Rough Sleeper Support & Resettlement Officer x 2 posts. Ref: 56-25

Job summary

Description of duties

• To provide a range of support to clients in temporary accommodation, an outreach service for rough sleepers or those likely to be rough sleeping, across the district of Breckland. This includes verification of new rough sleepers, facilitating drop-in sessions, welfare benefits advice, tenancy support and to work with other agencies to promote and safeguard the welfare of clients in temporary accommodation.
• To establish and maintain contact with residents in temporary accommodation liaising with Housing Solutions Officers and other agencies to ensure any support needs are identified. To facilitate reconnections for rough sleepers to the services and areas most appropriate for them.
• To signpost residents to appropriate support agencies to ensure effective tenancy sustainment and intervene where necessary to ensure that residents have appropriate support and advice to claim benefits.
• Perform robust assessments relating to the clients housing and resettlement needs to guarantee referrals are made to the most appropriate agency to ensure the required support is provided such as substance misuse, welfare rights and immigration services.
• To make subjective and objective complex judgements to arrive at logical solutions based on customers housing circumstances using a client centred approach to access the most appropriate ongoing accommodation and housing options. Supporting those in temporary accommodation with the focus on preventing repeat homelessness.
• Carry out regular checks that residents are correctly banded on the Housing Register and are bidding through Key Select, encouraging them to bid and supporting those who need additional help to do so.
• Support residents to access supported accommodation where the Council does not have an ongoing accommodation duty, including making referrals to specialist supported housing and where necessary accompanying residents to interviews for accommodation.
• To support clients with maximising income, claiming benefits, eligibility issues (i.e. NRPF), debt management, accessing education, employment, and training, etc.
• Practical help with setting up a new home including help to arrange and attend viewings, secure funding for furniture and fittings, white goods, setting up utilities, moving in, support with budget planning and ongoing regular support to maintain the accommodation. 
• To carry out interventions when a tenancy is at risk of breaking down including eviction from the family home or friends and/or negotiating with private sector or social housing landlords to prevent homelessness wherever possible.
• To liaise with accommodation providers in relation to any issues relating to resident's behaviour and provide support where necessary to ensure residents understand the consequences of any breach of accommodation conditions including in relation to the Council's ongoing duties towards them.
• Identify and manage risk presented to self, colleagues and service users using appropriate preventative and recording tools in order to identify and reduce possible future risk and adhere to lone working procedures.
• Assist the Rough Sleeper Support and Resettlement Team Leader with the co-ordination and implementation of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) including checking weather forecast and attending SWEP accommodation to support the providers and liaise with service users as required. 
• To ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement and to keep up to date with policies and procedures on a national and local level aimed at reducing rough sleeping.
• To be responsible for keeping and maintaining up to date and accurate client records, making file notes and liaising with other officers as necessary. To be able to compose, deliver, and be held accountable for the production of information, data collection and accurate records to enable managers to inform MHCLG, internal and external partners of the current caseload and outcomes.
• To demonstrate good practice of the Council's safeguarding procedures and policies. To promote safeguarding awareness with service users and multi-disciplinary colleagues. Keeping up to date with current safeguarding guidance and practice and to take a positive risk-taking approach to ensure the well-being of vulnerable people.
• Adopt a flexible working pattern, including early-morning and evening outreach, to engage rough sleepers and maintain contact with current caseload.
• The post holder will be required to meet the physical and travel/mobility requirements of the post. It is essential to maintain a vehicle for use within and outside the district in accordance with Council policy and to make home and out of office visits, often at short notice, as required.
• The post holder will be required to communicate with clients, rough sleepers, members of the public, colleagues within Housing and other departments, elected members, registered providers and other landlords, voluntary and statutory agencies. This may include using translation services where needed.
• Responsible for Council provided laptop, mobile phone and any other IT devices provided.
• To attend training and development opportunities to ensure knowledge and skills are maintained and are current.
• To undertake all other responsibilities expected of the post.

This job description is not exhaustive.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service, in consultation with the post holder as detailed in your Contract of Employment.