Housing Specialist

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

Over the next five years, mental health services are going to be undergoing a real transformation and you could be part of these exciting developments. Our housing workforce will become part of a much more integrated network of services and our mental health staff will be central in driving these changes, in close partnership with our primary and third sector colleagues.

An excellent opportunity has become available for three highly motivated and passionate Housing Specialists to join the inpatient services. This is a new, exciting and innovative service which specialises in supporting individuals with housing needs.Successful applicants will be provided with the opportunity to contribute towards the further development of the service while utilising their specialist housing skills, knowledge and experience.

Main duties of the job

Although not essential as training will be provided, it would be advantageous for applicants to have had some experience of working in housing and with people who experience severe and enduring mental health problems. However successful candidates must be able to demonstrate effective communication skills, be enthusiastic, self-motivated, flexible and able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

In line with our Trust value of 'People First', evidence shows that people who are treated in the community and in the least restrictive manner, have better outcomes. In this role you will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, to help us provide the opportunity for the residents of West Sussex in line with national agendas of Getting It Right First Time, a whole system approach to recovery from mental ill health and maximising an individual's quality of life and social inclusion.

About us

We recognise that working in mental health can be stressful at times so we prioritise staff welfare; providing regular supervision, reflective practice, mentoring, and any other support that our staff need to ensure their wellbeing. We also encourage flexible working. We know that a positive work/life balance brings about huge health-related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, partial home-working, part-time hours, or flexible start/finish times. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

Our vision is to provide outstanding care and treatment; the people that we employ are at the heart of making this vision a reality. If you've got the passion, the belief, the drive and the talent to help us achieve our vision then we would like to hear from you.

To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID

Date posted

25 January 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£27,055 to £32,934 a year pa

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-AC-20739-B

Job locations

Worthing / Crawley

Worthing/Crawley

BN13 3EP

Job description

Job responsibilities

To lead on and deliver specialist housing advice, assistance, and interventions for those with an identified housing need. Housing Specialists will support people in relation to their housing needs with an aim of preventing or relieving homelessness

To assess all individuals who may be homeless or at risk of this and working with a key stakeholders to develop a plan support securing settled accommodation. This will include collating information and submitting Duty To Refers to the relevant housing authority. Housing Specialists will act in accordance with Mental Health and Homeless Legislation.

To work between local mental health and housing systems to ensure people who use our services and staff receive high quality and timely specialist housing input and access to wider housing teams and referral pathways.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Undergraduate degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

Significant experience of working in a professional housing advice capacity with people who have housing and mental health needs
Good knowledge and understanding of relevant areas of housing policy and practice including the law relating to local housing authority homelessness duties and the allocation of social housing.
Good understanding of the role and responsibilities in relation to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Undergraduate degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

Significant experience of working in a professional housing advice capacity with people who have housing and mental health needs
Good knowledge and understanding of relevant areas of housing policy and practice including the law relating to local housing authority homelessness duties and the allocation of social housing.
Good understanding of the role and responsibilities in relation to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.