Job info	Job info details
Job title	Hostel Support Worker
Strategic team/Directorate	Adults and Community Services
Service	Community & Customer Services
Business unit	Community Safety
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Hostel Team Leader
Accountable to (line manager)	Hostel Manager
Salary grade	F
JE ref	ADC32

1. Key purpose of job

• To provide housing related support at Leonard Stocks Centre Hostel, providing a safe and secure short-term accommodation environment for all residents who have had experience of are potentially homeless.
• To prepare residents with the relevant skills to enable them to succeed when moving on to more permanent accommodation.
• To assist our most complex and vulnerable clients into relevant support services where need has been identified.
• To ensure effective communication across relevant teams to ensure a coordinated delivery of supportive or other interventions that meet the needs of rough sleepers and address other relevant community safety concerns. In particular to work closely with the Housing Options Team, Local RSL’s, RSI team and all related partners and stakeholders.
• Leonard Stocks Centre play a central role in Torbay’s temporary housing provision, facilitating support and effective moves into longer term sustainable accommodation.
• To improve outcomes, including general wellbeing, for people with multiple and complex needs.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Working in a team to deliver a safe and high-quality environment for people to temporarily reside and access any relevant supportive assistance.
• All persons leaving the hostel will move into longer-term accommodation suitable for their needs and sustainable within the resources available to them.
• That all residents will have their needs met, strengths recognised, and self-determination respected.
• Provision of a service that is integrated into system delivery across agencies.
• Move on hostel residents to free up rooms for those experiencing street homelessness. Supporting them to move on into long term accommodation and ensure the appropriate ongoing support is given to support their transition. 
• Targeted intervention focusing on engaging with rough sleepers and those most excluded with complex needs to prevent homelessness.
• Reduced demand on Housing Options and associated services.
• Improved safety, wellbeing, access to / maintenance of accommodation and engagement with services. Reduced social isolation, vulnerability and risk of harm.
• Maintenance of accurate and up to date information of Torbay’s rough sleeping population and bespoke plans of working with them to enable the best response to identified need.
• More effective partnership working by the implementation of effective working arrangements and information sharing across relevant teams.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• Working in a team supporting people who have been sleeping rough and those in supported housing in identifying and progressing their strengths and personal goals.
• Working with the Hostel Manager and Team Leaders, identify users’ individual support needs and, through consultation and agreement with the user (and, where appropriate, their Care Manager), devise and implement suitable support plans to ensure that identified support needs are met.
• To carry out risk assessments as and when necessary due to the changing needs and aspirations of users. 
• Work in a trauma-informed way as part of the housing related support service and hostel experience.
• Ensure residents understand their licence agreement, their rights and obligations, and report any breaches to the Team Leaders/Hostel Manager.
• Provide appropriate support for residents preparing to move-on to greater independence, including support through the move and liaison with relevant support agencies who will e supporting people in their new homes.
• Support residents to apply for housing benefit and set up arrangements to pay their personal service charges.
• To work on a rota basis covering both day and night shifts through the week, including weekends.
• Liaise with other housing, health and social care professionals, benefits, welfare and advocacy agencies, and other landlords as appropriate.
• Support the Manager with day-to-day management of the building, including health and safety, reporting of maintenance issues, ensuring that regular inspections (internal and external) are completed and monitored.
• Contribute to the protection of residents from abuse, and support residents who have been victims of abuse or are at risk of abuse.
• Support the Manager to seek out views from residents on service improvements.
• Advocate for residents in all aspects of housing related support as appropriate. 
• Monitor non-payment of rent and take action in line with the agreed policy and procedure on arrears and sign post to debt counselling services where appropriate.
• To work in partnership with other support agencies who may be conducting work from the premises or be part-based there to enhance residents’ access to services, activities or community connection.
• To support the Manager to improve and maintain relationships with local residents and businesses.
• Post holders may also be working with rough sleepers who are not-resident in Torbay assisting in the provision of Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) in Torbay. 
• Work with clients seeking support, by developing a holistic approach to care planning and risk management and working in collaboration with other services to assess their needs and identify work towards individual goals ensuring an integrated approach towards support and risk management.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• None.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Supervision of volunteers within the Hostel Service. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Primary base will be within the Leonard Stocks Hostel.
• Work will involve working with residents that have complex needs and may be volatile. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical effort.

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Normal office and agile working equipment.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• Devon and Cornwall Police, National Probation Service, local businesses and business forums, Torbay Community Development Trust, local 3rd sector homeless organisations and faith groups across Torbay, local GP surgeries, local Pharmacies, MCN Alliance Partners, NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay Hospital, DWP, Job Centre, BCHA, Clinical Commissioning Group. 

Internal

• Colleagues within Community Safety Department (particularly Housing Options and ASB and Vulnerability Team), Public Health, Councillors, Torbay Development Agency, Adult Social Care, Safeguarding Adults Team. 

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• This post is office based at The Leonard Stocks Centre Hostel but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Hostel Support Worker
Strategic team/Directorate	Adults and Community Services
Service	Community & Customer Services
Business unit	Community Safety

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Good communication and IT skills.
• Listens and communicates effectively.
• Basic numeracy & reasoning skills. 
• Courteous & respectful to all customers. 
• To be able to communicate with clarity, tact and purpose in all relevant situations especially those of a sensitive and emotional nature.
• Ability to work well with colleagues for the team purpose. 
• Ability to work proactively and responsibly at all times to protect vulnerable persons. 
• Ability to work on instruction & prioritise work independently. 
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post. 
• Ability to establish positive relationships with partners generating confidence and respect and be an advocate for clients. 

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Evidence of engaging resident views to improve practice. 

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Understanding and commitment to Torbay Council Values.
• Good understanding of the benefits system including housing benefits.
• Thorough knowledge of equalities legislation.
• Good understanding of protection and safeguarding people from abuse.
• Thorough knowledge of substance misuse and/or mental health issues.

Desirable knowledge

• Thorough understanding of safeguarding legislation.
• Knowledge of care and support systems and partnership working.
• Thorough understanding of domestic abuse and sexual violence policy.
• Understanding of Trauma Informed approaches to supporting people. 
• Understanding of the housing pathways for single vulnerable people in Torbay. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Experience of working with people who have support needs (This may include care of family members, voluntary work or paid employment).
• Some level of experience of working with people with mental health and/or substance misuse issues.
• Experience of providing low level advice and guidance. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Working within a homeless hostel or similar facility.
• Knowledge of policies and procedures related to housing management and support service functions including Health and Safety risk assessment.
• Worked with people with mental health and/or substance misuse issues. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Good standard of general education, including GCSEs in Maths and English (or comparable). 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Relevant qualification in housing or social care.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and adults.
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
• Ability to accommodate shift patterns.