Housing Options Officer Ymca - London, United Kingdom - Zetec Services Limited

Description

We work across some of London's most deprived boroughs in Islington, Harringay, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barnet and Hackney as well as the City of London.

The housing project currently provides short term temporary accommodation for single homeless vulnerable young people aged 18 to 35 from a variety of backgrounds including: offending, mental health, domestic violence and alcohol & drug abuse.

The aim of this post is to provide a direct housing and support needs service to vulnerable young people aged This post will assist young people to move on to independent living by providing quality information, advice and guidance service providing benefit support to prevent rent arrears or build up arrears, budgeting and life skills support, thus embedding a psychological informed environment.

This post requires close working with a range of agencies such as Floating Support, Housing Services, Housing Benefits and Children Services.

• To ensure interviews, assessment and movein with potential residents are carried out within the prescribed time limits and that the resident once accepted, is fully and carefully inducted into YLCAN.
• To conduct needs and risk assessments of residents, develop outcomefocused support plans with residents and complete all relevant movein tasks as assigned by management.
• Provide liaison and advocacy support for assigned key residents, ensure support plans and RAs are kept up to date.
• Cooperate with external agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the wider, holistic needs of residents are met.
• Ensure all incidents and complaints are reported and dealt with in line with organisations processes.
• To be the main source of benefit information, advice and guidance to residents.
• To conduct regular meetings using the Outcome Star with assigned caseload of young people to address: rent, license agreement, IA & G, resident involvement, life skills and moveon options.
• To make referrals to relevant agencies to ensure young people's housing and support needs are addressed including access to Floating Support or Chaplain.
• To be accountable and ensure all complaints, incidents of antisocial behaviour and harassment are fully investigated and dealt with and take appropriate enforcemen action to ensure effective resolution including legal remedies where necessary.
• Working closely and cooperatively with the maintenance team, ensure that repairs are reported in a timely manner
• To actively source and manage moveon opportunities for residents with housing providers and complete moveon referrals accordingly.
• Take lead to correctly and promptly administer all relevant documentation for the effective and efficient functioning of the housing team.
• Support the team in implementing the 'For Youth' accreditation and embedding a psychological informed environment.

• Provide a welcoming environment, providing support in settling new residents into the accommodation, support in maintaining the licence, developing domestic/life skills, developing social skills/behaviour management, advice, advocacy and liaison.
• Support in managing finances, budgeting and benefit claims, emotional support and general counselling, support in gaining access to other services, support in establishing social contacts and participation in activities in conjunction with the ETE Worker and Activities Strategy.
• Update relevant notes and risk assessments, support plans and daytoday actions with the prescribed database and keep all client information up to date. Set up and maintain relevant, key residents' files as directed as per policy and guidelines.
• To work with the Rent team to manage, feedback and report on all aspects of housing management arrears and income for your allocated residents. To engage with the Income team to deliver an effective service. Collect cash in accordance with cash handling procedures.
• To manage all aspects of antisocial behaviour for your allocated residents, this can include attending ASB panels and producing and delivering warning letters.

• Provide support in establishing personal safety and monitoring of health and wellbeing for residents. Provide support in maintaining the safety and security of the project, advice and support in relation to repairs and improvements to the project.
• Ensure that residents are aware of health and safety, security, policies and procedures. Deal with health, safety and security issues raised by staff members or residents, adhere to and support residents in understanding the procedures for reporting abuse or neglect. Report concerns of abuse and neglect issues to