Ref 2718
OBJECTIVES:
The Waking Night Support Worker is a key role where the post holder is expected to be proactive and show initiative and flexibility, making appropriate decisions as necessary while at work. The post holder is expected to maintain good professional relations with their co-workers and clients to ensure that a spirit of co-operation and mutual support exists.
1. To provide an effective housing and support service to residents who have support needs.
2. Work with residents including enabling them to improve their quality of life, develop their life skills and make decisions about their future.
3. To be fully aware of the Emergency procedures i.e. gas, fire and health and safety and to take necessary action when circumstances arise.
4. To secure the projects and ensure the safety of staff and clients throughout the night shift.
5. To deliver the service in accordance with the objectives of the ADASS monitoring tool.
THE KEY FUNCTIONS OF THE POST ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Support of residents
• To assist in the induction of new residents and provide information, advice and guidance where appropriate in order to meet the needs of the service user.
• To assist, empower & motivate and actively work with residents towards improving their daily living skills, including budgeting, domestic skills etc and employment, social activities, education and training.
• In the event of health and other emergencies or disturbances’, to provide immediate response by initiating emergency procedures as appropriate (e.g. doctor, police, ambulance, fire brigade, contacting the Hostel Co-ordinator or On Call Person etc)
• To offer emotional support to residents during the night and to help them reduce any anxiety or distress.
• To encourage and support night activities in accordance with residents support plans.
• To maintain an understanding and awareness of all support plans and risk assessments / risk management plans
2. Housing Management
• To have a basic understanding of the welfare benefit system and keep abreast of changes in benefit entitlement, advising residents as appropriate and assisting them to maximise their income.
• To encourage and support the participation of residents in the running of the project.
• Ensure Residents understand their Licence Agreement, their rights and obligations and report any breaches to the coordinator and where ever relevant to the Line Managers and the Operations Manager.
• Keep up to date with legislation and good practice affecting Supported Housing.
• Promote Mary Seacole housing services to the wider community including referral and support agencies and potential residents.
• To inspect/check the hostels regularly during the night on at least 4 occasions; to ensure compliance by the clients and for Health and Safety reasons.
• Participate in the review processes required under the contract and quality assurance dept. of LBC
• To respond to emergencies or disturbances’ at other Projects as per the emergency call out procedure.
• To undertake general office duties such as preparing admissions packs, photocopying, word processing and other office based administrative tasks.
3. Child Protection & Safeguarding Of Vulnerable Adults (SOVA)
• To work in co-operation with other agencies to protect children/young people and safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse.
• To act in accordance with the Associations safeguarding procedures in any incident where abuse is a concern or suspected.
• To be vigilant in detecting incidents of abuse and support residents when they are distressed.
4. Property Maintenance & Health & Safety
• To undertake health and safety checks on a regular basis during the night and to report any concerns at the earliest opportunity.
• To report accidents & incidents and any perceived risks.
• To contact out-of-hours contractors for emergencies in line with the On Call procedure.
• To ensure the premises are safe and secure at night, and all doors and windows are locked. All incidents and concerns to be reported according to laid down procedures.
• To check the CCTV system on entering each project and then at regular intervals during the night.
• To carry out regular inspections of the internal premises at least 3 intervals during the shift and where applicable adjacent hostels/projects.
• To carry radio panic alarms and the hostel mobile phone at all times.
• Ensure that the lounge, kitchens, dining rooms, hallways, stairs, staff rooms & other communal areas are kept clean and tidy and left tidy when handing over to the next shift.
• To check the building at the start of the shift to familiarise yourself with:
1. Clients who are out for the night, and those that are in.
2. Health and Safety Checks
3. Condition of building at time of the handover
5. Staff Team Working
• Record and share information appropriately and confidentially in accordance with Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation.
• Undertake all core training relevant for this post and other training and professional development required.
• Expected to attend training and supervisions meetings; maximum of 10 days.
• To maintain a good knowledge of current and new policies and procedures in place.
• To keep up to date with legislation regarding homeless people.
• To meet the requirements of a rota system by working flexible hours, including weekends/Bank Holidays and some daytime hours (e.g. for training, monthly team meetings and supervision every 4-6 weeks)
• To work with other Hostel Coordinators in the team to ensure an appropriate number of hours of support are provided for residents and ensure that there is continuity of support by covering for periods of vacancy, planned and unplanned absences.
6. Liaison
• Liaise closely with you Line Manager and other staff on the delivery of high quality services.
• Advocate or liaise on resident’s behalf with other housing providers, health and social care professionals, advocacy agencies, other services and other landlords and Housing Associations as appropriate.
• Work alongside relevant individuals, agencies and community resources in a professional and competent manner.
• To use the on call system as appropriate.
7. Customer Relations
• To adopt a caring, respectful and non-confrontational attitude to both clients and staff at all times.
• To ensure that all queries and complaints including repair requests are dealt with in accordance with agreed timescales and standards.
• In accordance with policies and procedures, report all incidents of racial/sexual harassment, cases of violence, neighbour disputes etc.
• To act at all times in the best interest of the Association and its residents.
8. Administration
• To make full use of administration systems including IT systems and maintain comprehensive up to date records, in accordance with Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation.
• To ensure that all data bases are fully utilised for recording support offered to clients.
• Assist clients to implement the policies and procedures.
• Undertake all record keeping and preparation and collection of statistical information required in relation to all aspects of the evaluation of the service, for example totalling the amount of contact time on the daily logs, filing them and replacing with new logs.
• Attend internal and external meetings as appropriate this includes two mandatory night staff meetings to be held annually
• To be responsible for a petty cash float and maintain receipts and accurate records of expenditure.
• To keep residents files up to date.
• To complete the Fire list and Authorised/Unauthorised Nights Register daily including accident and incident reports and support residents to complete complaints forms if necessary.
• To check communication book, electronic communications/emails, notice boards, diaries and pigeon-holes daily to actively seek relevant communications.
9. General Duties
• To respond to emergencies or disturbances’ with the project.
• Observe Health & Safety procedures to ensure personal safety and safeguard the interests and safety of colleagues, residents and visitors.
• Observe Mary Seacole Housing Association Code of Conduct and report any breaches of these standards to the Line Manager and the Operations Manager.
• To maintain confidentiality in line with the Associations and any partner agency policies and procedures.
• To actively pursue becoming a team player within the Association as a whole – to develop and maintain positive relationships with others, staff, customers and clients outside the organisation. Develop co-operation and support the Association to achieve its objectives.
• To assist the smooth running of Mary Seacole Housing generally by liaising with other departments as the need arises.
• To be responsible for your own personal safety, and that of the clients and other staff.
• To complete incident and accident reports when necessary and to support residents to complete complaint forms.
• To undertake other tasks as requested by management in order to respond to the needs of the service. These may not be itemised within the job description, but will reflect the general nature and level of the role.
In addition to the duties and responsibilities listed, the job holder is required to perform other general office duties as may reasonably be required and requested by his/her Line Manager or the Chief Executive.
Review of your performance will be continual but there will be a formal review by your Line Manager annually.
For more information..
Call: 01582 249562
Email: Ian.benjamin@taylor-faith.co.uk
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