Team Leader

Primary Purpose

To lead the and collaborate with NW Cornerstone Case Management Service to deliver a ‘Housing First’ approach to individuals experiencing complex trauma and long-term homelessness in Counties Sligo & Leitrim. Northwest Housing First staff will all work under the principles of Housing First and seek to support service users to live their lives as they choose and to respect their choices, without judgement.

Line Management:

• Manage and work closely with the Services Manager to ensure effective and efficient operations with overall responsibility for the optimum performance of staff.
• Ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place to meet legislative and policy requirements.
• Supervise the delivery and development of services which meet the needs of all service users in an integrated and ‘client focused’ manner ensuring fidelity to the Housing First model.
• Ensure that staff are recruited, inducted, probated and appraised in line with best practice in staff recruitment and employment legislative requirements.
• Ensure staff are supervised, trained, and supported in their roles in line with NW Cornerstone policy and sectoral best practice with a particular focus on continuous professional development.
• Be familiar with and ensure that the service adheres to Children First, and with the Child Protection Procedures of NW Cornerstone
• Be familiar with and ensure that the service adheres to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy and Procedures (i.e. reporting concerns regarding the care and safety of vulnerable adults to NW Cornerstone management and to the HSE).
• Overall responsibility for managing health and safety within area of responsibility.
• Regularly review relevant legislation, governance requirements and general practice within the sector, monitor changes in legislation or practice of relevant organisations and work with the management team in line with best practice.
• Develop, update, and implement relevant NW Cornerstone policies and procedures in accordance with best practice and relevant legislation.
• Ensure that appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to facilitate the organisation to regularly review and continuously improve standards.

Service Delivery:

• To work to the principles and fidelity of Housing First.
• Work within the framework of the overall objectives of the NW Cornerstone Intensive Case Management Service.
• To plan, implement and evaluate the daily activities.
• To work within the overall policies and procedures of the NW Cornerstone.
• To provide an on-call service on a rota basis as required.
• To build up and maintain positive working relationships with all stakeholders relevant to the expansion and delivery of Housing First.
• To network with other professionals for the promotion of Housing First and NW Cornerstone services.
• To lead, support and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team and service.
• To work in close liaison and co-operation with other teams within NW Cornerstone and other Statutory and Voluntary Agencies as deemed appropriate.
• To work to the service model and standards of best practice
• To chair or attend Team, Sectional, Departmental, Agency and external meetings as required.
• To meet regularly for supervision of work with your assigned Supervisor
• To undertake such other duties as might be reasonably assigned from time to time in consultation with the Line Manager.
• To be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or Health & Safety Representative

Clients:

• To provide a safe, welcoming environment for service users that are in Housing First, out of home/or at risk, including the provision of basic physical care and support within the service, respecting service user choice and self-determination.
• Ensure participation by NW Cornerstone at case reviews and other client related meetings.
• To advocate on behalf of service users at both a local and national level.
• To undertake assessments and support planning with service users as the lead agent using the Care and Case Management system and protocols and other tools as appropriate e.g. STAR Outcome to assist the person to successfully progress toward independent living as appropriate.
• To develop methods, structures, and relationships to support the service users with their individual housing, welfare rights and entitlements.
• To provide assistance and direction to the team, to help the service users to create and sustain a home, implementing practices in line with tenancy settlement indicators.
• To accompany and provide support to service users on appointments to other services i.e. doctors, counsellors, court etc.
• To support the service user’s adherence to life skill development (home making skills), pay rent, reporting repair and being a good neighbour.
• To provide Advice, Information and Guidance as a prevention or in response to being out of home.
• To assist the service users, integrate their lives within their local community, providing support in accessing clinical, medical, and other support services.
• To support service users in developing life skills, seeking out education, training, and employment opportunities if and where they so wish,
• To maintain a caseload of service users as is required.
• To provide person centred plans with the promotion of recovery lead and strengths-based practice.

Admin:

• To be responsible for keeping up to date and reviewing casework records, daily logs, and written assessments. Inputting information on the NW Cornerstone database, Outcome Star online and Peoplesafe.
• Ensure the written records on clients and data on the service; as required by NW Cornerstone, statutory bodies and funders, are in place, are of an acceptable standard and are up to date.
• Top monitor and keep track of Housing First staffs annual leave and ensure proper rota cover.
• To keep up to date statistics for service review and annual reports.
• To review and sign off on staff Timesheets and Travel Expenses.
• Work with the Services Manager and Finance Team, to develop the annual financial plan for the service and ensure that the service operates within the agreed annual budget and in adherence with the financial policies, systems and procedures of the organisation and all statutory requirements.
• Identify any financial risks to the service and review all financial procedures and controls on an ongoing basis.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a fully 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.