Housing Support Worker

Arcinspire; Taunton; On-site; GBP 10,000 - GBP 15,000; Part time

Job summary

A local accommodation service in Taunton is seeking part-time Housing Support Staff to provide essential support to clients living in a 24-hour supported hostel. Your role will involve managing finances, ensuring compliance with tenancy agreements, and facilitating access to essential services. The ideal candidate will have experience working with vulnerable individuals and possess effective communication and conflict resolution skills. This role offers a competitive salary and various perks including health and wellbeing insurance.

Benefits

Free parking

Sick pay

Health and wellbeing insurance plan

Qualifications

• Experience supporting people with complex needs, including homelessness.
• Understanding of issues surrounding substance misuse and mental health.
• Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

Responsibilities

• Manage safeguarding concerns according to policies.
• Help clients maximize their income and manage finances.
• Support clients in sustaining their tenancy.

Skills

Empathy

Conflict resolution

Communication skills

Teamwork

Self-initiative

Job description

Arc provide supported accommodation and outreach services to those experiencing homelessness in Somerset. We are looking for Housing Support Staff to join our team and provide housing management, client support, care and supervision to clients living in our 24‑hour supported hostel.

About the role

This is a part‑time role of 15 hours per week on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract.

As a Housing Support Worker, your responsibilities will be, but not limited to:

• Actioning any safeguarding concerns in line with Arc policies and procedures.
• Ensuring that rent, service charges and other financial commitments are effectively managed and helping clients maximise their income, including money‑management and debt support.
• Ensuring clients abide by the conditions of their licence or tenancy agreement, and that breaches are dealt with efficiently and in accordance with Arc policies.
• Inducting new clients into their accommodation and to other associated support services.
• Preparing accommodation for new clients, including recording repair and maintenance issues and reporting to the Property Services team or other appropriate colleagues.
• Providing necessary information, advice and support to help clients sustain their tenancy and maintaining tenancy sustainment support after they have moved on.
• Maintaining appropriate records and sharing relevant information using designated systems, complying with Arc policies, procedures, regulatory and legislative requirements.
• Organising and facilitating house meetings and finding ways to maximise participation and engagement to ensure smooth running and the best possible experience for clients.

Ensuring that clients are encouraged to access appropriate, sustainable move‑on opportunities in the voluntary, statutory, and private sectors and are provided with support to meet their needs and abilities in order to help them develop the required skills for independent living. This may include one‑to‑one and group work to:

• Support with meal planning, cooking & cleaning.
• One‑to‑one key worker personal support on anything that may contribute to tenancy sustainment, self‑esteem, confidence building.
• Supported access to work placement and employment support, including opportunities through our in‑house Crescent Cleaning Services which provide cleaning employment for previously homeless people.
• Opportunities to engage in creative and formal learning opportunities.

Hours

This role is for 15 hours on a 3‑week rolling rota, working Monday & Thursday in the following hours:
Week 1: 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
Week 2: 10 am – 6:00 pm
Week 3: 12:30 pm – 8:30 pm

What we're looking for

Candidates with experience of working with people with multiple disadvantages or have worked with people who are or have been homeless and have an understanding of the issues surrounding complex needs such as substance misuse or mental health issues.

You will be empathetic, passionate about supporting vulnerable people, and have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. You will be capable of working on your own initiative or in teams, remain calm under pressure and handle conflict situations well.

With good verbal, written and technical communication skills and knowledge of the local homelessness services, housing options and support systems, you will be keen to develop, learn and share your skills and knowledge. We are particularly keen to hear from those with lived experience of previous homelessness, substance misuse, being in care and/or an offending background or similar social issues.

All applicants will need to have an enhanced DBS check.

Note on Sponsorship: We regret that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Therefore, candidates must possess valid authorisation to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship.

Location

Taunton

Salary

£10,431 (26,078.00 FTE)

Free parking
Sick pay
Health and wellbeing insurance plan

Arc holds a Silver Standard Investors in People Award and is committed to providing a supportive workplace, learning and development opportunities and an inclusive environment.

Contact

To apply:
For a full list of our essential and desirable criteria, please download our job description below.
If the role is right for you, please complete the application form and return it to [e-mail].
We will not be accepting applications without a completed application form.
Please include the job title as your email subject so we know the role you’re interested in.
We reserve the right to close the job early as we will be viewing all applications as we receive them.

Downloads

Download Job Description
Download Application Form