Project Worker, B&B Outreach, Cork

Contract: 1-Year Fixed Term Contract, Full Time 

Location: Cork

The B&B Outreach Support Team will provide a range of supports to clients in B&Bs, hotels and other private emergency accommodation, to help them manage in, and move on efficiently from, emergency accommodation. Referrals to the service will be made through the APS Office Manager.

The B&B Outreach Support Worker will use a care and case management approach, providing emotional and practical support to the women, families and children in private emergency accommodation and supporting them to exit emergency accommodation. 

The work of the B&B team aims to reduce the amount of time service users spend in homeless services and to reduce the likelihood of them returning to homelessness.

What you will do:

• Support and Advocacy for homeless individuals while in Emergency Accommodation.
• Assessing housing and other support needs of homeless men using the Care and Case Management Assessment Tools and approach.
• Assisting service users to complete and follow-up the documentation and procedures to facilitate their timely exit from homeless services.
• Supporting men to limit the effect of homelessness on themselves and their children. Initiating referrals to and seeking supports from other agencies (e.g., Tusla, health services, addiction) as required.
• To make contacts/liaise with private B&B and hotels operators manage homeless individuals staying.
• To identify the correct referral path for the person as well as identifying the most appropriate accommodation type.
• Outreach support consists of a range of tasks which enable the individuals to maintain/achieve their tenancy and include supports relating to practical home management (e.g., basic repairs, arrears management, debt counselling etc) to addressing anti-social behaviour (e.g., neighbour disputes, family relationships etc), assisting with mental health / healthcare needs and building links with community and social networks in the local area.
• Assisting in sourcing HAP private rented properties as the exit from homelessness.
• Intervention to manage complex and challenging behaviour.
• Assistance in managing medication/health regimes and liaising with GP and Pharmacists, methadone providers, arranging doctors/outpatients and other appointments.
• To ensure all data is correct and live on Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). Advocating on behalf of service user.

What you will need:

• Minimum Level 7 Degree on National Framework of Qualifications in Social Care / Applied Social Studies in Social Care or a related discipline. Acceptable related disciplines are minimum Level 7 Degree (Major Award) in: Psychology; Counselling and Psychotherapy; Addiction; Youth and Community Work; Social Work; Social Sciences.
• One year's experience of working with homeless people / homeless families and/or other vulnerable groups.
• An understanding of the nature of homelessness and the needs of homeless people.
• An ability to work in a service where clients have multiple and complex needs.
• A good understanding of low threshold services and the harm reduction model.
• A good understanding of short, medium, and long-term accommodation options.
• Good working knowledge of relevant local services and the welfare benefits system.
• A commitment to preventing and managing challenging behaviour.
• A commitment to working from a trauma-informed perspective.
• Ability to cope with and manage Lone Working including out of hours work.
• Advocacy and liaising with other agencies.
• Key-working experience.
• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Experience of needs assessment, support planning and case management.
• Be committed to work in partnership with customers.
• Excellent communication skills
• Full clean driving licence.

 Ideally:

• A proven ability in the areas of Identifying Problems and Contributing to Solutions, Delivering Quality Work and Services and Maintaining Positive Working Relationships.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good information technology (IT) skills.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Good conflict resolution skills. 

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer