Community Outreach Worker - West Lothian, United Kingdom - Open Door Accommodation Project

Description

The post holder will work as part of Open Door Accommodation Scotland on their 'Open Door Community Outreach Service' and they will contribute to the provision of a range of flexible services to meet the needs of individuals/households threatened by homelessness & during the transition from temporary accommodation, emergency accommodation, leaving care or custody, to sustaining a permanent tenancy and living as independently as possible including accessing training or employment.

The Community Outreach Officer will deliver a front line service to young people who often by the very nature of their circumstances are vulnerable.

It is therefore vital that the post holder have a positive flexible approach and be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills in communication and practical skills to provide tenancy sustainment and support to individuals assessed in housing need.

• The post holder will initiate contact with young people who may be in crisis and do not recognise their vulnerabilities. These individuals may struggle to engage with offers of support and it is the Outreach Officer's role to use patience and persistence to gain the trust of the young person in order that support is accepted.
• The Outreach Officer will undertake contact with customers who have either presented as homeless or are at risk of homelessness this will also include those who may not be classed as homeless. They will meet in locations convenient to the young person such as hostels, family/friend's homes, 'care of' addresses, council buildings etc. An assessment of risk will be completed to ensure staff safety wherever visits are made.
• The post holder will provide immediate practical support to individual/households such as mediation with friends/families/support networks, assistance with accessing benefits, referrals to foodbanks or whatever the customer requires at point of contact. This may include supporting them in the management of rent arrears or making arrangement for repayment plans.
• The Outreach Officer will be responsible for the completion of a needs led assessment and risk assessment for service users leading to delivery of full support plans which meet individual client need. The Outreach Worker will be required to record all information relating to young people onto computer based systems including 'Outcome Star' to timescale and ensure they are aware of the details recorded.
• Using a person centred model of support, the Outreach Officer will undertake regular visits to individuals who have been assessed as in housing need to provide practical assistance and promote the development of independent living skills which will assist the tenant to sustain both temporary & permanent accommodation, with the long term aim of them sustaining a home and being able to support themselves financially, including continuing their education or finding employment.
• The post holder will tailor a package of support to meet individual/household needs, acknowledging that all young people do not have the same needs and that these needs will remain static. This will include working with individuals who may be resistant to support in order to sustain their accommodation.
• Where required the Outreach Officer will provide an advocacy service for customers along with advice, support and assistance to all those in financial hardship striving to maximise their income and ability to sustain their tenancies. This may involve a multiagency approach in which you may be required to advocate on behalf of the individual on issues relevant to the sustainment of their tenancy
• The Outreach Officer will conduct monitoring visits to ensure that individual/household are able to sustain the tenancy and that support needs have not changed. Where necessary amend support package or procure additional support. This may include measures to prevent underutilisation or abandonment of temporary accommodation and ensuring property is maintained to an acceptable standard as outlined within the tenancy agreement.
• The post holder may be required to work in partnership with other agencies to resolve complex issues and participate in case conferences to achieve sustainable resolutions to meet the need of the customer and wider community. This includes contributing to Protection of vulnerable Adults / Child Protection reports and attendance at multi agency case conferences, with manager in accordance with agreed standards. All staff must report any protection issues to the service manager and relevant agencies.
• The Outreach Officer will develop professional working relationships with local housing offices, West Lothian Councils Access2Employment,