Job Description 1. Job Identification Job Title:

Housing Outreach Worker

Jobholder:

Department: Permanent/ Fixed‐Term

Customer Services 3 year Fixed Term (reviewable annually)

Location: Weekly Hours:

35 hours

Prepared by:

LHA

Date:

Aberdeen

Aberdeen

2. Organisational Position Immediate Line: Supervisor(s) Function: Immediate Subordinates (specify job titles and number of posts)

Mentor – Housing Services Manager

N/A

3. Overall Purpose of Job To contribute to the quality of life for people from minority ethnic communities, migrant workers and their families by increasing and improving their understanding of options for housing and other support services, and how to access them. 4. Principal Responsibilities 1. Promote existing housing services to ethnic minority and migrant worker communities to maximise uptake 2. Encourage applications and uptake of housing by ethnic minority and migrant worker communities by raising awareness of their rights and providing support to pursue these 3. Provide signposting information to actively encourage these communities to take up housing and other support services and facilities 4. Support, assist and empower these communities to articulate their housing needs 5. Develop links and partnership working with the public, RSL and voluntary sectors where appropriate to further the aims and outcomes of the project. 6. As a member of the RSL Housing Equalities Working Group, work in partnership with, and provide advice and assistance to, the RSL sector as appropriate 7. Advise on, promote and encourage good practice regarding equalities issues within the council and RSL sectors 8. Contribute to reports on identified housing needs to providers of support, services or facilities to help ensure services are developed and made available to meet these needs 9. Identify specific information needs of the Minority Ethnic and Migrant Worker Communities, such as translation services, to enable a consolidated approach on how these can be best provided 10. Provide regular reports as required on the Project, for example on progress against objectives. 11. Service the Advisory Group by agreeing dates, venues etc., preparation and distribution of meeting papers and minuting of meetings 12. Other reasonable tasks as instructed by the post holders mentor and advisory group.

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5. Job Activities Managing Employees

N/A

Financial Resources

N/A

Information Resources

Accessing, updating and maintaining both computerised and paper based information systems in order to ensure all data held is correct, relevant and accessible. Word processing and data inputting to create / update / delete new files and client data. Use of the internet as a research tool. Report on activity and achievements to the Advisory Group Use of Office based IT equipment and use of company mobile phone.

Physical Resources

6. Relationships with Others Seek out and build relationships with Minority Ethnic Communities to facilitate the provision of relevant housing options and advice. Actively participate in the development of the service through representation of the project at appropriate inter agency meetings. Representation of clients needs to the Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords in the seeking of suitable housing and information. Accepting of referrals made by other agencies including, but not limited to, Grampian Racial Equality Council, International Centre, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Langstane Housing Association, Grampian Housing Association, Castlehill Housing Association and Sanctuary Housing, of applicants requiring the support of the service. Report to mentor and to the Advisory Group on activities relating to the role on the number of referrals being managed, links made and the outcomes of referrals. Representing of the project at external meetings as required by the post.

7. Level of Decision‐Making/Supervision required Ability to decide on the level of support required to assist clients and the use of other services in the provision of the service, including use of external factors such as Language Line and onward referrals to other agencies such as Citizens Advice Bureau, GREC, and Money Advice etc. Prioritisation of own workload in conjunction with mentor. Sound understanding and promotion of the Partners Equal Opportunities and Customer Care policies. Identification of areas of service development for the project. Required to work with minimum supervision and to manage existing and new caseload to achieve the objectives of the project.

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8. Organisation/Planning Organise requirements of the post to enable a high level of service to be delivered to clients of the service and to the Partner agencies. Manage own workload and prioritise duties and responsibilities of the post and the needs of clients to achieve the best outcome for clients.

The post holder will consolidate and develop the work already done by the project and will work towards achieving the project’s outcomes. These are: • • • •

Minority ethnic communities are better informed of what their housing options are and how to access them; There is increased partnership working between housing providers, minority ethnic communities, support organisations and other agencies; There is an increase in the uptake of housing services and a subsequent reduction in homelessness by minority ethnic communities; Minority ethnic communities are better able to articulate their housing needs and these are better represented in the strategic housing plans of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

This Job Description is intended to provide a general statement of the major tasks and activities of the job. It is not an exhaustive list of all its detailed duties. As a term of your employment you will undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required of you and that are broadly consistent with the job. Job Description Agreement Jobholder:

Date:

Line Manager:

Date:

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PERSON SPECIFICATION CRITERIA Qualification/Training

Experience

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

Satisfactory general education to standard grade level or equivalent

Educated to Higher Grade standard or equivalent

Ability and willingness to undertake training and update skills where necessary

Further qualification in housing, community work or related field

Proven experience of direct working with relevant groups, e.g. minority ethnic community groups or vulnerable people.

Experience of working in a customer focused environment

Ability to cope with change and be flexible Management of conflicting and diverse workload Ability to work within agreed targets and towards specified objectives

Skills/Knowledge

Excellent communication skills, orally and written with a wide range of contacts

Understanding of the role of Social Housing and housing options.

Ability to liaise and co‐operate with colleagues and external contacts to provide top quality customer service Ability to facilitate and mediate within small/medium groups Ability to use initiative and think on ones feet Sound understanding of the operation of Voluntary Organisations and Community Groups Sound understanding of equal opportunities issues

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Personal Qualities

Valid driving licence Use of car for work purposes Ability to work outwith “normal” office hours Willingness to undertake relevant training as identified by the Advisory Group, mentor or post holder.

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