HOUSING WORKER
Hours: 37 Hours Per Week (Full Time)
Salary: £27,376-£29,463 Salary dependent on skills, experience and knowledge.
Contract: Permanent
Base: Didcot (Coverage of multiple sites may be required involving travel between locations)
Who we are, and what we do
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We’re Oxfordshire Mind, the mental health charity, operating across Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.
- Our passionate employees and dedicated volunteers are helping people with mental health issues find somewhere to turn for advice, information, and support.
- We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health issue gets both support and respect.
- Find out more about our vision, mission and values here: https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/about-2/what-we-do/
- Find out more about our services here: https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/support-for-you/our-services/
Why work for us?
- We offer a friendly working environment and are committed to staff wellbeing.
- We are devoted to equity, diversity, inclusion, and equality, with staff working groups and support groups.
Here is a taste of what we offer:
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Generous holiday allowance, 28 days plus 8 bank holidays, increasing after 5 years
- Contribute to pension scheme
- Ensuring growth and development of our staff along their career journey
- Free support package from Health Assured for you and your family
- Great discounts and cash back card schemes
To find out more click here: https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/jobs-2/benefits/
What will you do?
The Housing Team provide day to day support for around 90 adult residents and manage the maintenance of 21 properties across Oxfordshire. Core support is provided Monday to Friday, 9-5, with staff rotation for an on-call service out of hours for emergencies. The team supports residents to develop greater levels of independent living skills and improve their physical health and mental wellbeing. To be able to move to independent housing within a couple of years. You will provide flexible, proactive and assertive support, to residents of our housing projects, which promotes recovery and independence within a positive risk management approach to adults (16+) with serious and enduring mental health issues who are resident in Oxfordshire.
Key responsibilities
- Assessment of mental health needs & risk
- Creation and management of appropriate strategies to manage risks for individuals and environment
- Providing proactive individual support planning and case management in conjunction with residents and external stakeholders
- Property and housing management including health and safety responsibilities, fire safety checks and arranging repairs to maintain a safe environment
- Record keeping and administration
- Interagency working and liaison
- Promotion of community interaction to improve physical and mental wellbeing
- Formulate and see through plans for residents to move on to more long-term resident accommodation within commissioned timeframes
We expect all of our employees to:
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Understand and implement all safeguarding policies and procedures in relation to working with children, young people and adults at risk of harm
- Enhance equity, diversity, inclusion and equality within our work
- Involving people with lived experience of mental health problems in every aspect of our work
This is not an exhaustive list and employees may be required to perform activities not listed here.
Who you are
Open - Are you open to help people realise their potential?
Together, partnership - Are you a team player?
Responsive - Are you a good listener?
Independent - Do you have the confidence to speak out fearlessly?
Unstoppable – Do you have a positive, never give up attitude?
If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you!
Applicants should respond explicitly to each of the points listed in the Person Specification / Selection Criteria below. The shortlisting panel make their decisions based on this information and no assumptions about your skills or experience will be made.
Essential Experience
a) An understanding of the issues for people with mental health issues living in the community.
b) Knowledge of the housing sector.
c) Experience of working with people with mental health issues.
d) Experience of working in a housing or residential setting.
e) Experience of working with people with multiple support needs such as a history of not engaging with services, non-compliance with medication, substance misuse, self-harm, neglect or challenging behaviour.
f) Experience of working with individuals, enabling them to identify their own goals to support personal wellbeing and recovery, and the ability to support them in pursuing these.
g) The ability to take responsibility for your own work and make yourself accountable.
h) Good team working skills such as listening and constructive feedback.
i) Ability to use your initiative.
j) Ability to organise and prioritise work.
k) Competent level of administrative and computer skills.
l) Ability to work flexibly.
m) Strong communication skills.
n) Knowledge/Understanding of our values:
- Striving to make mental health services more human
- Working alongside people to help them realise their potential
- Raising awareness, promoting understanding and challenging stigma
- The importance of community and the benefits of mutual support
Desirable
a) Good level of knowledge of housing legislation.
b) Training such as: First Aid, Fire Marshall, Mental Health, Safeguarding.
c) Knowledge of carer involvement.
d) Good working knowledge of welfare benefits appropriate to people with mental health issues and housing.
e) Experience of supporting recovery and maximising independence.
f) Experience of conducting Mental Health Needs assessments.
g) Experience of liaising with a wide range of mental health professionals and other agencies.
h) Completing and updating risk assessments.
i) Experience of case management support planning.
j) Housing management and tenancy related tasks e.g. tenant sign up and administration of tenancies, including following ‘warning’ procedure, where required.
k) Experience of building appropriate and effective working relationships with service users.
l) Experience of working in a dynamic and intense environment.
m) Ability to lone work safely.
n) Resilience to work under pressure and with complex clients.
For an informal chat about the role please contact Will Lazenby on
Oxfordshire Mind is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We therefore require a Disclosure and Barring Service check, for all our roles. The level of which will vary depending on the nature of the role.
Closing date: TBC
Shortlisting date: As applications are reviewed
Interview date: As applications are reviewed
Interview location: TBC
We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.