Team Leader - Thanet and Canterbury Homeless Project

Overview

We are Forward, the social enterprise that empowers people to break the cycle of crime, addiction and other disadvantage to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

Forward’s Vision Housing team helps people to overcome homelessness, make positive lifelong changes, and build an independent future. We have helped over 300 clients with complex needs to find and sustain private rented accommodation over the past 3 years, with over 90% of those sustaining their tenancy for at least 12 months, making us one of the best performing housing support providers in the sector.

We believe and are committed to providing opportunities to all people including those with ‘Lived Experience’ we encourage applications from all background including those in recovery from addiction, co-dependency or gambling, have experience of previous offending or homelessness.

What you will be doing?

You will be managing a team of in-reach and floating support practitioners that support vulnerable
and complex individuals at risk of becoming homeless or that are homeless. The team will deliver
brief interventions that will support individuals to access drug and alcohol treatment. The
treatment is tailored to individual needs, using harm reduction and abstinence based
treatment approaches as well as supporting low level mental health needs with a trauma
informed approach.

On a daily basis you will be allocating caseloads, managing a small number of complex
cases,supporting and developing your team, and ensuring deadlines and quality standards
are met.You will be responsible for delivering on performance targets set by Forward,
commissionersand the prime contractor. And you will support the Service Manager to
ensure data accuracy and data submission deadlines are met.

At times you will be the most senior representative on site and will be required to deputise
forthe Service Manager to ensure the smooth running of the service. You will be in a
position oftrust and building an excellent relationship with your manager will be a priority,
as well as collaborative working relationships with partner agencies.

You will be responsible for contributing to the targets set by Forward and the local
commissioners. One of the key targets will be measuring outcomes, so co-operative working
relationships with other partner agencies is vital to this role.

Flexibility will be required in this role, this may include some evening/weekend shift and with
reasonable notice to travel to other projects in the East Kent region to deliver services,
enabling continuity of care for the client group.

Accountabilities

Strategy

• Take an active role in the implementation and achievement of team objectives.
• Build strong relationships with, and makes full use of the support offered by, Line
Management and Head Office functions.
• Develop supportive relationships with supervisees and other colleagues in the service.
• Communicate all new developments to all members of your team.
• Support the service manager in developing relations with key stake holders
• Set team and individual objectives to implement and achieve strategic objectives

Service Delivery

• Referring and working in partnerships with other agencies including training and
employment and family support Services to ensure that all client needs are met.
• Coordinate and work alongside healthcare providers such as GPs to monitor and manage
client health and minimising risks of harm.
• Develop and contribute to assessment and care planning of service users, supporting and
coordinating their engagement with specialist agencies to address all their support needs.
• Support clients with their care plan including referral to support services in the community,
advice and guidance on housing, benefits and training and employment.
• Use your extensive knowledge and experience to aid direct reports with their ability to
develop and carry out interventions relevant to individual client need including 1:1 sessions
and group work/programme facilitation.
• Coach direct reports to contribute to the through care needs of service users, supporting
them to plan for their changing lifestyle and engage with outside organisations which are
appropriate to their needs.
• Ensure that case management interventions in direct reports are delivered in accordance
with the needs of the service users, audit and are CQC compliant.
• Ensure that group work and all psycho-social interventions and programmes are delivered
in accordance with the needs of the service users, are audit and CQC compliant and meet
contractual obligations

Performance Management

• Ensure groups and programmes are facilitated and co-facilitated to the standard required
by Forward and in accordance with any relevant manuals.
• Meet required KPI’s to corresponding deadlines, as set out by the Service Manager.
• Review ongoing care and treatment liaising closely with healthcare and other agencies.
• Provide regular supportive supervision sessions to practitioners within the service taking
into account any continued professional development needs they may have.
• Support and monitor supervisees to manage their caseload effectively, making sure that
clients are prioritised appropriately and seen in a timely manner.
• Ensure poor performance and team dynamics are managed appropriately creating positive
working environments which encourage employee engagement to optimise the
performance of services.

Departmental Management

• Proactively approach integrated ways of working support and adopt a multi-disciplinary
approach.
• Meet targets and deadlines in accordance with contractual standards.
• Contribute to the overall smooth running of the service by being proactive and solution
focused.
• Manage resources effectively in order to meet targets and deadlines in accordance with
contractual standards.
• Encourage a positive working environment by positive role modelling and sharing good
practice within the team.
• Compile the service diary and manage the resources across the team with the service
manager to ensure there is adequate cover of hubs and satellites
• Deputise for the Service Manager in their absence and ensure effective management of
the service for which you are responsible.

Quality and Safety

• Manage and report on performance targets and KPI'S to service manager to ensure KPI are met alongside quality of service delivery
• Work with the highest regard to safety and risk management, ensuring that all properties offered by our services meet health and safety regulations and individuals are managed ensuring the highest level of safety in line with policy
• Take on other reasonable tasks and responsibilities as deemed appropriate by the Service Manager or Director.
• Engage with regular service audits ensuring that any issues are escalated and addressed in a timely manner and good practice is effectively shared throughout the service to ensure continuous improvement.
• Alert the Service Manager to any significant risks or problems arising in the course of managing and monitoring the services.
• Abide by all Forward policies and procedures and encourage others to do the same.
• Work with the highest regard to health, safety and security in the workplace highlighting any risks (potential or actual) to Service Manager and (where appropriate) the Head of Governance, in accordance with Forward’s risk management protocols.
• Ensure that information, including statistical data, for audit, research and reporting purposes, is effectively and efficiently collected, recorded and collated in the assigned area.
• Effectively manage information, particularly confidential information, within statutory duties and in accordance with best practice
• Promote and ensure departmental compliance with all relevant legal, regulatory, and ethical responsibilities.
• Keep up to date technically on all relevant matters and strive for continuous professional development.

Administration

• Keep case management databases maintained to the expected audit standards
• Keep outlook calendar up to date
• Produce regular reports as required and to departmental deadlines.
• Ensure staff are meeting reviews and intervention targets and providing accurate support in line with contract and are able to track their caseloads accordingly
• Complete and maintain service user resettlement care plans and assessments to the required standards.
• Provide reports on outcomes to the service.

Systems and Policy

• Work towards Forward’s mission and values within current policies and good practice
• Ensure that joint working policies are implemented and agreed with all relevant departments

Other

• Take on other reasonable tasks and responsibilities as deemed appropriate by Line Manager

What we are looking for?

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated a good understanding of the needs of the homeless, ex-offenders and those with complex needs
• Ability to carry out comprehensive assessments, designing and implementing SMART support plans and training staff in how to deliver these to the correct standard.
• Experience and knowledge of delivering a range of accommodation support interventions on offer and how they benefit the client group we work with, and be able to pass this onto direct reports, peer mentors, volunteers and apprentices.
• Experience of setting up training sessions for service users in custody and the community and empowering your team to deliver such courses.
• Previous experience of providing supervision, appraisals, guidance and constructive feedback to supervisees and managing poor performance
• Experience of working within the criminal justice sector in a prison or community setting
• Demonstrates experience of forging partnerships with key stakeholders such as probation, NHS professionals, drug and alcohol services, other housing providers, DWP and MH professionals in order to best support those who are accessing our services
• Demonstrates the use of strong IT skills to support case management and provide accurate reports and data
• Can demonstrate a good working knowledge of the private rented housing sector and barriers to those who are trying to be housed.
• Has an excellent understanding of the welfare benefits systems, DWP and universal credit, local housing allowance rates and how they impact those who are private renting.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of the complex needs and challenges of the client group
• Experience in collecting and analysing data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the principles of equal opportunity and client confidentiality.
• Able to manage own workload effectively and manage KPI’s within their team to strict deadlines
• Experience of managing teams across multiple sites and remotely to meet targets and clear objectives
• Demonstrated ability to hold own caseload of higher need clients or to cover in the event of staff sickness or absence, to support the team objectives and targets

Desirable

• • A recognised Housing qualification
  • Recognised management qualification or working towards one
  • A degree or equivalent experience within the sector
  • Current Prison clearance

What we offer

• Training opportunities and career development
• Flexible working
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Person specification

Team Leader (Homeless Project)