Supported Lodgings Coordinator

Supported Lodgings Coordinator

This is an exciting opportunity to join Depaul to help set up and develop a new Supported Lodgings service.

Position: Supported Lodgings Coordinator

Location: Cheshire West and Chester - (borough wide predominantly Ellesmere Port and Chester)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours

Salary: £24,136 Per Annum Plus Pension

Closing Date: Tuesday 15th October 2024

About the Role

The Supported Lodgings Coordinator role is a busy and varied one. You will be responsible for ensuring all young people referred to the service, are assessed, supported and placed effectively with their hosts. In addition, you will be responsible for overseeing the recruitment, training and management of hosts, as well as promoting the service to key stakeholders, and supporting young people directly.

Cheshire West Supported Lodgings service works in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council across the borough; so you will be responsible for the effective delivery and development of the scheme.

Your work will be underpinned by Depaul’s Endeavour model of assets-based, psychologically informed delivery. The aim of this is to ensure that every young person leaves the service with the skills and resilience to be confident and self-determining in their lives.

Working under the direction, guidance and support of the Deputy Supported Lodgings Manager and the Greater Manchester Prevention Team you will be responsible for young people needing longer-term placements, as well as sharing responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all hosts and staff at the service.

Key responsibilities include:

·       To be the first point of contact for young people and referral partners wanting to access the Supported Lodgings service.

·       You will lead the assessment of needs and risk, predominantly focused on suitable risk management plans for the safeguarding, matching and placement of young Care Leavers in the homes of hosts

·       Arrange all aspects of a young person’s stay with a host, ensuring they feel welcomed and supported, taking into account the support needs of individuals.

·       You will have responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of the environment for young people and hosts through regular checks and reporting.

·       To work with young people, hosts and other agencies, to prepare them for independent living and access longer-term, appropriate accommodation using support plans.

·       You will be part of a team responsible for a 24-hour on-call service

·       You will recruit, vet and train hosts both formally and informally ensuring that the host recruitment policies and procedures are implemented.

·       You will be responsible for carrying out regular checks on host accommodation and assisting them to make necessary changes.

·       You will proactively work in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council statutory teams and multiple agencies, to support the wellbeing and ongoing housing needs of young Care Leavers, working in accordance with safeguarding, data protection and information sharing protocols.

·       You will lead on the active promotion and selling of the Supported Lodgings service to all potential hosts and referral partners, across the voluntary/statutory sectors and within the wider local community.

About You

You will need to have the following skills and experience:

·       Experience and an understanding of working with Care Leavers, young people experiencing homelessness, unaccompanied asylum seekers or people in crisis

·       Experience in supporting young people with their support needs, working closely with other key professionals.

·       Experience in writing, implementing and evaluating risk assessments

·       Experience in supervising or supporting hosts or staff

·       An understanding and commitment to working in an assets-based way

·       Able to demonstrate a clear understanding of safeguarding requirements and procedures and follow them through to the conclusion

·       High-level understanding of professional boundaries and ability to maintain them

·       Effective collaborative working with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

·       Ability to effectively reflect on own practices for ongoing learning and development

In return for working here, you will receive:

·       A comprehensive training package tailored to your needs and role

·       Flexible working model for suitable roles.

·       26 days annual leave rising to 30 after five years of service.

·       Family-friendly leave policies including - maternity, adoption and parental leave and Carers leave.

·       Auto-enrolment to pension scheme employer from day 1 with employer contribution up to 7% and increasing with service

·       Employee Assistance Programme and access to the app – 24/7 GP appointments, prescription service, health checks and nutrition advice.

·       Discount vouchers including gym, retail, food & drink, travel, electricals and more.

·       Cash benefit plan for you and your partner (living with you) and children under 18 including covering Dental, Optical, Hospital Stays, Scans and More​

·       Death in service (4x Base salary)

·       Legal Advice line

About the Organisation

Depaul UK delivers a wide range of support and housing services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. We specialize in the provision of services that prevent homelessness, increase the resilience of those we work with and energise opportunities for employment, education, training and volunteering in the communities we work within. Our organisation reaches from Newcastle to London, Greater Manchester and the South Coast.

You may have experience in areas such as: Service Coordinator, Client Services Coordinator, Housing Services Coordinator, Services Coordinator, Residential Services Coordinator.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.