their future and associated risks.</li> <li>Experience of delivering high quality floating, outreach or accommodation based support services to people with a range of needs and risks.</li> <li>Good knowledge of welfare benefits and housing options and legislation related to statutory duty.</li> <li>Knowledge of health and safety relevant to role as a Floating Support Worker and working in Service User&rsquo;s homes.</li> <li>An ability to undertake client-focused key working, support planning and risk assessments to maximise Service Users&rsquo; independence.</li> <li>Good understanding of the range of issues, diagnoses and treatment relevant to the client group including mental health and substance misuse.</li> <li>Commitment to equal opportunities and to promoting service users&rsquo; rights, privacy, dignity, choice and control.</li> <li>Ability to liaise with external professionals to inform and develop Service Users&rsquo; support package</li> <li>Willingness to actively engaged in undertaking relevant personal development and training.</li> <li>Ability to travel throughout the Borough of operation.</li> <li>Previous experience of using computer based systems to accurately record work and client details</li> </ul> <br /><strong>KEY RELATIONSHIPS: Relationship with people who use the service: </strong><br /> <ul> <li>Develop positive, hopeful and trusting relationships with people using services</li> <li>Hold the belief that people can make positive changes in their life and have the capacity to do so</li> <li>Focus on strengths, aspirations, resilience and empower the person to recognise and build on their qualities</li> <li>Be an active listener who develops a holistic understanding of people</li> <li>Make sure the person has control, choice and ownership of their decisions</li> <li>Be honest, transparent and be able to both challenge and inspire</li> <li>Empower people to take positive risks</li> <li>Be warm and empathic, whilst maintaining appropriate boundaries</li> </ul> <br /><strong>Relationship with colleagues in Hestia and external stakeholders:</strong><br /> <ul> <li>Hold colleagues and stakeholders in respectful positive regard, valuing their strengths and skills and providing constructive feedback and challenge where appropriate</li> <li>Communicate with openness and honesty, practicing active listening skills and being mindful of your behaviour and language in your interactions</li> <li>Encourage and welcome a diversity of viewpoints, recognising the different assets, knowledge and skills that others bring and understanding this is a partnership of equals</li> <li>Foster a team ethos by fulfilling your responsibilities, delivering your work on time, offering support to colleagues and stakeholders where appropriate and sharing your successes</li> <li>Bring the voice of people who use the service to the forefront of all our communication</li> <li>Develop a holistic knowledge of Hestia and be able to articulate the range of services Hestia offers to others</li> </ul> <br /><strong>Relationship with self:</strong> <br /> <ul> <li>Proactively develop your knowledge, experience and/or skills by seeking out training and other opportunities to learn</li> <li>Be reflective and open to constructive challenge, showing willingness to try new things and learn from mistakes</li> <li>To think innovatively and seek solutions</li> <li>To develop self &ndash; awareness. To use supervisions and other reflective practise opportunities to consider your strengths and weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, and motivations</li> <li>To be mindful of your own wellbeing and seek support where needed</li> <li>To take pride in your work and take your responsibilities seriously</li> </ul> <br /><strong>Relationship with people you line manage (if applicable):</strong> <br /> <ul> <li>To role model proactive, positive behaviours and provide leadership</li> <li>To build a team culture that is committed to delivering excellent results and continuous improvement</li> <li>To build a positive, supportive and mutually respectful relationship with the people you line manage that fosters open, honest dialogue and trust</li> <li>To mentor, motivate and inspire, encouraging those you line manage to step up and take responsibility, grow their careers and develop new skills</li> <li>To provide those you line manage with opportunities for reflection and peer support, for example in team meetings, supervisions and informal catch ups</li> <li>To be mindful of the wellbeing of those you line manage, regularly taking time to check in and engage with the person</li> </ul> <strong><u><br />This job description is subject to change depending on the needs of the service</u></strong>