Housing Officer- MHIST

As a Housing Officer, you will manage a caseload of individuals with complex housing needs, providing practical advice, support and advocacy around housing and welfare benefits.

You will work as part of the multidisciplinary team to ensure housing needs are considered throughout a person's care and discharge planning. This will include liaising with local authorities, housing associations, supported accommodation providers, landlords and welfare agencies to identify and secure appropriate housing options.

You will support individuals with housing applications, tenancy sustainment, welfare benefit issues and homelessness prevention, helping them maintain stability and independence within the community.

We are looking for someone with experience of working with vulnerable adults, managing complex cases and developing positive working relationships with partner agencies. Experience within housing, welfare benefits or support services is essential, and experience of working alongside mental health services would be an advantage.

As a service we value partnership working, innovation and personal development, and we are looking for someone who shares our commitment to supporting recovery and improving outcomes for the people we serve.

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £15 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Essential: - Good literacy and numeric skills; - Computer literacy

Desirable: - Housing qualification

Essential: - Detailed working knowledge of welfare benefits legislation and application processes and ability to manage complex benefit cases including appeals or sanctions.; - Knowledge of tenancy sustainment strategies; - Understanding of supported housing pathways and eligibility; - Good level of knowledge and understanding of the current Homelessness/ key housing legislation relevant to supporting vulnerable adults, such as the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.; - Awareness of safeguarding principles when working with vulnerable adults and the need to escalate concerns appropriately; - Understanding of the importance of mult-agency working, including collaboration with local authorities, housing services and community organisations.; - Understanding of the importance of confidentiality, data protection (e.g. GDPR), and accurate record keeping in a healthcare setting.

Desirable: - Knowledge of Health systems/services; - Previous knowledge of mental health care provision

Essential: - Experience of working with vulnerable adults; - Experience of managing a caseload and working with complex clients; - Experience of multi-agency working; - Attending meetings and escalating concerns; - Experience of identifying risk levels, vulnerability and needs; - Experience of working in housing services, benefits offices, voluntary sector, local authorities or other agencies relating to housing and/or other benefits

Desirable: - Experience of working with vulnerable adults who are at risk of homelessness or in unstable housing situations; - Experience advising and supporting individuals to apply for and manage welfare benefits, including resolving complex benefit issues; - Experience of liaising with local authorities, housing providers and voluntary sector agencies.; - Previous knowledge of mental health care provision.

Essential: - Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)