Floating Support Officer jobs

Job Purpose:

To manage a caseload of clients with multiple needs focused on a flexible, person-centred model of support, whilst ensuring contractual requirements are met for short and longer term clients

Key Responsibilities

Contract Delivery

· Deliver a fully mobile and flexible service for clients with multiple complex needs, working across multiple sites based on the needs of the client

· Assertively manage conflict, with a personalised approach, and maintain a balanced approach to risk, as well as being engaging, inspiring and assisting to improve individuals’ social integration

· Develop and sustain effective partnerships, and work in a collaborative way with all agencies and providers, ensuring a seamless service delivery focused on the client

· Represent Launchpad at external meetings, such as the People’s Solution Group where clients at risk of exploitation are discussed, case reviews and forums in a positive, professional manner, ensuring the needs of clients are the key focus

· Initiating case conferences and multi-agency meetings with a focus around complex needs clients

· Influence partners with a focus on homelessness prevention and creative, dynamic, person centred outcomes

· Where dual support is in place with other providers, reflect where responsibility lies within joint support plans, as well as attend joint reviews and Care Co-ordination Meetings (CCM)

· Build trusting, trauma informed and recovery focused relationships and enable clients to make empowered and informed choices about their future

· Develop appropriate tracking tools to ensure support is completed and cases are closed within contract timescales

· Work collectively with the team to meet contract requirements with regard to key performance Indicators

· Manage a caseload of approximately 15 -20 clients, including long term clients, utilising time effectively to ensure that all cases are given the appropriate support based on client needs

· Lead and represent Launchpad as the Offending Team Lead by attending relevant meetings, sourcing training, delivering resettlements surgeries and building strong partnerships

· Develop a model / package of support around holistic needs for each client, with the support of volunteers and mentor.

· Where dual support is in place with other providers, reflect where responsibility lies within joint support plans, as well as attend joint reviews and Care Co-ordination Meetings (CCM)

· Initiating case conference, multi-agency meetings with a focus around complex needs clients

· To lead on specialist drop in surgeries, collaborating with external stakeholders. Maintain accurate data demonstrating robust outcomes, using feedback forms ensuring these are recorded on the tracker.

· Obtain and use feedback gathered from clients to improve service delivery

· Supervision of volunteers/mentors according to the needs of the business

· To lead on external drop in surgeries

· Hold and coordinate the most complex and potentially high-risk cases across the service.

· Analyse outcomes and emerging trends and make recommendations for service development to manager

Client Support

· Carry out assessments in the community, over the phone, at the client’s home or in the office according to priority need, and commence a support plan with all immediate interventions put in place, based on the needs of the client

· Case manage in the community, co-produce SMART, holistic support plans and risk assessments with the aim to reduce dependence on services, with a high standard of recording

· Assertively motivate clients to achieve their goals, and ensure that clients’ expectations are effectively managed to remain independent

· Ensure all support is person-centred, and treats clients as individuals, promotes their dignity, independence and which meets their wider social needs

· All plans should use language that is inclusive and strengths based with the use of ‘approach’ rather than ‘avoidance’ goals

· Ensure all clients are effectively signposted to opportunities to reduce social isolation, and are given the opportunity to attend group activity and/or Education, Training, and Employment opportunities

· Ensure all support works in a collaborative way with other services and providers, and clients engage and have access to all specialist providers

· Advocate on behalf of clients and ensure equality of access to services, this could include attending court or DWP appointments

· Ensure clients are focused on sustaining their accommodation, sourcing accommodation and/or supported with the skills for resettlement

· Provide an effective support closure process, according to clients’ needs, and ensure that they have the information and advice to sustain their independence

· Contact original referrer on closure notifying why support has ended and achieved outcomes

· Effectively allocate time across the cases and demonstrate the impact of additional support or intervention by being independently solution focused.

General

· Put into practice the strategic aims of the service and support colleagues to implement change

· Put in to practice the client participation and consultation strategy

· Assist in the promotion of awareness of homelessness and the needs of homeless people in the wider community

· Assist with the development of policies, procedures and practices in relation to the Floating Support Service especially in relation to complex needs clients

· Keep up to date with relevant changes in legislation, funding and other external issues especially related to clients with multiple needs and ensure that the service responds accordingly and delivers ‘best practice’ standards

· To attend and participate in team meetings, reflective practice, group briefings, 1to1’s, annual reviews, internal and external meetings, qualifications and training courses where appropriate

· Proactively promote the service / Launchpad within Reading to other organisations and partners

· Assist with the development of policies, procedures and practices in relation to the service, especially with regard to clients with complex needs

· Observe and work within Launchpad’s values of Respect, Empower, Integrity and Influence

· Operate within the framework of policies and procedures within Launchpad

· Work flexible hours according to the need of the contract and customers

· Any other duties commensurate with the role

Finance and Administration

· Keep accurate and timely records on case management system which are of an exceptional quality according to the contract requirement and targets

· Ensure all records and files are maintained and held securely and that the confidentiality of information is upheld

· Complete all financial transactions according to Launchpad’s procedures

Staff Development

· Ensure the team operates within legal and regulatory frameworks and meets the standards set out in Launchpad policies and procedures.

· Actively contribute to team meetings, reflective practice, group briefings, 1to1’s, annual reviews, internal and external meetings, qualifications and graining courses where appropriate.

· Provide consultation and case guidance to colleagues managing complex cases

· Act as a subject matter expert for complex needs practice

Person Profile

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours

· Professional, approachable, confident and empathetic manner whilst maintaining appropriate boundaries

· Ability to engage clients, work with challenging behaviour and coordinate appropriate interventions

· Maintain a positive, proactive attitude towards colleagues, other professionals and all client work

· Ability to influence at senior levels both internally and externally.

· Ability to record and report work to a high standard, concisely and effectively, using IT systems

· Resilience to deal with longer term clients and maintain motivation levels

· Ability to reflect and learn from situations with an openness to receiving constructive feedback

· Ability to manage multiple and conflicting priorities and adapt work plans accordingly

· Ability to assess and recognise client support needs and risks and identify appropriate interventions

· Work in a way which promotes client independence and demonstrates equality of service to all

· Work on own initiative using safe working practices

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure

· Willing and able to work as part of a team and be supportive to your colleagues

· Knowledge of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

· Good understanding of welfare benefits and Welfare Reform

· Excellent understanding of housing and homelessness legislation, housing law and complex support needs including substance misuse and offender management

· Good understanding of IT software (Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Outlook)

· Previous use of PSOCC software package (Desirable)

Experience

· Minimum of 2 years’ experience of supporting vulnerable clients; also desirably those with complex needs

· Experience of multiple needs and working in a multiagency solution focused way

· Experience of supervising, coaching and motivating volunteers and peer mentors

· Previous experience of working with high support, single homeless clients and families with multiple support needs

· Demonstrates good professional relationship building at all levels

· Experience of networking and influencing housing providers and/or agencies

Education, Qualifications and Training

· GCSEs including English and Maths at grade C or above

· Housing or social care related qualification or professional qualification in substance misuse, counselling, psychology or social work (Desirable)

Pay: £31,411.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Sick pay

Experience:

• supporting vulnerable clients: 2 years (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person