Homeless Prevention & Support Officer

The Homeless Prevention & Support Officer is a frontline position in Carlow County Council’s Housing Department. The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary team within the Council, assisting with the implementation of work programmes to achieve goals, targets and standards set out in Departmental and Team Development Plans. The Homeless Prevention & Support Officer is expected to use initiative, work to a high standard and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Duties:

The role involves, but is not limited to the following duties:

• Interviewing and assessing clients seeking a homeless service by appointment or unscheduled presentation at public counter

• Providing assessment and advice to people who are homeless

• Providing intervention necessary to address the issues that are preventing the individual/family from moving home

• Investigating cases thoroughly – maintaining links with other local authorities, Gardai, Health Services and any other relevant bodies

• Working with Carlow County Council Tenancy Sustainment Service

• Organising temporary emergency accommodation within the existing services available should it be required

• Case managing families and individuals in emergency accommodation, or those in certain other types of emergency accommodation that require support

• Being responsible, as Case Manager, for engaging the clients who are homeless to identify their individual support needs, help them engage with appropriate community/health services and for developing and implementing an exit strategy from homelessness in each case

• Working closely with HAP Place Finder Service in achieving exit goals for homeless clients and enabling and assisting clients to source suitable private rented accommodation

• Assisting persons in settling into accommodation and ensuring that clients are fully briefed on services available to them from external agencies

• Conducting out of hours patrols to assist homeless persons during times of severe weather events

• Creating and maintaining files and records of services users and offering clients ongoing support

• Documenting meetings and calls with clients

• Producing reports and presentations based on work

• Participating in the Homeless Action Team (HAT) to meet the needs of the homeless clients, or those at risk of homelessness

• Preparing Returns and Claims for the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage as required

• Collating data and statistics regarding the homeless service as required from time to time

• Responsibility for the day-to-day financial management of expenditure and for reporting on same as part of the Council’s budgetary process

• Compliance with all statutory, legal and quasi statutory rules and regulations covering Safety, Health and Welfare at work issues

• To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required, or assigned, from time to time

The above specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. The duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to, an appropriate Officer or such designated officer as may be assigned from time to time by Carlow County Council.

COMPLETING A COMPETENCY BASED APPLICATION FORM

A Competency Based Application Form requires you, as the candidate, to describe some of your personal achievements to date, to demonstrate certain competencies (necessary skills & qualities) required for the position you are applying for. All question areas must be answered, as you will be questioned on all areas should you be called for interview.

You should describe situation(s) from your own experience, which you think is the best example(s) of what you have done which demonstrates the specific competency. It is essential that you describe how you demonstrated the skill or quality in question. The example(s) may be drawn from your experience in various settings, including employment, community, sporting or voluntary. Please do not use the same example to illustrate your answer to more than two areas of competence. Please note the interview board may look for additional examples of where you demonstrated the skills required for the post.

Carlow County Council is seeking candidates that demonstrate strong administrative and communication skills. They must also be self-motivated and committed to delivering quality public services. Key Competencies for the post have been identified as essential for the role of Homeless Prevention & Support Officer as follows:

KEY COMPETENCIES

Performance Management

• Demonstrates by examples experience of objective setting, monitoring, and successful work-based achievements

• Demonstrates experience of effective team building both within the workplace and externally with stakeholders

• Demonstrates experience of effective conflict management and resolution

• Thinking and acting strategically

• Effectively manage the introduction of change and demonstrate flexibility and openness to change

Leadership/Motivation/Decision Making

• Demonstrates understanding of social situations and dynamics and ability to operate effectively

• Empowers, influences, and encourages others to gain supports for ideas, proposals, and solutions

• Builds constructive working relationships characterised by a high level of acceptance, co-operation, and mutual respect

• Acts decisively and makes timely, informed, and effective decisions

• Presents ideas effectively to individuals and groups

Interpersonal Skills / Communication

• Demonstrates experience of report writing and correspondence

• Demonstrates experience of work-based dealings with a variety of groups/agencies

• Demonstrates experience of effecting work-based improvements in the face of opposition

• Demonstrates experience of making presentations

• Demonstrates experience of negotiating successful outcomes

• Demonstrates experience of chairing or contributing to group problem solving

• Demonstrates experience of dealing with and resolving conflict that requires excellent interpersonal, negotiating and communication skills

Personal Effectiveness

• Take initiative and seek opportunities to exceed goals

• Manage time and workload effectively and operate in an environment with significant complexity and pace

• Maintain a positive, constructive and enthusiastic attitude to the role

• Take initiative and seek opportunities to exceed goals

• Manage time and workload effectively and operate in an environment with significant complexity and pace

• Remain calm under pressure and maintain a positive, constructive, and enthusiastic attitude to their role

QUALIFICATIONS

Character

Each candidate must be of good character.

Health

Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are appointed, to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the Local Authority.

Citizenship

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or

f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

Education, Experience etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(i) (a) Possess the National Diploma in Applied Social Care Studies awarded by Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

OR

(b) Possess the Diploma in Social Care awarded by Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

OR

(c) Possess the Diploma in Applied Social Studies/Social Care from DIT

OR

(d) Possess a BA (Ord) in Social Care Practice (minimum Level 7 on the QQI framework)

OR

(e) Relevant 3rd Level Qualification in Social Care/Social Studies or related field.

(ii) Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in the area of homeless service provision or similar type service

(iii) A good knowledge of services within the homeless sector

(iv) Proficient administration and computer skills

DRIVING LICENCE:

Holders of the post must hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. If you are required to travel as part of your official duties, Carlow County Council as your employer must be indemnified on your insurance policy. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and Carlow County Council’s Travel and Subsistence Policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately. Carlow County Council reserves the right to provide a van to enable you to carry out your duties. The provision of a van will be at the discretion of the Chief Executive.