Accommodation Officer

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Devon Partnership Trust as a Mental Health Accommodation Officer, covering the Torbay areas of Devon.Due to the large and rural area the post covers, the requirement to demonstrate the ability to travel to meet the requirements of the role is essential

The ideal candidate will have a background and experience in housing/homelessness, social care and supporting vulnerable adults with mental health issues.

The role is mostly working from home/supporting clients in the community but there is an office base in Torquay. The line management of this post comes under the DPT Social Care Management Team and the social care assessor part of this role is operationally managed by the Social Work lead manager for the Torbay area.

Its a very busy, fast paced position, so the ability to manage/prioritise your own time, caseload and diary is essential.

This is a very rewarding role as you will be enabling people to progress with their mental health recovery pathways and regain independence in the community.

It is a very varied position as it entails working across many partnership agencies and different services within Devon Partnership Trust & Torbay Trust, plus the opportunity to feed into strategic initiatives at a local and national level.

Interviews are scheduled Friday 14 February 2025 , Plym Building, Langdon Hospital, Dawlish, EX7 0NR . Parking is available free on site.

Main duties of the job

The general duties are:

Supporting people using our services to access mental health supported living ,residential care and private rented/social housing options ,and to maintain their accommodation and support them to move on when appropriate.
Supporting hospital discharges
Assessing eligible social care needs in line with the Social Care Act 2014 and reviewing these packages.
Advice on community resources and social prescribing
Signposting carers to resources to support their needs
Advising Social Workers and Clinical teams on housing related matters for their clients.
Managing a caseload and strong skills in time management
Duty to Refer (Homeless Reduction Act 2018)
Social Care Act 2014
Homeless legislation
Safeguarding
Trauma Informed practise
Signposting for benefits advice and working with DWP Vulnerable Customer Teams
Community based visits to clients and providers
Actively researching and creating community partnerships.
Solutions focused approach
Support with warnings for tenancy/licence breaches/ evictions/signposting and support accessing legal advice.
Support to access Devon Home Choice, The Health and Wellbeing/The Supported Living Move on Panel.
Actively seeking new accommodation opportunities in private/ social housing sectors.
Advocating and advising clients to prevent homelessness.
Representing DPT/Torbay Trust at strategical and operational meetings with partner agencies.
Working alongside LA, voluntary and social sector housing services

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

Our values

We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader Employer.

Date posted

28 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9369-25-0001

Job locations

The Annex St. Edmunds

Victoria Park Road

Torquay

TQ1 3QH

St Edmunds

Victoria Park Road

Torquay

Devon

TQ1 3QH

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in a housing related field is essential
Experience of working with people with mental health problems in a community setting

Desirable

Experience of working as an accommodation officer providing information and developing services

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Knowledge and skills

Essential

Must have good understanding of the social care needs of people with mental health problems
Must have knowledge of and work in a recovery orientated approach with people who use mental health services
Excellent communication skills are required particularly in relation to being positive yet honest about peoples needs and abilities.
Good telephone manner
Ability to establish and maintain constructive relationships with partner agencies and individuals
Ability to use E-mail and word process
Ability to analyse information and data to extract pertinent facts.
Ability to make judgement calls in order to help people in finding accommodation
.Able to plan and organise their own work schedule and prioritise their workload, deal with urgent situations
Ability to provide regular input to developing services and knowledge around housing issues and services
Ability to be mobile across Trust locations

Desirable

Knowledge of housing law and provision
Ability to present at small meetings in an appropriate medium

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in a housing related field is essential
Experience of working with people with mental health problems in a community setting

Desirable

Experience of working as an accommodation officer providing information and developing services

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Knowledge and skills

Essential

Must have good understanding of the social care needs of people with mental health problems
Must have knowledge of and work in a recovery orientated approach with people who use mental health services
Excellent communication skills are required particularly in relation to being positive yet honest about peoples needs and abilities.
Good telephone manner
Ability to establish and maintain constructive relationships with partner agencies and individuals
Ability to use E-mail and word process
Ability to analyse information and data to extract pertinent facts.
Ability to make judgement calls in order to help people in finding accommodation
.Able to plan and organise their own work schedule and prioritise their workload, deal with urgent situations
Ability to provide regular input to developing services and knowledge around housing issues and services
Ability to be mobile across Trust locations

Desirable

Knowledge of housing law and provision
Ability to present at small meetings in an appropriate medium

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information