Accommodation Officer

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Devon Partnership Trust as a Mental Health Accommodation Officer, covering the Torbay areas of Devon.Due to the large and rural area the post covers, the requirement to demonstrate the ability to travel to meet the requirements of the role is essential

The ideal candidate will have a background and experience in housing/homelessness, social care and supporting vulnerable adults with mental health issues.

The role is mostly working from home/supporting clients in the community but there is an office base in Torquay. The line management of this post comes under the DPT Social Care Management Team and the social care assessor part of this role is operationally managed by the Social Work lead manager for the Torbay area.

Its a very busy, fast paced position, so the ability to manage/prioritise your own time, caseload and diary is essential.

This is a very rewarding role as you will be enabling people to progress with their mental health recovery pathways and regain independence in the community.

It is a very varied position as it entails working across many partnership agencies and different services within Devon Partnership Trust & Torbay Trust, plus the opportunity to feed into strategic initiatives at a local and national level.

Interviews are scheduled Friday 14 February 2025 , Plym Building, Langdon Hospital, Dawlish, EX7 0NR . Parking is available free on site.

Main duties of the job

The general duties are:

• Supporting people using our services to access mental health supported living ,residential care and private rented/social housing options ,and to maintain their accommodation and support them to move on when appropriate.
• Supporting hospital discharges
• Assessing eligible social care needs in line with the Social Care Act 2014 and reviewing these packages.
• Advice on community resources and social prescribing
• Signposting carers to resources to support their needs
• Advising Social Workers and Clinical teams on housing related matters for their clients.
• Managing a caseload and strong skills in time management
• Duty to Refer (Homeless Reduction Act 2018)
• Social Care Act 2014
• Homeless legislation
• Safeguarding
• Trauma Informed practise
• Signposting for benefits advice and working with DWP Vulnerable Customer Teams
• Community based visits to clients and providers
• Actively researching and creating community partnerships.
• Solutions focused approach
• Support with warnings for tenancy/licence breaches/ evictions/signposting and support accessing legal advice.
• Support to access Devon Home Choice, The Health and Wellbeing/The Supported Living Move on Panel.
• Actively seeking new accommodation opportunities in private/ social housing sectors.
• Advocating and advising clients to prevent homelessness.
• Representing DPT/Torbay Trust at strategical and operational meetings with partner agencies.
• Working alongside LA, voluntary and social sector housing services

Job responsibilities

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

Our values

We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader Employer.