Bond Board Administrator - Bridgend Bond Board

Introduction

The Wallich is a homelessness charity delivering innovative housing and support services to homeless and vulnerably housed people. The Organisation formed in 1978 in Cardiff and now supports around 8000 people a year across Wales. Our work falls into four principal areas:

1. Residential supported housing projects, including direct access hostels, emergency night shelters and accommodation for people with specific issues such as substance misuse, youth services etc.

2. Floating (Tenancy) support projects in which we support people who have tenancy difficulties, sometimes with a contributing health or other need, and are in danger of losing their homes.

3. Prevention or intervention projects supplied through Homelessness Prevention Grant funding which are a broad range of services that prevent homelessness or make life better for homeless people.

4. Participation and Progression services, which are embedded in all our projects enhancing support through providing opportunities for Service Users to take an active part in their community. These services include those designed to enable people to move into meaningful activities including employment and training opportunities.

The Wallich’s values are of empowerment and treating people with dignity, respect and unconditional positive regard. The Wallich is committed to providing services that are trauma informed and delivered with Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) at the heart of its support. A PIE is an approach to supporting people out of homelessness whilst making significant and positive progress in overcoming trauma, substance misuse and mental illness. It also considers the psychological needs of staff: developing skills and knowledge, increasing motivation, job satisfaction and resilience. At the heart of what we do are the people we support, who are actively and meaningfully involved in their own support and encouraged to participate in the design, development and delivery of services.

Project Description

Purpose of Role

To administer the Bond Board Scheme;
To assist qualifying people with ensuring tenancies are set up in a manner that helps them to be sustainable;
To liaise with landlords and other agencies;
To ensure work is recorded and all administrative paperwork completed.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure

No Agencies.

We do not accept unsolicited agency referrals for this position and do not consider any applicants, to have been introduced to us via agency.

Main Duties, Responsibilities and Person Profile

1. To administer the Bond Board Scheme, liaising with landlords and other agencies, and provide support to qualifying people to ensure tenancies are set up in a manner that helps them to be sustainable.

a. To ensure that Service Users are aware of the mission, aims and objectives, policies and procedures of the projects and the duties, responsibilities and obligations of staff.

b. To ensure that all Service Users are treated fairly and afforded equality of opportunity.

c. To manage referrals according to the procedures and eligibility criteria of the project.

d. To ensure that Service Users’ needs are met through the consistent application of the Wallich’s model of support.

e. To manage a Service User caseload with particular reference to:

• Coordinating and carrying out needs and risk assessments and developing risk management plans.

• Applying various conversational skill sets to the benefit of the Service User.

• Providing information, advice and guidance that enable Service users to make informed decisions about their needs and support.

• Ensuring that Service Users have a means of expressing their views and that this expression receives appropriate consideration.

• Making referrals to and liaising with relevant agencies and individuals with or on behalf of Service Users.

• Coordinating and carrying out the reviewing of needs, risk and support plans in line with procedure.

• Coordinating and carrying out the monitoring of Service User’s progress by assessing levels of control, understanding and involvement in working towards their goals.

• Representing and advocating with/for Service Users.

f. To maintain accurate and up to date records of every aspect of Service Users’ issues and support according to procedure.

2. To assist in monitoring the effectiveness of the projects ensuring objectives and targets are met.

a. To meet the monitoring requirements of the Outcomes Framework and other commissioners.

b. To assist managers with gathering quantitative and qualitative information relating to objectives and targets.

c. To ensure that records of Service Users accessing the service are maintained.

d. To provide statistics and other information as requested by managers.

3. To assist in the overall running of the project.

a) To work in line with all Wallich policies and procedures.

b) To participate in own supervision.

c) To undertake relevant training.

d) To represent The Wallich at relevant external meetings.

e) To liaise with relevant bodies – Housing Associations, support agencies etc. – as appropriate and as the organisation’s representative.

f) To develop links with voluntary and statutory bodies in furtherance of the organisation’s work and for the benefit of the Service User.

g) To report to manager regularly informing him/her of issues arising during the course of the work that require policy decisions.

h) To ensure adequate administrative records are kept.

i) To ensure the maintenance of good standards of cleanliness, hygiene and adherence to Health and Safety regulations.

j) To take part in all aspects of lone working as directed by the policy.

k) To partake in a team handover where applicable.

l) To undertake other duties within the remit of the post.

4. Other

a) To work and travel across Bridgend

The list of duties and responsibilities is not an exhaustive one and may be varied from time to time by the organisation. This job description is subject to regular review.

Person Profile

1. Knowledge

a. Knowledge and understanding of current Homelessness Law, the Criminal Justice System and DWP Benefits.

b. Knowledge and understanding of the current welfare changes and the potential implications to housing related support and vulnerable people.

c. Knowledge and understanding of substance misuse and its effects on people, their families and their communities.

d. Knowledge and understanding of how complex needs including mental health can affect individuals and their vulnerability.

e. Knowledge and understanding of the current legal frameworks within which you are expected to work (e.g. Safeguarding, Children’s Act, Mental Health Act, Health and Safety at Work Act, Misuse of Drugs Act).

f. Knowledge and understanding of the need to evidence outcomes and the connection with future funding.

2. Experience

a. Experience of working with individuals with complex needs.

b. Experience of housing related support or homelessness (this can be from a personal perspective).

c. Experience of completing needs and risks assessments.

d. Experience of planning and delivering support.

e. Experience of monitoring and recording systems.

f. Experience of working with volunteers is desirable.

3.Skills and Abilities

3.1 Working with Vulnerable People:

a. Able to engage with diverse people and understand and value diversity.

b. Able to respect personal choice and work non-judgementally with people who hold different views and lifestyles from your own.

c. Able to work within and understand the importance of professional boundaries.

d. Able to manage conflict and effectively deal with challenging situations.

e. Able to work in a solution focused approach with effective motivational skills.

f. Effective interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.

3.2 Community Partnership and Networking:

a. Able to professionally and effectively represent the wishes and best interests of Service Users and the organisation.

b. Ability to build beneficial relationships with a range of agencies and people at front line and senior levels.

c. Ability to confidently and professionally challenge judgemental stereotypes and inappropriate practice.

d. Confident and able to lone work on own initiative and without close supervision.

3.3 Project and Team Working:

a. Ability to form positive working relationships with members of the team and the wider organisation.

b. Ability to organise resources and prioritise workloads to effectively meet deadlines.

c. Reliable and possess an understanding of how your personal lifestyle can have positive and negative impacts on your own performance and attendance.

d. Ability to gather and provide appropriate information and data.

e. Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.

f. Competent using Microsoft Word, Excel and MS Outlook to an intermediate level.

g. Flexible and able to meet the changing needs of the service and the organisation.

h. Committed to own continued professional development.

4. Other

a. Driving licence and own vehicle essential.

b. Ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable but not essential.

Interviews to be held via. MS Teams on 4th May 2022.

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