Team Leader

Job description

We’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Team Leader to join our Homelessness service in Westminster.

£, per annum, working hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You’ll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
• Annual leave increasing up to days with length of service
• Free DBS (take this out if BSW advert)
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for - confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• A generous pension – we will contribute up to % and life assurance cover up to £, (T&Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff’s commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

The post holder will work at Edward Alsop Court Hostel a support accommodation service for men with complex needs supporting men with complex substance use, mental and physical health and offending behaviours, and those who are nearing their end of life. The project offers hour high support providing bed spaces. Support is delivered by a team of support workers, specialist support workers and night workers.

The service sits in the heart of Westminster. Westminster is a high profile borough, with extensive network partners in ending homelessness and understanding of the needs of entrenched rough sleepers. Westminster offers extensive training opportunities the service provides good work experience for psychology or social worker graduates. Edward Alsop Court Hostel works in partnerships with Westminster Council, The Passage, The Connection at St. Martin’s, St. Mungo’s, Turning Point, CGL, SLAM and other specialised services. The team works closely with each resident to secure appropriate longer term accommodation from the beginning of their stay.

The ideal candidate will have good knowledge and understanding of homelessness and demonstrate the ability to manage a busy fast paced service. They will be someone who is energetic, enthusiastic, non-judgemental, a team player, thrives on working under pressure, providing effective crisis intervention, able to support staff effectively, demonstrating good problem solving skills, and can demonstrate excellent networking and partnerships. They will have excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) and will be good at using their own initiative.

The shift pattern for this role is: Monday to Friday am-pm, one Sunday per month (on the week you work Sunday you will have Friday and Saturday off).

This is a Fixed Term contract and the role will begin on th September .

What you’ll do:
• Assisting the Manager in ensuring the smooth daily running of the Service at all times and deputising in his/her absence for all matters relating to the management of the Service.
• The line management of allocated staff
• Key working for allocated clients
• Taking a lead for defined areas of work within the project
• Helping clients to identify their personal aims and ambitions, and supporting them to make and carry out plans towards achieving them.
• Providing practical and personal support to clients.
• Ensuring the client can identify and access relevant services. • Liaising with other statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure the appropriate support for clients.
• Working as part of a team responsible for the day to day management of the hostel/ housing, to provide a high quality, safe place to live
• Undertaking a range of procedural and administrative tasks relating to client work, housing management and health and safety, in line with Look Ahead policies and procedures, and in compliance with legal requirements
Key Responsibilities
Administration and Finance
• Ensure proper administrative, financial and record keeping systems are developed and maintained including the operation of computerised systems as appropriate.
• Liaise with DWP, Local Authorities to ensure that all claims, payments, refunds and entitlements are made. As part of the management team ensure effective systems for the collection of charges; ensure that voids and arrears are kept to a minimum.
• Co-ordinate support with partner agencies as necessary Scheme Procedures
• Ensure that the scheme complies with all statutory regulations relating to health and safety, fire precautions etc.
• Develop and maintain the Service procedures. Train staff to comply with these procedure
• Liaise with Technical Services staff and contractors on all aspects of the day-to-day and cyclical maintenance of the building.
Management
• As agreed with the manager, carrying out recruitment and selection of new staff to the team.
• Working with scheme manager to develop performance targets and quality control measures for the work of the team, and monitoring team members’ work to ensure that these are met
• Supporting staff by setting clear objectives and holding individual supervisions regularly.
• Ensuring good communication between staff by holding team meetings regularly, and additional briefings as necessary.
• Inducting new staff and planning the continuing development of existing staff on the basis of an annual appraisal.
• Contributing to the management of the workload of the team to ensure that adequate cover is provided at all times, and team responsibilities are met.
• Ensuring the health and safety of team members. This will include implementing procedures for office safety and use of computer equipment.
• Defining (and reviewing from time to time) the roles of staff to ensure these support the function’s aims and objectives.
• Operating Look Ahead disciplinary and grievance procedures where necessary.
• Ensuring Look Ahead policies and procedures are followed in relation to recording, monitoring and follow up of sickness and absence.
Client Support
•To key work a caseload of clients as and when required by the Manager. This may be ensuring the continuity of support during a project workers absence or working with more complex need clients. • In conjunction with the Manager ensure that effective assessments and action plans are updated for all residents through a key worker system
• Ensure that resident's rights are upheld and promoted in all aspects of the work.
• Work with the project workers to ensure effective move-on plans for individual clients are created and worked towards within the designated timeframes
• Be the internal expert on best practice for the team, particularly in terms of accessing move on accommodation
• Create a culture of co-production and client involvement in the scheme.
• In conjunction with the Manager ensure that all safeguarding concerns, incidents and complaints are managed robustly
General
• Adhere to Look Ahead Policies and Procedures at all times.
• Cover for other members of the team and division as necessary.
• Being proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement and development.
• Undertaking, as required, any other duties compatible with the level and nature of
the post and/or reasonably required by more senior members of staff.
• Attend and participate in divisional and team meetings and other meetings as required.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
 Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, networks in local business community
 Approachable and open behaviour
 Prefers working as part of a group or team
 Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
 Is highly motivated and a self-starter
 Enjoys managing and motivating others
 Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
 Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
 Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
 Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
 Is passionate and enthusiastic about his/her career and job experiences
 Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude.

What you’ll bring:

Desirable:
- Degree level education or equivalent; and/or relevant CMI/NVQ Level or other business/management qualification. Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications are desirable.
- One year management experience or two years experience supporting vulnerable adults.
- Customer Relationship Building/Management
- Leadership
- Verbal & Written Communication & Presentation
- Support Planning

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard . We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.