JOB DESCRIPTION

Employer:  Cornerstone CLG

Position:  Emergency Accommodation Manager

Reporting to:  Services Manager

Classification:  Full-Time (35 hours per week) 

Work Environment:  The Emergency Accommodation Manager will be based at Cornerstones premises in Finisklin in Sligo town.

Hours of work:  The principal hours of work will be 9.00am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. There is also a requirement for on-call services and to have flexibility to work outside of these hours should an emergency or crisis arise, and their presence is required.

Primary Purpose:  To work as a part of Cornerstones Homeless Service to deliver a service to individuals experiencing homelessness in County Sligo. The hostel manager has the responsibility for ensuring that all service users of emergency homeless services have been assessed and that a care plan is produced and carried out. He/she will be responsible for the co-ordination of care provided to Service Users and to work in conjunction with the homeless services manager on the co-ordination of the service.

Service Delivery:

• To work within the overall policies and procedures of Cornerstone.
• To provide an on-call service as required.
• To build up and maintain a portfolio of accommodation providers in social housing, homeless sector and private rented accommodation.
• To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and service.
• To work in close liaison and co-operation with other teams within Cornerstone and other Statutory and Voluntary Agencies as deemed appropriate
• To work to the service model and standards of best practice
• To attend Team, Section, Departmental, Agency and external meetings, including handovers, and training as required
• To meet regularly for supervision of work with your assigned Supervisor
• To supervise staff, students or volunteers 
• To implement existing policies and procedures and to input into the development of new ones
• To plan, implement and evaluate the daily activities.
• 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 homeless including the provision of basic physical care and support within the service, respecting service user choice and self-determination.
• To establish trusting relationships especially with service users who are living on the streets or in temporary accommodation and who are unattached or out-of-home and engage them in work that enables them to move to a more stable lifestyle 
• 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 and to access move on accommodation.
• 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.
• To accompany and provide support to service users with appointments to other services, where appropriate.
• Establish positive working relationships with relevant agencies with a view to promoting better access and clearer pathways for services users seeking support
• Ensure participation by Cornerstone at case reviews and other client related meetings 

Admin:

• To be responsible for keeping up to date casework records, daily logs and written assessments. Inputting information on the Cornerstones database, Outcome Star online and PASS.
• Ensure written records on clients and data on service as required by Cornerstone and statutory bodies, including funders, are in place, are of an acceptable standard and are up to date.
• Working with the Homeless Services Manager to 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 services and review all financial procedures and controls on an ongoing basis.

Line Management:

• Work closely with the Homeless 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.
• Ensure that staff are recruited, inducted, and probated 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 Cornerstones 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 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 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 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. 

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.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: All employees are expected to familiarise themselves with the Cornerstones Health and Safety Policy and adhere to its procedures to ensure the health and safety of staff and service users and the security of the premises. 

CONFIDENTIALITY: Each staff member is expected to observe the highest ethical standards, to treat all service users equally and fairly, to respect their right to confidentiality and to maintain confidentiality on all matters related to Cornerstones staff and board of directors. Where there are child protection concerns the Cornerstones policy on child welfare and protection must be followed and may require a referral to the relevant person in Tusla. Where there are concerns regarding the safety of a vulnerable adult the Cornerstone policy of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults must be followed and may require a referral to the relevant person in the HSE.

The above represents the principal conditions of service and is not intended to be the comprehensive list of all terms and conditions of employment which is set out in the employee’s contract of employment and Cornerstones staff handbook.

Employee Acknowledgement 

I have read and understand this job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned. I acknowledge that it does not identify all tasks that may be expected, nor address the standards of performance that must be maintained for continuing employment.