Job summary

6 month post

An excellent opportunity has become available for a highly motivated and passionate Housing Specialist to join Meadowfield Hospital.

Meadowfield is a purpose built acute mental health unit in Worthing, offering person-centered and individualised care to the people of Adur, Arun and Worthing. Meadowfield has 34 mixed gender beds for people of working age (Maple and Rowan Wards). We also have Larch Ward for people over the age of 65; all 3 wards operate with open doors. This is something we are incredibly proud of here at Meadowfield, and often contributes to positive comments about the atmosphere here on any of the wards.

This is an exciting opportunity for someoneto join a dedicated team of Nurses, Healthcare Assistants and Occupational Therapists that pride themselves on delivering high quality and care. You will be responsible for providing comprehensive housing related support services to vulnerable people aged 16+ who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless at the point of discharge.

To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID.

Main duties of the job

To deliver specialist housing advice, assistance, and interventions to people who use our services in relation to their housing needs which will prevent or relieve homelessness, secure good quality and longer term settled housing solutions, and reduce financial hardship.

Prepare information and support decision makers on formal applications for assistance, on behalf of the Local Housing Authority they are attached to, from persons who may be homeless or threatened with homelessness, acting in accordance with the homelessness legislation, statutory Code of Guidance and the policies of the relevant Local Housing Authority.

To work between local mental health and housing systems to ensure people who use our services and staff receive high quality and timely specialist housing input and access to wider housing teams and referral pathways.

About us

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.

Working in Sussex:

  • Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns
  • Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
  • With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure

    • We’d love you to join our organisation that is rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the CQC. Our staff agree, in our recent staff survey 82% told us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.

    Key staff survey results include:

  • 70% highlighting flexible working opportunities as a key point for satisfaction at work
  • 79% reporting feeling able to make suggestions to improve the work within their team
  • 77% identifying the opportunities to show initiative in their roles

    • Date posted

    24 November 2022

    Pay scheme

    Agenda for change

    Band

    Band 5

    Salary

    £27,055 to £32,934 a year pa

    Contract

    Fixed term

    Duration

    6 months

    Working pattern

    Full-time

    Reference number

    354-AC-20740

    Job locations

    Meadowfield

    Worthing

    BN13 3EP

    Job description

    Job responsibilities

    We are looking for a positive, resilient, compassionate, enthusiastic Housing Support Worker with highly-developed organisational and interpersonal skills to assist with patients housing needs and successful discharge to appropriate housing or instigate support that will enable them to remain in their accommodation.

    See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

    If you are reading this and thinking this is the ideal job opportunity for you and you would like more information, please do contact me on the number below. I would welcome interested applicants for a conversation about the role.

    Job description

    Job responsibilities

    We are looking for a positive, resilient, compassionate, enthusiastic Housing Support Worker with highly-developed organisational and interpersonal skills to assist with patients housing needs and successful discharge to appropriate housing or instigate support that will enable them to remain in their accommodation.

    See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

    If you are reading this and thinking this is the ideal job opportunity for you and you would like more information, please do contact me on the number below. I would welcome interested applicants for a conversation about the role.

    Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

  • Undergraduate degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

    • Knowledge / Experience

    Essential

  • Significant experience of working in a professional housing advice capacity with people who have housing and mental health needs
  • Good knowledge and understanding of relevant areas of housing policy and practice including the law relating to local housing authority homelessness duties and the allocation of social housing.
  • Good understanding of the role and responsibilities in relation to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
  • Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies

    • Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

  • Undergraduate degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

    • Knowledge / Experience

    Essential

  • Significant experience of working in a professional housing advice capacity with people who have housing and mental health needs
  • Good knowledge and understanding of relevant areas of housing policy and practice including the law relating to local housing authority homelessness duties and the allocation of social housing.
  • Good understanding of the role and responsibilities in relation to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
  • Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies

    • Disclosure and Barring Service Check

    This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

    Certificate of Sponsorship

    Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

    From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

    Additional information

    Disclosure and Barring Service Check

    This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

    Certificate of Sponsorship

    Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

    From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).