Housing Interventions Worker (Custody based - HMP Parc)

If you are an experienced, positive and solutions focused individual.

Do you have a passion for preventing homelessness, reducing reoffending and supporting meaningful change in the lives of people involved with Criminal Justice services this could be the ideal role for you.

Camau has been commissioned by Her Majesties Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and is delivered across Gwent, South Wales and Dyfed Powys by Forward Trust. The Camau Service offers support to individuals who have been allocated a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement as part of their Community Supervision Licence in preparation for returning to the community upon release from custody.

Our service is now also available to unsentenced men on remand awaiting sentencing. This role is based in HMP Parc, Bridgend, and the post holder will mainly be co-located with Probation resettlement colleagues and working directly with service users on the wings within the prison and also providing face to face housing interventions at Cardiff and Swansea Approved Premises when required.

For more information on our service click here > Camau accommodation probation service - Forward Trust 

We believe and are committed to providing opportunities to all people including those with ‘Lived Experience’ we encourage applications from all background including those in recovery from addiction, co-dependency or gambling, have experience of previous offending or homelessness.

Change lives. Every day.

We’re recruiting people who can bring their unique skills and experiences to help people break the cycles of addiction or crime and build positive, productive futures.

Whether you’re new to a working life or many years down the line in a specialty, we’ll support you every step of the way, in a progressive environment offering enhanced benefits.

And we’ll support you to make a difference to people’s lives.

What you will be doing?

In this role you will be delivering Housing focused interventions to improve housing opportunities and play a key role in homelessness prevention for men on probation.  In order to achieve sustainable housing outcomes you will ensure that a holistic assessment of need is completed with onward referrals to specialist services made for any identified need. You will work closely with Prison, Probation and housing colleagues working safely in line with Forward and Prison and Probation lone working procedures to achieve individual and team targets outlined by the Senior Operations Manager. Working closely with your Camau colleagues and prison and probation colleagues you will discuss and share best practice and fully engage with enforcement and risk assessment processes to deliver a high-quality service focused on reducing reoffending.

Main duties will include:

• Delivering 1-2-1 housing advice and interventions for men on probation or in custody and due for release into the community
• Completing comprehensive housing needs assessments to identify housing and other support needs and developing structured action plans to focus ongoing delivery of housing interventions.
• Actively engage with Camau service objectives to deliver housing interventions that prevent homelessness and improve housing options whilst achieving project specific target outcomes.
• Take an active role in the implementation and achievement of team objectives.
• Build strong relationships with, and make full use of the support offered by, Line Management and Head Office functions.
• Liaising with landlords as appropriate during the process including arranging viewings and tenancy agreements, negotiating rent amounts and terms.
• Source properties in the private rented sector to meet the needs of the service users, including sourcing rooms in shared houses, House of Multiple Occupation, studios and 1 bedrooms.
• Keep regular contact with local authority housing support teams, housing portal website / on line resources, Registered Social Landlords, Local Authority Support Staff, landlords, agents and charitable organisations providing accommodation options within your region for delivery.
• Develop relationships and maintain relationships with new and existing accommodation providers, landlords and agents who accept people claiming Universal Credit and Housing benefit.
• Ensure properties provided are registered with Rent Smart Wales and meet health and safety and property standards and legal requirements through health and safety checks relating to the provision of energy performance certificate, smoking and carbon monoxide monitors fitted and tested and gas safety certificate

What we are looking for?

• Good knowledge of the Housing and Welfare Benefits system
• Experience of providing advice services to clients on welfare benefits and housing/re-housing etc.
• Experience of assessing adults in need of support around housing and social support and/or substance misuse
• Experiencing of constructing support plans for clients in need of housing support to support them in maintaining their tenancy
• A thorough knowledge of the needs of clients who are in abstinence based recovery or experiencing homelessness, or other complex needs of this client group
• Experience of working effectively with adults experiencing multiple disadvantages; unemployment, homelessness, mental ill health, substance use

What we offer

• Training opportunities and career development
• Flexible working
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)