Homelessness Support Coordinator in Penzance

As a Homelessness Support Coordinator, you will work with individuals who have been rough sleeping or who are at risk of rough sleeping in Cornwall. You will carry out intensive assessments to identify clients’ support and housing needs, advocate for them and help them to access the services they need.As part of the Non-Residential team primarily based at the Breadline Centre in Penzance, you will also be expected to provide cover at the Truro Resource Centre when required. Your duties will include the organisation of groups and meetings within the projects, supporting colleagues with assessments and the reconnection of clients to their hometowns, and facilitating the “drop in” sessions provided by the organisation.Whilst you will normally work within the services’ opening hours, there will be a requirement for occasional evening and weekend work as directed by the Non-Residential Service Manager. This will include providing support to St Petrocs’ emergency “Winter Service” during the colder months.Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 15th May. Many of our staff work flexibly, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking. 

1. Work with clients to provide an intensive assessment of their social, welfare and housing needs.
2. Prepare a comprehensive risk management and support plan with the client to address their needs.
3. Locate and provide housing, social and welfare solutions in accordance with the needs assessment.
4. Liaise with partner and specialist agencies to enable rough sleepers to access their services (e.g. housing, drug and alcohol, health, welfare rights and legal services).
5. Establish a profile of the needs of service users and maintain digital records. This will include keeping accurate file and case notes.
6. Negotiate access for clients to any appropriate forms of accommodation and ensure that appropriate support is available.
7. Advocate for people sleeping rough in accessing services, including ‘reconciliation’ work with other agencies.
8. Liaise regularly and work closely with partner, voluntary and statutory agencies. This will include housing providers, DAAT, Police, Probation, Job Centre+ and the Benefits Agency and other linked in Support Workers.
9. Liaise with “Health for Homeless”, primary and secondary health care services including mental health services to ensure that service users receive timely and appropriate services to meet their needs.
10. Ensure the needs and requirements of the funding and partner agencies are met.
11. Provide a telephone advice service during working hours.
12. Assist with building upkeep and maintenance, e.g. undertaking and recording necessary health and safety checks, general cleaning and tidying. 
13. Support volunteers with receiving and sorting donations of bedding, clothing, and other items.
14. Ensure clients are fed by preparing donated food items or making sandwiches.
15. Work in other areas of the service as required.
16. Attend events as a positive ambassador for St Petrocs, promoting and raising awareness of its services and inspiring existing and potential supporters.
17. Carry out any other duties as reasonably requested.

You’ll share our core values: Honesty, Integrity, Equality & Dignity You should have previous experience of working with vulnerable adults, along with a knowledge and appreciation of the many complex issues surrounding homelessness.Importantly, we’re looking for someone who passionately believes in our mission of ending homelessness. Homelessness is not an inevitability. It can be solved, and it can be prevented.In addition to the criteria outlined below, this post is subject to successful completion of an Enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.Due to the nature of our work, you must also have a valid driving licence and access to a vehicle.Essential Criteria

• Commitment to our services and the people we serve
• Able to follow processes and maintain high standards
• Comfortable working independently
• Ability to work well under pressure and adapt to changing priorities
• Able to manage conflict and challenging behaviour
• Able to relate to and motivate disadvantaged individuals
• Energetic, creative and driven, with a proactive and positive approach

We know that our staff are at their best when they feel supported, happy, and healthy – at work and at home. To that end, we’re pleased to offer the following employee benefits:Family

• 33 days annual leave a year, including bank holidays
• Enhanced maternity, partner, shared parental, and adoption pay
• Paid time off for neonatal care
• Paid time off for IVF treatment

Financial

• Competitive pension scheme
• Long-service awards
• Non-contributory life insurance (up to 3 x basic salary)
• Paid professional subscriptions (where relevant to role) 

Wellbeing

• Enhanced sick pay scheme
• Employee assistance programme (EAP) including access to counselling services
• Free eye tests and free vaccinations

We're working to end homelessness in Cornwall, because every person has a right to a safe and secure home. St Petrocs was established in 1986 as a direct response to people experiencing homelessness in Truro. Over the years, our services have grown - shaped by the needs of the people we support. Today, over 60 staff work together tirelessly to ensure we can provide the best quality of service possible to those people who find themselves vulnerably housed or pushed into homelessness. We are an independent, charitable organisation that provides people in need with somewhere and someone to turn to.