Senior Caseworker

Role:                Senior Caseworker

Based:            Camberwell with frequent travel across London, primarily Lambeth

Rate:               £17 ph PAYE or £22 ph Umb

Start Date:      ASAP

Duration:         Temp ongoing

Hours:             35 hours per week Monday to Friday - 9am – 5pm

Hybrid:              1 day in office in Camberwell 4 days outreach and work from home

Our client is looking for a Senior Caseworker to be part of the Lambeth Floating Support team. To support young people to sustain tenancies as well as source suitable tenancies in line with procedures in place. This service will also support Social Workers and Personal Advisors and placement keyworkers to support move on options.

The medium-level floating support team will work with young people who require support when moving into independent living in order to address support needs and sustain their tenancies.

 Synopsis of Duties

• Managing and monitoring project budgets and finances. Working closely with the Finance team and project managers to set an annual budget for each area of responsibility. Regularly reviewing income and expenditure against this budget with project managers and Finance team.
• Working closely with both Finance team and Bid team to design budgets for bid proposals
• To lead by example; be the day-to-day expert within team, be a positive role model to the team of caseworkers and escalate concerns to the Team Leader or Service Manager and providing data and narrative reports for internal and external purposes.
• To ensure, on a day-to-day basis, all monitoring information and evidence is being recorded and collated in line with agreed processes and procedures
• To contribute to the services’ out-of-hour rota as required
• To work closely with the Team Manager to ensure the team can work effectively e.g. identifying training opportunities, peer-supervision
• To provide support, advice and advocacy for young people regarding accommodation.
• To produce support plans and risk management plans based on assessments. To promote inter-agency collaboration in the assessment and planning process, and to include appropriate agencies in the delivery of the service
• To develop and maintain relationships with partner agencies, including community-based services such as police, YOT, Probation, children’s services, local authorities and other voluntary sector organisations ensuring appropriate information is shared, supported referrals are made and avoiding duplication of support
• To deliver a holistic support service working solo or with colleagues as the situation dictates; providing a practical service that will include social support, housing support, accompanying appointments, viewings, ETE options, benefits work, debt advice, assistance obtaining furniture, liaising with utilities, appearing in court, DIY work and cleaning
• To close cases efficiently and positively, including identifying a referral route for young people and when required.
• To promote the value of lifestyle changes to the young people being supported
• To invest in your personal development by attending core and additional training to keep abreast of issues facing children and young people such as Trauma Informed Training, Child Criminal (and sexual) exploitation and contextual safeguarding)
• Support Team manager with presentations and support the team/caseworkers with complex caseloads by providing solutions and personal development, learning and day to day tasks
• To carry out any other similar duties as required and be flexible to the changing needs of this, fast paced service

 Essential Requirements:

• Experience of supporting Young People with Housing support and Tenancy Sustainment
• Experience of supervising staff and/or volunteers
• Proven experience of engaging positively with vulnerable young people or other vulnerable groups with understanding and knowledge of relevant policies and legislation
• Experience of using support plans to enable young people to successfully access and sustain accommodation and support services
• Substantial experience of providing support, advice and advocacy and communicating effectively, the needs of young people to other professionals
• Experience in working as part of a multiagency team, working together to achieve positive outcomes for young people and establishing links to further the aims of a project
• DBS on the update service
• Available immediately

Supporting Futures Consulting acts as both an employer and an agency.