Project Worker - Complex Needs

The successful candidate will be required to work 37.5 hours per week, working Monday - Sunday on a rota basis, covering early (8AM - 4PM) and late (2:30PM - 10:30PM) shifts.

Temporary cover is required for approximately 2-3 months and a possible extension due to performance.

In this position, you will be expected to;
- Hold a caseload of 8 key clients and conduct regular key working sessions resulting in agreed Support Plans which focus on supporting clients around substance misuse, developing independent living skills, planning move-on options and managing safeguarding concerns
- Complete comprehensive risk and needs assessments with clients who may be ambivalent about taking up support and who may have had difficult prior experiences with specialist services
- Respond to referrals within agreed timescales for both in-house referrals of existing service users and by supporting new scheme referrals via specialist input
- Identify care pathways and treatment options and support the acquisition of the skills needed to participate in treatment settings
- Coach service users, advocate on their behalf and make appropriate referrals to relevant specialist services
- Build and maintain effective relationships with all stakeholders, including other services, external agencies, treatment and accommodation providers, service user groups, peer-led groups, and mutual aid communities.
- Work with residents to maximise benefit entitlements and secure project income through the collection of rents and charges and the minimisation of arrears and void loss
- Assist residents to acquire budgeting skills and set up basic bank and/or savings accounts
- Ensure all voids are prepared and re-let in a timely manner to maximise income receivable from rents and charges
- Respond in a psychologically-informed way to the challenges posed by complex needs in a residential setting
- Monitor, record, report and follow up all maintenance issues and participate in housing management procedures, such as room checks, locality checks and Health and Safety checks

Please note: this role involves lone working.

To apply for this role, you must have;
- Experience of working with complex needs clients (including substance use, offending, mental health, street activity and anti-social behaviour, physical health, background of complex trauma) and a good understanding of the working methods of residential services delivering support and accommodation to them
- Experience working in supported accommodation services for adults and a solid understanding of trauma-informed approaches
- Experience delivering highly personalised assessment and casework, support planning, goal setting, advocacy and the ability to apply this and share with others
- Ability to be analytical in approach, respond calmly to crisis and deal promptly, effectively, safely and creatively to complex and challenging situations
- Understanding of the issues that typically disrupt progress in journeys towards independence, such as mental health, substance misuse, self-harm, domestic violence, anger management, learning impairment and frailty due to illness
- Understanding of the Strengths and Recovery Model and the ability to apply this within a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE)
- Ability to engage, support and motivate clients to progress through structured activities, group work and engagement with treatment providers and services
- Strong IT skills including the use of Microsoft Office and database recording systems to ensure accurate recording of support plans, risk assessments and case notes
- Ability to be confident, reliable and passionate about empowering clients to achieve positive outcomes in a structured and supportive environment
- Essential; previous use of Inform