Community Navigator

Job Title: Community Navigator

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £26,549.63 plus £4000 London Allowance (pro rata) (£27,722.51 (pro rata) is achieved after 18 months successful performance in the role)

Working Hours: Part time 30 hours per week

Working Pattern : precise as possible

Location : Engage Haringey Floating Support Service, Haringey

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

The difference you will make as a Community Navigator

You will work collaboratively as part of a committed team to deliver an outstanding service and a range of personalised support that puts customers first, empowering them to achieve their goals and aspirations.

You will be required to work in the community and visit customers in their own homes. The customers you work with will be facing challenges and may be at risk of becoming homeless.

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs
• An understanding of the current UK Benefit System and working knowledge of Universal Credit
• Team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and have a resilient, can-do attitude
• Excellent time management and communication skills
• The ability to demonstrate initiative and the confidence to make and act on decisions

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.

Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered

Role Profile

Support Customers

Use psychologically informed approaches and Trauma Informed Care principles - supporting customers to develop new ways of thinking and make steps towards independence, by:

• Co-producing bespoke support plans that enable customers to sustain their own tenancies, involving key stakeholders (e.g. family/other support providers) where appropriate.
• Leading on the organisation and delivery of scheduled reviews of support and risk plans or following an incident/significant change in a customer’s circumstances.
• Engaging customers to meet agreed outcomes and develop independent living skills.
• Assisting customers with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters.
• Identifying and promoting opportunities for employment, education and training and supporting customers to remove barriers to accessing these opportunities.
• Supporting customers who may be living in temporary accommodation to be ‘tenancy ready’ enabling successful move on and tenancy sustainment.
• Signposting customers to appropriate external support services, including interventions such as food banks and other community resources.
• Supporting customers to maintain financial independence through budgeting plans and maximising income.
• Assisting customers with sign-posting for specific debt advice, financial statements and negotiating with third parties where necessary.
• Supporting and monitoring customers’ healthcare needs, proactively encouraging appropriate contact with healthcare professionals.
• Ensuring the safety of our customers by following local safeguarding procedures, recognizing and acting on any significant risk, and escalating appropriately.
• Recording and updating clear, factual and accurate strengths-based customer information on the local or appropriate digital platform.

Service Delivery:

• Facilitate the referral process into the service and assess potential new customers.
• Work in partnership with local authority, social and private rented housing to identify suitable accommodation for customers who are living in temporary accommodation or at risk of homelessness to set up and maintain a tenancy either virtual or face to face support.
• Carrying out housing support assessments for vulnerable customers and ensuring they are linked into relevant support and health services as indicated by assessment.
• Provide initial tenancy related support, advice and assistance directly to tenants as required, to prevent escalation of issues and sustain the tenancy.
• Advise and advocate on behalf of the customers.
• Develop and maintain local partnerships to provide a holistic range of support for customers, liaising with them to facilitate access to support.
• Record and update clear, factual, accurate, strengths based customer and statistical information on the local or appropriate digital platform.

Other Information

You will be required to:

• Work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours.
• Travel too customers’ homes within an identified geographical area.
• Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary.
• Ensure customers are safe at all times - carrying out all of your duties within Riverside’s Policy and Procedure framework e.g. health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR, cash handling, etc.
• Deliver your role in line with the Riverside company values – “Our Riverside Way”.
• Participate in team meetings, regular supervisions and reflective practice sessions.
• Undertake regular training and take responsibility for your own continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely.
• From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager.

Person specification

Essential:

• An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs.
• An understanding of the current UK Benefit System and working knowledge of Universal Credit
• Team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and have a resilient, can-do attitude.
• Excellent time management and communication skills
• The ability to demonstrate initiative and the confidence to make and act on decisions.
• Competent administrative and IT skills and ability to produce reports and other communications.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Psychological or Trauma Informed approaches to support.
• Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise tasks to achieve results.
• Knowledge of current benefit systems.
• Experience of working in a care and support environment