What you will do as part of our team
- Providing a specialist advice and advocacy service to the homeless guests of our services, which include partner day centres and night shelters through the winter season.
- Employing creative thinking and practices to ensure that guests are supported and motivated to achieve their goals.
- Attending appointments with guests occasionally when needed
- Referring and signposting guests to accommodation providers, health services and other relevant internal and external support services, as necessary
- Maintaining good communication with the Managers of our partnered Drop-in Centres, Glass Door colleagues and local statutory and non-statutory services.
- Attending meetings with the casework team, external service providers and partner organisations when required
- Collating statistics and outcome measurements of the casework service for both internal and external use
- Maintaining a wel-organised and easily accessible administration system for the casework programme in line with relevant legislation (e.g. GDPR)
- Managing a small casework budget
- Undertaking any other duties, as required by the charity
Person specification
Essential
- At least one year experience of working one-on-one and assessing the needs of homeless people or similar disadvantaged client groups
- Empathetic attitude to homeless and vulnerably housed people
- Up-to-date knowledge of the welfare issues and legislation affecting homeless people
- Knowledge of relevant support services available to homeless people, particularly in West London
- Confident approach to, and experience of, dealing with challenging behaviour
- Ability to maintain good relationships with colleagues and external service providers
- Highly organised with strong time-management skills
- Ability to keep clear and up-to-date case records
- Experience and competent in MS Office packages
- Ability to work independently and take the initiative to make important decisions
- Flexible and supportive team member with excellent communication skills
- Ability to adhere to and implement Health & Safety, HR and operational policies
- Understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities
- For night shelter caseworkers, willingness to work a minimum of one evening per week
- This post will require an enhanced DBS check prior and during employment
Desirable
- Ability to speak Polish, Romanian or other Eastern European languages
- Experience of working alongside volunteers
