EMPLOYMENT VACANCY: PRISON IN-REACH HOUSING SUPPORT WORKER – HAIL IN
HOUSE PROJECT TEAM F/T POST, 2YR CONTRACT
Job title: Prison In-Reach Housing Support Worker
Location: Dublin, primarily based in Mountjoy/ Dochas, with possible
travel to surrounding counties
RESPONSIBLE/REPORTING TO: Head of Services, HAIL
JOB PURPOSE: To support individuals in accessing appropriate
accommodation in the community on release from custody
SALARY SCALE: € *, * -
€ *, *.
JOB INFORMATION:
This is a fixed-term post for 2 years with the possibility this may be
extended. It is full-time post, * hours per
week - 9. * – 5. *
Monday to Friday. Please note this role will require some evening and
occasional weekend work and flexibility may be required
ABOUT HAIL
HAIL is an Approved Housing Body with a strong reputation in providing
both quality housing and floating support services to people with
mental health difficulties in their own homes across Dublin, Kildare,
Laois and Louth.
HAIL’s vision is to be the provider of choice for housing and
support for people with mental health difficulties, enabling them to
achieve and sustain independent living in the community by having
secure, quality, affordable accommodation with appropriate support
services tailored to their needs.
HAIL’s mission is to provide housing and individually tailored
support services to support tenants and clients, primarily those with
mental health difficulties, to integrate and live independent lives in
the community.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
This position entails working across two prisons as part of mental
health In-reach multi-disciplinary teams. It would suit a motivated
individual with excellent self-management competences. You will work
as part of the Prison In-Reach and Court Liaison Service (PICLS) team
to work with individuals with mental illness who are homeless, or at
risk of homelessness when leaving Mountjoy and Docas prisons and to
provide advocacy and support to enable a smooth transition into
suitable accommodation in the community.
KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – CLIENT SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY
* To work as part of the PICLS team as a housing and accommodation
specialist, focusing on clients with mental illness who are homeless
or at risk of homelessness when leaving Mountjoy and Dochas prisons
* To complete housing needs assessments with each individual
referred to the service in order to identify their support needs
regarding accommodation on release
* To perform as a member of the multidisciplinary PICLS team;
attending team meetings and inter-agency meetings in order to
contribute to the holistic care-planning for each individual referred
to the service
* To support and advocate for clients with relevant statutory and
voluntary agencies in order to achieve best housing outcomes for each
individual when released to the community
* To support clients in completing any applications/referral forms
that will assist in their release plan
* To liaise with the client’s legal team in order to coordinate an
appropriate release plan
* To ensure clients have relevant information on housing and welfare
benefits on release from prison; providing advice and support when
required
* To liaise with families of clients when relevant or appropriate to
their release plan
* To coordinate professional visits and multi-agency meetings with
the client and relevant agencies where this is conducive to a positive
housing outcome
* To attend court appearances as appropriate
* To liaise with CWO as required to arrange appointments regarding
social welfare payments on release
* To provide initial post-release support and advocacy to support
clients to sustain their tenancy for an agreed period of time
depending on client need
KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT & MANAGEMENT
* To develop and maintain positive working relationships with
relevant homeless services, housing support services and Local
Authorities , in order to ensure, where possible, that each individual
has appropriate accommodation and housing support on release
* To liaise with homeless services, community mental health teams
and other support services post release, regarding each individual’s
release plan in order to contribute to a positive transition from
prison to the community and support their recovery
* To work closely with Forensics Mental Health services in the
prison to plan and implement appropriate housing goals and access to
other relevant support services
* To represent HAIL at multi-disciplinary and sector meetings as
required
KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER DUTIES
* To maintain high quality and secure confidential records of client
progress in line with GDPR and HAIL policies and procedures
* To utilise agreed client data recording systems to record client
service admission, interventions and relevant subsequent outcomes
* To ensure each client has a completed Needs Assessment, Risk
Assessment, Support Plan, and all associated documentation which is
kept regularly under review
* To assist the Head of Services/ line manager in the collation of
monthly statistics and any other information as required by the funder
* To attend and actively participate in internal/external meetings,
training events, conferences and other functions as directed by line
manager/ Head of Service
* To participate in and co-ordinate the delivery of research on
behalf of the organisation
* To work closely with other projects within HAIL to promote the
PICLS service and to actively build positive professional
connections
* To participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal, and
help in identifying your own job-related development and training
needs
* To ensure that all HAIL policies and procedures are being adhered
to, particularly those relating to Health and Safety, Complaints, Code
of Practice and Confidentiality and GDPR
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Key requirements for the positions of Prison In-Reach Housing Support
Worker are;
* QUALIFICATIONS
* If you are interested in joining our team you must have at least 3
years experience in Homeless/Housing services and/ or specific
relevant experience of more than 3 years in Mental Health support.
* Applicants should hold a recognised and relevant 3rd level
qualification such as RPN/Social Worker and/or FETAC Level 7/8
Qualification in Social Care, or other relevant qualification.
* EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
_THE APPLICANT MUST HAVE PROFICIENT EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS TO BE DEEMED SUITABLE FOR THIS POSITION._
ESSENTIAL:
* Experience (3 years+) of working with people with mental health and
other complex needs, or
* Extensive experience (3 years+) of the homeless/housing sector
* Experience of working with clients in their transition to
independent living and a working knowledge of Tenancy Sustainment
and/or Housing Resettlement Models
* Experience in developing individual case management strategies and
plans for service users with complex needs and the ability to manage a
challenging workload
* Experience of completing Client Centred Assessments & Risk
Assessments and implementing appropriate safety measures
* Ability to set clear objectives and put goals in place using a
consistent approach to care planning around the needs of those
presenting with multiple care and support needs
* A working knowledge of Life Skills Mapping and/or Recovery
Orientated Programmes (WRAP/STAR)
* A working knowledge of the criminal justice system and housing law
as this relates to a tenant’s rights and responsibilities
* Knowledge of Welfare entitlements
* Ability to manage challenging behaviour and risk de-escalation
appropriately
* Ability to take initiative and responsibility
* Analytical and problem-solving skills.
* Demonstrate working knowledge of I.T based programmes such as
Excel, Power Point AND Word Processing
* Ability to formulate and structure research-based documents and
present them to colleagues and funders
DESIRABLE:
* Experience of working in the criminal justice system
* Experience and competencies in trauma informed practice and/or
experience of working with women who have a history of being involved
in the criminal justice system and of their related support needs
* CONDITIONS
* The Salary will be commensurate with the experience of the
individual appointed and in line with the Organisations salary scale.
* APPOINTMENT
* Posts will be filled immediately
* All contracts are subject to successful completion of six-month
probationary period
* Use of a car and a full driving license is essential
* PLEASE NOTE THIS POST IS FUNDED BY THE HSE AND IS SUBJECT TO A
SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please send your C.V. and letter of application to **Apply on the
website**
*Only those shortlisted for Interview will be responded to.
HAIL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER.
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Health
