Night Support Workers - Swansea Gorwelion

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

The projects are located across Swansea and work with homeless or potentially homeless men and women aged 18+, who often have complex needs, such as historic or current substance misuse or offending issues. The services provide residential support with the aim of meeting individuals’ needs, which promote independence and lead to a sustainable move-on. The project is funded through the Supporting People Programme Grant and is required to meet the Welsh Government’s National Outcomes Framework. The Framework’s four main aims are:

Promoting Personal and Community Safety

Promoting Independence and Control

Promoting Economic Progress and Financial Control

Promoting Health and Wellbeing

Purpose of Role

To provide a proactive night time presence within the project to promote quiet and peaceful occupation of its residents/visitors. To respond to disturbances, emergencies and other housing management functions according to procedure and provide ad-hoc support to residents in response to demand. To assist with the organisations lone working and arrangement of out of hours resources.

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

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To provide support to the residents of the project.

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

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

c) To support Service Users with particular reference to:

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

• Applying the basic principles of various conversational and psycho-social intervention skill sets to the benefit of Service Users (i.e. Solution Focused working and Motivational Interviewing).

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

• Assisting with referrals to and liaising with relevant agencies and individuals with or on behalf of Service Users (where appropriate).

• Assisting Senior Support Workers (SSW) in reviewing needs and support plans and updating the relevant records with the authorisation of a SSW.

• Assisting SSW in reviewing risk assessments and updating relevant records with the authorisation, or in the absence, of a SSW.

• Discussing and observing Service User’s levels of control, understanding and involvement (CU&I) and updating the relevant records with the authorisation of a SSW.

• Representing and advocating with/for Service Users (where appropriate).

d) To maintain accurate and up to date records of Service Users’ issues and support according to procedure.

e) To maintain regular communication with Senior Support Workers relating to the need for changes to Service Users’ needs and risk assessments and support plans.

f) To ensure that the service standards set out in the organisational document ‘Great Expectations’ are met or exceeded.

2. To assist in monitoring the effectiveness of the project.

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

b) To provide statistics and other information as requested.

3. To assist with the project’s housing management functions.

a) To assist with the induction of Service Users into project and provide and explain the required information (where appropriate).

b) To collect service charges and rent (where appropriate).

c) To assist with facilitating residents’ house meetings (where appropriate).

d) To monitor project activity, respond to emergencies according to situation and maintain appropriate records.

e) To address and report maintenance issues in line with the Maintenance Policy.

f) To assist with Health and Safety monitoring and checks in line with legislation, policy and organisational requirements.

g) To ensure good standards of cleanliness and hygiene are maintained at all times.

h) To address all issues to maintain a safe and pleasant project environment.

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

e) To complete any tasks left from daytime staff.

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

g) To partake in a team handover where applicable.

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

5. Other

a) To work and travel across Swansea, and further afield as and when required.

b) To act as an organisational Lone Working Contact according to the Lone Working Procedure.

c) To arrange out of hours staffing cover/emergency maintenance using pre-approved out of hours resource list.

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

Person Profile

1. Knowledge

a) Basic knowledge of Homelessness Law, the Criminal Justice System and DWP Benefits.

b) Basic knowledge of how complex needs, such as substance misuse and mental health, can affect individuals and their vulnerability.

c) Basic knowledge of how your personal life can affect your own performance and attendance.

d) An understanding of the need for professional boundaries.

2. Experience

a) Experience of working with vulnerable people.

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

c) Experience of delivering support is desirable.

d) Experience of recording your work in paper or digital systems is desirable.

e) Experience of engaging with diverse people in a non-judgemental way.

f) Experience of dealing with challenging situations.

3. Other

a) Confident and able to lone work on own initiative.

b) Driving licence and own vehicle is essential.

c) Ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable but not essential.

Interview date: 8th Novemeber 2021 at Project, 39 Walter Road, Swansea SA15NW