We have immediate need for a Housing Support Specialist, working within our Specialist Housing Support service. This position is full time, 35 hours per week.

Job Title:                       Housing Support Specialist

Responsible to:       Specialist Housing Support Manager

Location:                      Kings Court, Bristol

Salary:                          £29,181

Contract:                      Fixed term – until end of March 2026

Role Purpose

The role of the Housing Specialist is to support clients who are currently engaged with drug and alcohol services to provide specialist housing support. The worker will assess clients and work to prevent homelessness occurring or support clients to access safe and secure accommodation. The Housing Specialist will co-produce support plans with clients to address their housing needs and will be committed to trauma-informed, strengths-based and person-centered approaches.

Specific Duties

• Supporting clients to sustain accommodation and prevent homelessness by providing tailored 1-1 support sessions, person centered support plans and trauma informed working
• Advocate on behalf of Ara clients, ensuring the highest quality interventions for them with partners
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organisations relevant to the role and in line with service business plans
• Provide a housing drop in to assist clients with their housing related support needs.
• Work with relevant services to develop a robust referral and assessment process for clients with a housing support need.
• Engage with landlords and potential excluders to prevent homelessness and/or arrange for potential move on options
• Work closely with colleagues within the Specialist Housing Support Service to ensure the offering is relevant, up-to-date, and reflects the needs of lived experience.
• Promote Ara’s Specialist Housing Support Service with external stakeholders as required.
• Develop own knowledge and practice by: (1) undertaking training as required and agreed with line manager; (2) meeting regularly with line manager for supervision and support; (3) participating in staff and team meetings throughout Ara as required.
• Maintain accurate records and provide statistical information on levels and types of client engagement, to assist delivery and evaluation of the Specialist Housing Support Service and allow informed decision making about future initiatives.

Other Activities

• In consultation with the Specialist Housing Support Manager, fully adhere to all aspects of Ara’s safeguarding policies in relation to all advice, support, interventions and services.

• Be responsible for own administrative output e.g. word-processing with the support of the central administrative & IT department where necessary.
• To present as an appropriate role model to Ara volunteers & clients, and to maintain professional boundaries in the workplace at all times.
• Observe at all times Ara’s Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality, Data Protection, Inclusion and Diversity and Health and safety at work policies.
• Undertake other duties and responsibilities in keeping with the nature of this post as may be required from time to time.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of developing relationships with external stakeholders
• Experience of supporting vulnerable people
• Good understanding of current provision in housing/homelessness
• Good understanding of drug and alcohol services in Bristol
• Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter-agency liaison
• Experience/knowledge of community services throughout Bristol
• Ability to deliver an empathic and can-do approach to service users
• Ability to design and deliver presentations
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Time management skills and ability to be self-servicing re administrative output
• Excellent communication skills, clear written style, concise report writing and a methodical approach to work.
• High level of literacy and numeracy and the ability to produce succinct reports and costed proposals
• Good knowledge of health and safety, safeguarding and data protection policies

Personal Qualities

• Confidence to work with autonomy and minimal supervision to deliver tangible results
• Self-motivated and able to work under pressure
• Demonstrates trust, openness and respect in dealings with people, treating everyone with compassion and kindness promoting equality and diversity
• A good communicator who listens, is able to express themselves clearly and encourage clients to strive for a healthier life
• A positive individual with a ‘can do’, results driven approach and attitude
• The ability to prioritise tasks and work under pressure
• Flexible and adaptable to changing workloads
• Professional boundaries in place
• A commitment to Ara’s overall aims and objectives with an ability to present Ara in a way that is consistent with its philosophy
• Embodies the Ara values of being Aspiring, Brave, Competent and Determined

Closing date for applications: 31^st March 2025

Interviews: 3^rd & 4^th April 2025

To apply, please email recruitment@recovery4all.co.uk with a CV and covering letter. For more information about Ara, please visit www.recovery4all.co.uk.