Depaul: Resettlement & Tenancy Sustainment Worker - Cork
Depaul believes that everyone should have a place to call home and a stake in their community. Our aim is to work with those who are socially excluded and marginalised by providing a quality led service in order to produce the best possible outcomes for those accessing our services. We strive to empower our service users to make choices and decisions about the way they live their lives. We work in partnership with central and local government, housing associations and other non-governmental organisations.
Depaul is an equal opportunities employer, we offer a standard 35 hour working week, generous leave entitlements and a pension scheme. We support all staff with regular supervision and core training.
Depaul wishes to recruit to the following role:
Resettlement & Tenancy Sustainment Worker
Cork
Fixed term 1 year – 35 hours per week
Salary €37,109.46 per annum
1. Role
This role offers a fantastic opportunity to be a member of a multi-disciplined team using holistic approaches. To support service users identified as requiring resettlement support to move out of homelessness. Working within the principal of harm minimisation where residents receive a high degree of care, support and dignity, Depaul has a commitment to service user participation and to empowering residents to manage their own lives. This role works across a 7-day week rota, and commences with increased annual leave days and other added benefits.
2. Key Areas of Responsibility
The core pillars of work for this service are:
- To source, procure, access and deliver appropriate private rented accommodation by engaging with and developing links with landlords and the relevant property letting agencies.
- To ensure that service user, have a clear support plans for independent living
- Focus on post-settlement support of Service Users including the provision of a floating support service once they move out to ensure new tenancies are sustained
- In partnership with service-users assess their post-settlement, tenancy sustainment and social integration needs and develop & implement post-Settlement Support Plans. Review the progress
- To work jointly with the Homeless HAP Unit of the Homeless Executive to swiftly secure the rental of the property where appropriate.
- To liaise with Cork City Council Allocations and other agencies in relation to details of the household looking for private rented accommodation, including liaising with NGO key workers to arrange appointments for client households.
- To ensure effective working relationships as part of a team led by the CCC Project Manager and working on behalf of the sector to delivery access to tenancies
- To negotiate tenancy arrangements and rent levels with landlords and agents
- To ensure all necessary documentation is obtained from landlords and agents to complete the HAP application form
- To arrange appointments for viewings by key worker and service users and where required, accompany service users and key workers to viewings;
- To keep detailed file records on the outcomes of contact and meetings with landlords and agents on the agreed IT system
- To provide timely reports as requested
- To perform administrative and other general duties as requested
- To ensure that all intervention are recorded accurately according to Depaul standards (including OTIS, PASS)
- Ensuring excellent health and safety standards are maintained
The above list is not exhaustive; additional areas of responsibility may be added over time and flexibility to cover for other staff roles is required from time to time.
3. Person Requirements
- Social Studies/Case management Accredited Qualification (Essential)
- A third level qualification in the area of social care or a related area (Desirable)
- At least one year of working, as keyworker/case manager with service users, with complex needs (Essential)
- At least 6 months’ direct experience of collaborative and interagency working (essential).
- At least one year of regular use of IT systems with a good proficiency in Excel, Word & Salesforce (essential).
- Experience in the private rented housing market, including experience liaising with property owners, private landlords and representing property /letting agents
- An understanding of the Housing Led/First Strategy and familiarity with the Pathways to Home Strategy
- Knowledge of relevant housing schemes such as rent supplement, housing assistance payment, local authority social allocations and voluntary housing.
- Understanding of why people become homeless or may be at risk of homelessness and the issues they present with, particularly in relation to substance misuse.
- Experience of advocating on behalf of service users with regards to moving alternative accommodation or support programs.
- Respect for the values and beliefs of the DP and its founding partners
- A commitment to and an understanding of equal opportunities and diversity issues
- A commitment to high standards of health and safety good practise.
- Commitment to the provision of quality standards of services for service users.
- A level of independence and self-motivation.