Independent Living Officer (Help at Hand, YORK) Leeds, England
Job description
We have an exciting opportunity for an Independent Living Officer (Help at Hand) to join our Customer Independence team here at Yorkshire Housing on a 6-Months fixed term contract - based in the York area.
The main purpose of this role is to provide a high-quality person-centred support service, promoting independence and choice for customers around the our York area.
A bit about us
You might think of Yorkshire Housing as ‘just’ a housing provider, but we’re so much more than that. Yes, we own and manage nearly 20,000 homes (and counting) across Yorkshire and make it possible for current and future customers to have a place they’re proud to call home, but we’re also all about making a positive difference in people’s lives. Whether that’s helping people get on the property ladder, supporting with money coaching or enabling our older customers to continue to live independently. And to do that, we need to recruit the very best people.
What you'll be doing?
As an Independent Living Officer, you will carry out support visits to Help at Hand customers to support them to live independently in their own home. This will involve gaining knowledge and understanding of the customers’ needs and choices whilst also providing caring and sympathetic support that promotes their independence.
You'll regularly review needs and risk assessments, ensuring agreed outcomes are documented and actioned along with signposting or referring to external services as required. This could include liaising with healthcare and other professionals to facilitate their support.
In addition, you'll be able to install and test emergency alarms and telecare equipment as required along with ensuring customers understand and can use this technology. Records relating to this will need to be maintained.
Finally, an important aspect of the role is being able to respond to emergency calls for assistance, including out-of-hours standby service as per rota, taking action as appropriate - so an ability to undertake evenings and weekend work as required in order to meet the needs of the customers is crucial.
Interested? Here is what we need from you…
Ability to provide an exceptional level of customer service that promotes customer independence.
Ability to use your initiative, work under pressure and without direct supervision
Excellent organisation and time management skills
Understanding of Safeguarding
Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to communicate effectively within a wide range of people
IT competent and have experience of using Microsoft packages
Knowledge of services and opportunities available for older people
Full driving license and access to a car for business purposes
Previous experience of working with older people or adults requiring support is desirable.
So what’s in it for you?
In return we offer £22,992 plus £2,000 car allowance per annum , 25 days annual leave (rising annually to 30 days) plus Bank Holidays.
But that’s not all. We offer a reward package to suit everyone. At YH, you can claim back for prescriptions, eye tests and more with our cash plan, make the most of a variety of retail discounts and take advantage of our pension scheme where we’ll match your contributions up to 9%, just to name a few.
Our people’s health and wellbeing is one of our top priorities, and you can make the most of our readily available wellbeing support package. This includes access to a library of free fitness classes, as well as an instant My GP service and free counselling sessions with a trained professional.
At YH, we’re actively building a work environment that’s inclusive as well as diverse, where everyone can contribute their best work and be themselves. We believe difference is what makes us stronger and recognise the importance of our teams reflecting the communities we serve, so we welcome and encourage candidates from all backgrounds for this role.
If you need any support throughout the application process please contact our lovely recruitment team –
The fine print
The closing date for applications is the 10th of April, but the vacancy may close sooner than the closing date should a competitive candidate pool be identified, so please apply as soon as possible.
This is a 6-month opportunity. Due to the nature of this role, you must be able to commute to and around the York area but you also may need to occasionally operate across the entire Yorkshire region.
Please note if you are applying for this role internally you must inform your current line manager.
