Advice Worker Night-Shelter

Purpose of post:

To meet with and assess the needs of Robes Project homeless guests and work with them to access services and benefits in order to improve their situation and move towards the goal of securing longer-term accommodation.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide a professional service to homeless guests of the Robes Project, agree realistic action plans and follow these through with guests.
2. Advise and assist guests on how and where to access relevant services and benefits, accompanying them where necessary and helping them e.g with CVs and correspondence.
3. Work in close liaison with advice workers at the referral agencies and other professional organisations.

4. Liaise with statutory, voluntary and other sectors to resolve guests’ housing problems
5. Act as an advocate for guests and represent them where required.
6. Work closely with Project Co-ordinator, sharing information and participating in the review of cases.
7. Covering for the role of the Project Co-ordinator where required on a weekly basis, to enable the Co-ordinator to take time off.
8. Visit project venues while shelter is open as necessary to maintain good communication with guests and team leaders.
9. Attend meetings, including steering group evening meetings, when required.
10. Keep and maintain accurate records, including the actions agreed with guests, and outcomes achieved.
11. Assist the coordinator to collect and maintain information for the preparation of the Robes Annual Report.

Essential criteria

1. Excellent listening and communication skills
2. A non-judgemental and compassionate approach
3. Experience of working with homeless people
4. Knowledge of services available for homeless people
5. Experience and understanding of homelessness issues
6. Knowledge of housing legislation as it applies to homeless people
7. Knowledge of welfare benefits
8. Able to assess need and to provide clear and accurate advice in accordance with that assessment
9. Able to work on own initiative and also to be an active team member
10. Able to empower, encourage and enable others to take action
11. Ability to form positive and beneficial relationships with a wide range of people
12. Able to network and deal positively with a wide range of statutory and voluntary agencies
13. Good IT and administrative skills
14. Proven organisational skills
15. In sympathy with the Christian ethos of the project

Desirable criteria: Clean driving licence

Robes Charity operates from the South London Mission. It is an ecumenical group of churches providing an evening meal, bed and breakfast for upto 15 homeless guests each night for the 5 coldest months of the year. We operate with 19 churches in the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark

www.robes.org.uk