Project Worker - Fitzwilliam / Shared Houses

About us:

At Dublin Simon Community, we are passionate about making home a reality. Our aim is to empower people to access and retain a home by providing housing, prevention, addiction treatment, emergency response, and other targeted interventions, through advocacy and partnership.

If you share our values and want to make a difference then apply for this role with Dublin Simon Community and join the team!

About the job:

Contract type: full-time permanent.
Location: Wicklow town.
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 9 am – 5:30 pm, availability Monday-Sunday.
Salary: 35,000 progressing to 35,500 after 6-month probation.

The Simon Community has a number of homelessness services in Wicklow including Short term accommodation, long-term accommodation, family TEA, shared houses, and prevention and tenancy services. As a Project Worker – Wicklow you will work in one or more of these services. You may be required to provide support and assistance to those who are at risk of becoming homeless or moving from homelessness and require support in setting up their home and provide support via community clinics. You may provide support with clients on residential services, progressing clients towards independent living. You will work as part of a team and report to the Service Manager for Wicklow.

Responsibilities:

• Provide support to clients of any / all Simon community projects throughout Wicklow County, including but not limited to residential, information clinics, emergency and visiting support services.
• Develop, manage, implement and review housing support plans for clients, which may be single persons, couples, and families with children, while working internally and externally to achieve service and clients targets.
• Manage a caseload of clients as part of a multi-disciplinary team, adhering to care and case management systems and protocols.
• Provide clients living in Simon and in WCC/private accommodation with the supports they need to manage their living space and to move on from homelessness.
• Drive and implement care and case management processes and protocols whilst lone working in clients' home/residential settings. Carry out risk assessments and follow safeguarding protocols for vulnerable clients and children.
• Liaise and foster successful relationships with the council, social housing providers, landlords, and local authorities and increase the accommodation move-on options for clients.
• Advocate on behalf of tenants, responding rapidly and providing practical aid in a crisis arising for the tenant.
• Assist the client with access to relevant services e.g. Housing Welfare, Estate Management, Social Welfare, Primary Care services, and Rent sections.
• Provide emotional and practical support to service users who are leaving homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or entering homeless services. Work from a strengths-based perspective to encourage resilience in service users and support them in feeling empowered.
• Facilitate clients to access housing, maintenance, and repair services information and advise of their rights and responsibilities. Work with the Property and Housing Management Function to ensure buildings are managed in line with H&S requirements.
• Facilitate clients to develop positive relationships with their neighbours.
• Ensure clients and residents are consulted and involved in the operation of the projects as far as possible.
• Review, with clients, tenancy agreements and contracts, and refer them to organisations such as Threshold and RTB, that may assist them, providing them with relevant legislation changes.
• Facilitate clients to access community services that they require.
• Report and record any child protection issues to the DSC child protection officer if concerned, and liaise with relevant child protection services as directed.
• Record client caseload data and update regularly. Compile statistics, update PASS and Internal IT Systems, and keep the system updated regularly.
• Attend bi-weekly team meetings, planning days, and function planning days
• Perform all administrative duties relating to the role in order to ensure that clients are supported in an effective and timely manner.
• Prepare reports, statistics, and other information as required by Dublin Simon Community.
• Participate in regular supervision and performance review, for professional self-growth.
• Support the manager in the implementation of the strategic and operational action objectives.
• Carry out front-line duties as required, to ensure the smooth running of the services including the management of the quality and health and safety functions.

Essential for the role:

• BA/BS degree in psychology, social care, addiction, counselling, youth work, community development, psychotherapy or similar.
• 1+ years experience working in a social care setting, working with vulnerable clients.
• Understanding of why people become homeless and the needs they have.
• Understanding of supporting clients to settle into their new tenancies.
• Client-focused, adaptable, accountable, resilient individual.
• Ability to manage challenging behaviour, whilst being respectful and professional.
• Experience developing strong relationships, with clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to support clients independently, within the support of a team.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave,
• 5% matched contribution to your pension,
• Paid Sick Leave Policy,
• Paid Maternity Leave Policy,
• Bike to Work Scheme,
• Commuter Travel Tax Savers Ticker,
• 1st-week Comprehensive Training.
• Progression Opportunities

Please note, if you are unsure of any of the requirements, contact the Recruitment Team on (01) 635 4860

Apply for the position

Application due date: 03/10/2024
For queries relating to this position please telephone (01) 635 4860