Housing Advice Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Housing Advice Worker to join our homelessness service in Kent.

£26,077.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

This is a fixed term contract of 12 months.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Working within our Kent Domestic Abuse services, Tenancy Support Workers will provide resettlement support to customers who are moving on from refuge and domestic abuse tenancy support to community clients who have accessed the Sanctuary Scheme in West Kent.

Look Ahead operates trauma and psychologically informed approaches, ensuring that our customers benefit from being supported through strengths-based practices. Tenancy Support Workers share responsibility by ensuring that a holistic and cohesive model of customer support is embedded across Kent.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

Supporting community customers who have accessed the Sanctuary Scheme to remain in their properties and manage the risks associated with that.
Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers who are currently in refuge to make the transition to permanent accommodation smoother.
Supporting key customers to set personalised goals in the form of a move on Support Plan
Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking.'
Ensuring customers have full access to any move on welfare support by completing move on paperwork prior to customers move on date.
Liaising and building partnerships with local charities to support customers with move on items
Accompany customers to property viewings.
Helping to set up utilities for move on customers
Working proactively with the refuge and IDVA teams and referring any clients/customers to the IDVAs where required.
Completing Marac referrals for high risk community client.
Empowering customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits to which they are entitled
Proactive development of links with local statutory and voluntary organizations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community Mission & Values 'Working with people to make choices, achieve goals and take control of their live through high quality care, support and housing'
Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service
Develop links with private sector landlords, estate agents and other housing providers in order to source additional units and move on accommodation

For the full list, please see our website.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
Prefers working as part of a group or team
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you'll bring:

Essential:

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent experience in the social care/charity sector

Desirable:

Full Driving Licence and access to use of vehicle

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.