Job description
Housing and Support Coordinator
Responsible to: Housing and Support Manager
Responsible for: A team which includes Housing and Support Officers, and Housing and Support Assistants
Hours of Work: 40 hours on a shift rota including weekends
Work Location: YMCA Surbiton; although may be required to work at any
YMCA SPG location
Job Purpose
- To provide supervision to the Housing and Support team members for which you have responsibility at your site
- Support the Housing and Support Manager to deliver a whole-team approach to the provision of Progression opportunities in conjunction with the Progression Team Manager
- Have a small caseload of high-level risk or needs residents
- Work collaboratively with other departments – in particular, Facilities and
Property Management and other community operations teams (Health and
Wellbeing, and Children Youth and Families) to deliver the best service for our residents
- Support the Housing and Support Manager with the delivery of Housing and Support in your service, and in particular – that rent and service charge income is maximised
- To be responsible for the Safeguarding of residents at your service
- To be responsible for maximising housing occupancy and minimising voids, leading on all referrals and the induction of new residents, acting as the link for partner agencies.
- Support the Housing and Support Manager with the compliance with
Tenancy and License conditions, and deal with any anti-social behaviour, making appropriate decisions in line with the YMCA policies and procedures.
Organisation Context
YMCA St Paul’s Group (SPG) is the largest YMCA in Europe and a leading provider of supported housing in London and beyond, providing a safe place to stay to about 1,200 young and vulnerable people each night.
We provide housing and support to those in need of a place to call home and support them with services that empower them to build a positive future.
We support children, young people, and families to be safe, healthy, connected, and confident.
We bring people together by encouraging them to be healthy, physically, and mentally.
We help nurture an environment where people of all faiths and none can understand and express the love of God.
We empower our residents, staff, and users by providing them with excellent service and welcoming properties where they can thrive.
We enable the Charity to respond to the future with an equipped and empowered workforce that is flexible and agile.
The vision of YMCA St Paul’s group is to empower young people by providing the resources and support so they can thrive. We wish to create inclusive, active and healthy communities where everyone can flourish.
Our approach is informed by our Christian faith and we work with fellow community collaborators to see this vision realised. Our core values underpin the way that we deliver our work, and our aim is to create an inclusive culture where our staff, residents and customers feel a sense of belonging and can be their authentic selves.
Duties and Responsibilities
Supervision
- Support the Housing and Support Manager to deliver the housing and support services effectively and efficiently at your site, which includes – o Recruitment and induction of the Housing and Support team members o Providing line management, motivational leadership, mentoring and coaching to the staff team, ensuring clarity of direction, effective communication, and personal and professional development o Conduct regular supervision meetings and annual performance reviews to maximise staff performance; identify training needs where necessary o Holding regular team meetings to ensure good communication and best practice is disseminated, and encouraging a cohesive staff team who support one another’s roles
- After agreeing with the Housing and Support Manager – take proactive performance management action where staff are not performing to expectations or requirements
- Deliver mandatory or compliance training to the Housing and Support staff, including local procedures and processes
- Have delegated responsibility for rotas, staff cover, and absence for sickness and annual leave
- Support the completion and timely submission of all HR processes using our
CORE-HR IT system
- Positively recognise and effectively utilise the skills which individuals bring to the staff team
- Support the Housing and Support team to
Housing Management
- For your caseload of high risk or needs residents – o Be responsible for the intake of residents, undertaking all required paperwork and ensuring that the licence agreement and all relevant policies and procedures fully and clearly explained o To be responsible for the monitoring of all rent accounts ensuring that both personal and housing benefit elements are paid regularly – taking early intervention and prevention action to minimise rent arrears, only taking enforcement action when necessary o Maximise housing occupancy and minimising voids by taking proactive action, including void inspections, and facilitating referrals, interviews and assessments o Proactively investigate and address all cases of anti-social behaviour
- Ensure work is delivered collaboratively with all other departments, especially the Property and Facilities team, and other community operations teams (Health and Wellbeing, and Children, Youth and Families)
Support
- For your caseload of high risk or needs residents
- Carry out Outcome Stars assessments and collaboratively create person-centred actions – using a Psychologically Informed approach
- Review and update assessments and actions as led by residents at appropriate intervals in accordance with policies and procedures
- Be responsible for monitoring client’s welfare, including physical and mental health, substance misuse and to intervene with appropriate strategies as needed
- Liaise, advise, and advocate with the client to external agencies
- Carry out Facilities Checks and Wellbeing Checks as required in accordance with policy and procedures
- Ensure work is delivered collaboratively with all other departments – in particular Property and Facilities team, and other community operations teams (Health and Wellbeing, and Children, Youth and Families)
- Ensure that Safeguarding procedures are followed, taking action to report concerns proactively in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
- Work in partnership with the Progression team to ensure residents maximise their engagement with Education, Training, Employment and Volunteering (ETEV) and Engagement and Empowerment activities o Support residents to establish a greater awareness of the community they live in and their ability to live independently
Housing Management Coordination
- Support the Housing and Support Manager to ensure the highest quality housing management is offered to all residents, which is delivered efficiently and effectively, as delegated, which includes;
- Proactively investigate and address all cases of anti-social behaviour
- Take the lead on ensuring that Facilities Checks and Wellbeing Checks as required in accordance with policy and procedures
- Ensure the smooth running of all housing management including occupancy, licence compliance, voids management, rent collection and dealing with anti-social behaviour, and management of evictions
- Oversee the process of taking referrals, interviewing applicants for housing, and induction of successful applicants, reviews, and on- going support
- Oversee the income of rents, service charge rents, support contract income and invoicing procedures, in conjunction with the Rent and Tenancy Administration Team
- Ensure that risk management within the team is embedded and is of high quality, ensuring that risk reviews are undertaken when required
- Support the Progression team to facilitate resident meetings and ensure actions are implemented and minutes distributed
- Ensure reports and statistics are forwarded to the Regional Housing and Support Manager or to other
- Supply information and feedback to the Housing and Support manager to facilitate Bad Debt and Debt Recovery Agency reports for RTAT, including information on the reasons for the debts
Support Coordination
- Support the Housing and Support Manager to ensure the highest quality support is offered to all residents, which is delivered efficiently and effectively, as delegated, which includes –
- Ensuring records of support hours are provided, and records of referrals and acceptances and refusals are kept and monitored
- Monitor the quality and quantity of the Outcome Star assessments and action plans of your team members
- Gather and provide regular feedback to the Housing and Support Manager received from residents relating to the standard of support provided and used to improve performance
- Support the facilitation of move on arrangements for all residents, including referrals and selection to the Association’s move on properties
- Liaise with the Local Authority’s allocations teams, attending meetings and case conferences to discuss referrals and issues relating to current supported residents – as required by the Housing and Support Manager
- Ensure Core returns information is completed within deadlines
- Maximise opportunities with other housing providers (registered and private) to establish move on opportunities for our residents
- Maximise the uptake and engagement with the Progression opportunities afforded through the Progression Coach teams
- Take overall responsibility for the intake of residents, ensuring that the Housing Support team produce all required paperwork and ensure that the Licence or Tenancy agreements and all relevant policies and procedures fully and clearly explained
Finance and Budgetary Management
- Support the Housing and Support Manager to produce information that enables management of the local budget and informs management accounting processes
General
- Ensure that Digitally and Financially Inclusive approaches are taken with the provision of housing management, support, and customer services
- Ensure all YMCA St Paul’s Group policies and procedures are adhered to and reviewed as required, involving residents
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation including Safeguarding,
Confidentiality, Data Protection and Health and Safety guidelines and policies
- Oversee all information provided to statutory agencies and the police
- Undertake all duties regarding the Association’s Equal Opportunities and
Diversity Policy and other policies and procedures adopted by the
Association
- Respect the Christian ethos of the YMCA and uphold its values
- Undertake any other duties as requested by line manager
Scope and Limits of Authority
Working within Housing Benefit legislation, the provisions of the Supporting People contract, and locally agreed policies and procedures, the post holder is responsible for ensuring a comprehensive Housing Management and Support service.
The postholder is also responsible for the issue and recording of the Resident
Discretionary fund.
Housing and Support Manager
Person Specification/Key Competences
KNOWLEDGE
Essential Desirable
Understanding of the problems facing Have an understanding of the YMCA and it’s homeless people and homelessness services issues
Two years minimum previous line Knowledge of excellent customer care management experience delivery, meeting standards outlined in contracts
Have a good working knowledge of social housing and understanding of
Supporting People
Understanding of how to enact safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults and children
Have a working knowledge of the
Welfare and Benefits system – including Universal Credits
EXPEREINCE
APTITUDES AND SKILLS
To have a sound experience of dealing Experience of handling Housing Benefit and with Housing Benefit claims and other Universal Credit appeals social security benefits
Experience of dealing with emergencies,
challenging situations and people
Experience of managing staff
Experience of evaluating working tools and systems
APTITIDUES AND SKILLS
Essential Desirable
Able to produce reports and present work analytically
Able to develop and maintain positive working relationships with others
Able to form non-judgemental and constructive relationships, especially with vulnerable people, whilst holding clear boundaries
Good organisational skills, being able to work under pressure, to prioritize and meet deadlines
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Able to confront difficult situations and reconcile different viewpoints
Able to proficiently use IT systems, including working with databases, Microsoft office, email, internet
Able to work occasional unsocial hours, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays
Able to work effectively in an Equal Opportunities & Diversity environment
Able to respect the Christian ethos of the YMCA and uphold its values
Housing and Support Coordinator
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Salary
£31,895
Hours of Work
40 hours per week, generally worked within office hours, Monday to Friday, with occasional evening and weekend work
Annual Leave
Commencing at 25 days per annum plus public holidays (for five day per week workers; otherwise pro-rata).
Conditions of Appointment
Subject to satisfactory references, medical clearance, Disclosure & Barring Service check and verification of ability to work in the United Kingdom. Also required to wear staff badge, and where appropriate, supplied uniform.
Probation Period
Six months.
Continuity of Service
For those already employed within the YMCA Federation, continuity of service will be recognised for pension and annual leave entitlement, but not statutory rights.
Notice Period
One week during the probation period and then a minimum of one calendar month.
Pension
Subject to certain criteria set by Government, you will be auto-enrolled into our chosen workplace pension scheme. The default position on Auto-Enrolment will be for your contributions to be made on a Salary Exchange basis, but you will have the option to opt-out of this arrangement. In respect of these Salary Exchange arrangements, you agree that your gross pay will be reduced by an amount equal to your Salary Exchange contributions.
Other Benefits
Free use of the health and fitness facilities; a staff discount in restaurants.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £31,895.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Flexitime
- Free or subsidised travel
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- Life insurance
- On-site gym
- Store discount
Schedule:
- Flexitime
- Monday to Friday
- Overtime
- Weekend availability
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Surbiton, KT6 4NG: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 30/04/2023