Support Practitioner

To assist in the provision of effective, high quality support services to vulnerable, homeless individuals who have complex needs such as offending behaviour, substance misuse problems, mental health issues and who are vulnerable to rough sleeping with the aim of promoting independent living.

To work closely as part of a team with the Director of Homeless Services and OLT in the development of operational planning and service delivery to the highest standards., The specific areas of responsibility are set out below. These are subject to regular review in order to meet the changing needs of the organisation and the environment in which it operates.,

• Carry out new resident welcomes, inducting residents into the service including registering with doctors' etc


• Ensure that residents have a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities during their stay at the YMCA


• Support residents to achieve their goals and targets as defined/ agreed within their support plans and support contracts


• Manage, update and communicate resident risk assessments in line with YMCA Together policy and procedure


• Ensure residents shape their own support and take part in activities


• Hold planned key-work sessions each week with residents using a person-centred flexible approach


• Offer a creative but assertive approach in order to seek to re-engage rather than taking the route of punitive action that may lead to disengagement and eviction.


• Assess support needs via Outcomes Star assessments and plan support around individual need. Regularly review and develop mutually agreed support plans with residents and any other professional involved in the support of those individuals e.g., Social Workers, CPNs, Probation Officers


• Hold 3-way meetings and coordinating the support of residents with other professionals


• Up to date records must be kept on both support planning systems like MainStay and DAVE and in any resident's files


• Conduct monthly/quarterly risk assessments of residents keeping all relevant parties informed of updates/changes


• Conduct regular room checks and support residents in the management of their room and relationships with others and to report any health and safety issues to the Housing Manager


• Participate in the planning and delivery of group work and activities e.g., Independent Living Skills. Support claims on behalf of residents for housing and other welfare benefits


• Provide information and advice to the people we support in accordance with their support plans


• Motivate and challenge the people we support so they realise their goals


• Assist with securing move-on to appropriate accommodation


• Liaise between the people we support and external agencies regarding the provision of specialised support when appropriate


• Encourage involvement and participation among the people we support in the running and shaping of the service provided by planning and attending regular resident meetings


• Deal promptly with all complaints and protection from abuse disclosures


• Provide clear, accurate and good quality information in respect of all residents in line with agreed procedures ensuring that appropriate information is shared with the line managers


• Demonstrate creativity in overcoming obstacles and a commitment to working with and providing support to vulnerable people., To liaise with all emergency services when necessary


• Ensure at all times the safety of yourself and others on the premises in which you work


• To conduct daily Health and Safety checks


• To report, log and communicate all incidents to the appropriate people


• Conduct welfare checks as specified during the shift


• Ensure adherence to YMCA Together visitor's policy and procedure


• To adhere to all risk management protocols., To share information and expertise with the team, covering absence, and working together to provide a high-quality service


• To contribute to the formulation of policy and procedures in relation to support services


• Attend to all enquiries and pass messages onto relevant people


• Develop excellent and robust relationships, protocols, contacts and service level agreements with referring agencies, statutory services and wider stakeholders


• To attend and participate in regular team meetings to ensure good communication., Attend regular supervision sessions with the Service Manager or team leader in accordance with the supervision contract


• Maintain good professional practice and ensure ongoing development, through use of supervision and training


• Respect the confidentiality of clients using the service and be responsible for the security of personal and confidential information


• Carry out all these duties within the organisation's safety guidelines


• Ensure personal records are correctly maintained


• Ensure effective communication with staff within YMCA Together


• Work flexibly to meet the changing needs of the organisation


• Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably requested


• Flexible and positive approach with all team members


• To be committed to learning and personal development both as an individual and as part of a team


• Develop and/or maintain excellent and robust relationships, protocols, contacts and service level agreements with Merseycare, referring agencies, statutory services and wider stakeholders


• Uphold and nurture YMCA's Equal Opportunities policy of anti-discrimination across all services


• Ensure compliance with code of conduct, including professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times, Annual appraisal and regular work review with line managers is an operational requirement, as is attendance at weekly support team meetings.
  
  Essential


• Qualification or working experience in homelessness, mental health or offending.


Desirable

• A recognised qualification in substance misuse or mental health


• Qualification in welfare rights, Essential


• At least 1 years' experience of working within a hostel setting or similar and a working knowledge of support planning, welfare rights, benefits advice, mental health issues, offending, drug and alcohol misuse, harm reduction, working with partner agencies, safeguarding and resettlement.


Desirable

• Outcomes Star


• Experience of co coordinating three-way meetings


• Experience of working with end of life


• Experience of resettling individual into independent living.


• Knowledge and experience of medications processes., A working knowledge of providing intensive support to vulnerable client groups.


• A working knowledge of Health & Safety issues


• A clear understanding of complex needs support issues such as mental health, homelessness, substance misuse and offending


• Knowledge of safeguarding protocols


• Understanding of how to work alongside behaviours that we may find challenging.


Desirable

• Knowledge of health interventions


• Knowledge of welfare rights


• Knowledge of the Cognitive Analytical Therapy(CAT) framework.


• Knowledge of health intervention and harm reduction., Essential


• Computer literate, competent in working with Microsoft word, outlook, windows


• The ability to conduct comprehensive and accurate risk assessments


• To provide effective and consistent support planning with the people we support


• Excellent IT, communication, interpersonal, interviewing and assessment skills


• Excellent administration skills and the ability to accurately and concisely record information and write reports


• Plan and deliver workshops and training sessions to residents, staff and partner agencies


• Demonstrate creativity in overcoming obstacles and a commitment to working with and providing support to vulnerable people


• Ability and willingness to work unsupervised


• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.


Desirable

• Analytical, data collation and reporting skills, Committed to improving the lives of people with complex needs


• Committed to own personal development and CPD planning


• Creative and dynamic approach with the ability to "think outside of the box" when providing solutions


• Energetic, highly motivated with a reputation of being held in high regard by peers


• Excellent interpersonal/ communication skills


• Excellent negotiation/ mediation skills


• Committed to own career development


• Ability to work within & have commitment to YMCA ethos, philosophy and SHREK values, Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness


• Energetic, dynamic and self-motivated
  
  YMCA Together has been voted No1 Charity to work for by our employees in 2022. YMCA is a registered charity and company Limited by Guarantee. We were founded in 1846 and so we build on a long history of providing a place for people experiencing challenging times in their lives.


YMCA Together is a truly value driven organisation.

Our vision is that everyone should feel safe, understood, empowered and positive for their future. We meet our vision by working within our values of Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness. These SHREK values run through all that we do from recruitment to how we work alongside people in our services to our partnership approach with other providers.

Our clear vision and values come together to help us in our mission to inspire and support people to change their lives by instilling hope, valuing the person and maximising potential.

£27,111 per annum

• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays per annum


• Paid Medicash support


• Birthday Day off


• Spiritual Day off


• Charity day of your choice


• Well-being Hours


• Cycle To Work Scheme


• Refer a Friend Scheme


• Company Pension Scheme 4%


• Funded Training Opportunities


Shortlisting/Interview/Assessment Dates:

• Shortlisting W/C 22nd April 2024


• Interview/Assessment Day TBC