The supported housing project provides housing related support for 10 adults with learning difficulty.

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1 SUPPORTED HOUSING MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION AIM OF THE SUPPORTED HOUSING PROJECT The supported housing project provides housing related support for 10 adults with learning difficulty. Working directly with 10 tenants who have learning difficulties, the project aims to work with people around their experience of being tenants in order to encourage them to learn to become successful tenants. To equip tenants with the knowledge, skills and confidence they will need to be successful tenants both at the project, and when they leave. Preparing tenants so that they can move on to more independent accommodation and assisting them in successfully achieving this. PURPOSE OF THE JOB: The role of the Supported Housing Manager is to manage the Supported Housing Project. This includes managing the 3 Support Tenants who live in the houses. The manager is tasked to help tenants to achieve their goals in life, using person centred approaches. You need to have experience working with adults with learning difficulties and have an understanding of their needs. The Supported Housing Manager is expected to be aware of both the aim and functioning of the project, and the changing environment in which the project operates, and to recommend changes and developments accordingly. This includes for example, keeping up to date with monitoring requirements from funders and ensuring the project can demonstrate or is aiming for excellence in terms of quality of provision. AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: WORK WITH THE TENANTS: The Supported Housing Manager is expected to support the tenants in learning to become good tenants. Tasks include: 1. Taking a lead in the selection of tenants with other tenants of the house and other staff as appropriate. 2. Negotiating with Circle Anglia Housing Trust staff about the provision of Tenancy Agreements, explaining them to tenants and assisting in helping them to move in. 1

2 3. Supporting tenants to plan how to make best use of their skills, abilities and wider support networks, using person centred planning approaches. Reviewing any plans and risk assessments at least annually. 4. Supporting tenants to agree a specific and detailed plan (Achieving Independence Plan), detailing outcomes being worked towards and support to be provided by the project and any external agencies. 5. Encouraging tenants to adhere to the terms of their tenancies, including paying rent. 6. Encouraging tenants to reflect on their experiences as tenants and learn from them. 7. Dealing with some tenant disputes and/or referring them to Circle Anglia Housing Trust as appropriate. 8. Helping tenants identify their social care/support needs 9. Helping tenants plan how they will meet those needs and contact the necessary services. 10.Arranging meetings etc as necessary to co-ordinate support plans, and reviewing individual tenant s development. 11.Providing advice and informal counselling when necessary. 12. Providing advice and direction about where to go for help with information on courses, jobs, leisure activities etc. 13. Encouraging tenants to prepare for move-on. 14. Working with others (eg Care Managers, Brokers, Circle Anglia Resettlement Team etc) to identify accommodation for tenants to move on to and supporting them in making this move. 15. Co-ordinating regular House Meetings to consult with tenants. 16. Arranging occasional organised social activities - eg Christmas parties, outings etc. in conjunction with the Live in support workers. This may include fund raising for these events. 17. Giving advice and assistance on claiming housing benefits. 18. Giving advice on how to get assistance with other benefits. 19. Giving advice and encouragement on paying rent and bills etc 20. Giving (and/or seeking) advice on other housing matters as necessary eg adaptations. 2

3 WORK WITH CIRCLE ANGLIA HOUSING TRUST & OTHER ORGANISATIONS Tasks Include 1. Working with Circle Anglia and Islington Council to continue the development of the project. 2. Liaising with Circle Anglia, Islington Council and other organisations as appropriate. This includes responding to requests for management information, statistics etc. 3. Making housing nominations as appropriate. STAFF MANAGEMENT AT THE PROJECT: Tasks Include 1. Managing the Support Tenants and any Volunteers working in the scheme. 2. In conjunction with the Assistant Director (Services) and the Admin Section, recruiting Support Tenants and Volunteers, including preparing adverts, participating in interviews, induction etc. 3. Providing regular Supervision and Staff Meetings for Support Tenants/ Volunteers 4. Negotiating with Circle Anglia on the provision of tenancies for Support Tenants. CREATION OF POLICY AND INTERNAL/EXTERNAL LIAISON: The worker is expected to: 1. Draft Policies and Procedures etc for the project. They will also be expected to contribute to the formulation of policy in the supported housing field as the occasion arises. 2. Liase with the appointed Circle Anglia Housing Trust Special Needs Project Officer. 3. Develop and maintain a wide range of contacts with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies. These include social workers, neighbourhood offices, housing officers etc. 4. Publicise the Supported Housing Project by producing publicity material and take an active part in relevant community networks. 3

4 5. Attend all relevant internal agency meetings. These include management meetings, agency days, groups devising internal policies, the Professional Development Forum etc. 6. Attend all relevant external meetings eg Supporting People Providers forum, Circle Anglia Housing forum etc. 7. Attend training activities, both internal and external as relevant. 8. Attend regular supervision sessions. 9. Liase with the Rosina Butler Memorial Fund (a trust that makes grants available specifically to tenants of this scheme). FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION: The worker is responsible for all the financial and administrative tasks relating to the management of the project. a) Financial Management includes: 1. Assisting the Finance Officer in preparing a yearly budget. 2. Managing the budget in consultation with the Finance Officer. 3. Keeping accurate financial accounts, as required. b) Building Maintenance: Tasks include: 1. Liasing with Circle Anglia Housing Trust to ensure that repairs are carried out. 2. Organising minor repairs and replacements (eg light bulbs, fuses, taps, toilet-seats) as outlined in the management agreement. c) Admin/Reports: The worker is responsible for writing reports etc. The worker will maintain good records regarding current tenants and monitoring of all referrals, including keeping all tenant files up to date. HEALTH AND SAFETY: All staff are also required to adhere to the Elfrida Society Health and Safety Policy. 4

5 EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: All Elfrida Society employees are expected to implement the agency s equal opportunities policy in their day to day work by developing a range of practical strategies for encouraging users of our services to feel welcomed, and that cultural and ethnic differences are valued. ACCOUNTABILITY: All staff are expected to maintain a professional approach and to be generally accountable for their work and that of the agency at all times. The Supported Housing Manager is accountable to the Assistant Director- Services who in turn is accountable to the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive is accountable to the Board of Trustees. ON-CALL: The worker will be expected to take part in an On-call rota carrying a radio pager providing out of hours support to housing staff. Additional payments are made for being on-call. TERMS AND CONDITIONS: 1. Salary for the post is 10,701 pa ( 26,752 pro rata) inclusive of London Weighting. 2. Hours of work are 14 per week. 3. On-call Payments are per 24 hour period (as at April 2002) 4. Holiday entitlement is 38 days per year pro rata inclusive of public holidays. 5. Appointments are made on the basis of a six month probationary period. 6. All other terms and conditions are as listed in the Contact of ` Employment. 5

6 SUPPORTED HOUSING MANAGER PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS 1. Experience working with people who have learning difficulties 2. An understanding of the needs of people who have learning difficulties and the issues that are likely to affect them. 3. Ability to work on your own initiative. 4. A high standard of administrative skills including the ability to express yourself clearly on paper and to keep good financial records. 5. Commitment to and understanding of person-centred approaches. 6. Commitment to the aims of Valuing People and Supported Living. 7. Commitment to the Elfrida Society s Equal Opportunities policy. 8. The ability to relate effectively and respectfully with service users. DESIRABLE 1. Knowledge of the Supported Housing Field. 2. Computer skills (word processing etc) 2. Knowledge of legislation etc affecting tenants rights. 3. Working knowledge of Welfare rights / DSS Benefits. 4. An understanding of the Social Care field. 5. Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment. 6. Knowledge of the local area. 6

7 SUPPORTED HOUSING MANAGER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Supported Housing Project provides housing for 10 adults with learning difficulties. They are supported by the Supported Housing Manager and 3 Support Tenants (who provide approx 7 hours work per week). The project comprises 2 houses in nearby roads in Finsbury Park. The house in Yonge Park offers 6 bedsits for tenants with learning difficulties and has 2 bedsits for support tenants. The other house in Coleridge Rd provides 4 single person flats for tenants with learning difficulties and a basement flat for a support tenant. There is a small office in the house in Yonge Park. Circle Anglia owns both houses. The Elfrida Society provides support to tenants. We intend that the houses will be a safe and sociable place to live. Tenants need to have a reasonable degree of independence eg being able to shop and cook for themselves but often need support with eg budgeting, relationships, finding employment etc. The project aims to move tenants on to their own flats when they are ready and is able to make applications to both Islington Council and Circle Anglia. This is a very varied job! Tasks can vary greatly from day to day. However it is not expected that the worker will themselves offer all the support tenants need and an important part of the role is that of referring people to other appropriate sources of support. The hours will need to be worked flexibly to fit in with the demands of the work. There will be some evening work. The Supported Housing project is one of 10 projects run by the Elfrida Society for people with learning difficulties. September