VACANCY INFORMATION PACK

Post No: SC800

Job Title: Housing Law Caseworker (North West Wales)

Dear Candidate,

It is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you as you think about joining our organisation.

Shelter Cymru is an independent Welsh charity (not part of Shelter England or Scotland); founded on the belief that everyone in Wales has the right to a decent, secure home.

Since 1981, Shelter Cymru has helped more than half a million people fight for their rights, get back on their feet and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of homelessness by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions.

Last year, Shelter Cymru helped more than 10,000 households who were struggling with unsafe housing or homelessness through free, independent, expert housing and legal advice on the phone, online and face to face.

At Shelter Cymru, we face very real challenge. We need to raise more money if we are to help more people and we need to recruit and retain high quality staff in a tight employment market. We also want more people to support us through campaigning, volunteering and donating. But, ultimately, we want an end to homelessness, and to put ourselves out of business, by realising a Wales where everyone has a suitable home they can afford.

If you share our values and ambition to Fight for Home; have relevant skills and experience; and can demonstrate the passion and persistence to secure social change, I’d welcome your application.

Thank you for your interest in this role.

With best wishes,

Ruth Power

Chief Executive Officer

If this vacancy is not for you, why not join us as a volunteer? Find out about current opportunities and how to get involved by visiting https://sheltercymru.org.uk/volunteer-pathways-programme/

Role Description

Job Title: Housing Law Caseworker (North West Wales)

Reports to: Team Leader (North West Wales)

Salary: £29,561 per annum

Location: Rhyl or Felinheli with the option of hybrid working following successful probation period

Hours: 35 hours per week

Post No: SC817

Background to our organisation

Shelter Cymru is the people and homes charity in Wales and works for the prevention of homelessness, the improvement of housing conditions, and the right of everyone to a safe, suitable and affordable home.

We understand the damage that bad housing causes. Every day we deal with the effect it has on people's lives.

Shelter Cymru’s 2027 Vision

Shelter Cymru has an ambitious vision that by 2027 the organisation will:

Help more people to find long- term solutions. We want to help more people experiencing or facing homelessness, or living in unsuitable homes, to find long-term solutions to the problems they face

Fight for good homes. Our policy, research, campaigning and lobbying will focus on structural drivers of need, evidenced by our casework, and underpinned by recognition of home as the foundation of people’s personal, social and economic lives and their health and wellbeing Build our resilience and capacity. We want to build a resilient and sustainable organisation that is continually learning and adapting to a changing environment; where our staff, and the people we exist to serve, feel valued and empowered.

Background to the post

As a Housing Law Caseworker you will be part of a team who provide a National Housing Advice Service through a mixture of centre, court and surgery based services.

The delivery and development of National Housing Advice services is one of the primary means by which Shelter Cymru fulfils its aims and objectives of preventing homelessness and improving bad housing

conditions. You will be expected to make a significant contribution to the successful delivery and development of these services.

The main activities of the team are:

• The delivery of high quality and cost effective national housing advice and advocacy services to people in housing need.

• The development and promotion of our services to potential partners and funders.

• To work in a collaborative and constructive way with other services, local authorities and RSLs in the best interest of our users.

• The identification and promotion of housing policy initiatives

The promotion of best practice in housing policy and management through the provision of training and other information channels.

You will deliver advice surgeries, provide advice and representation at court for people with housing possession hearings and other advice services as required across the North West Wales region which covers Ynys Mon, Gwynedd, Conwy and Denbighshire. Delivery venues may vary as operational requirements dictate.

Job summary/purpose

To deliver and develop high quality, cost effective housing rights advice and advocacy services to people in housing need with a focus on preventing homelessness where applicable and improving peoples’ housing conditions. Also to contribute to the promotion of housing policy initiatives and best practice and to work in a constructive and collaborative way with other services, including local authorities and housing associations when it is in the best interest of our users.

Key responsibilities

1.1 Provide appropriate legal advice, information and where necessary, practical help, to members of public whether by visit, telephone, letter or email and where necessary, to advocate on behalf of clients in the appropriate forums.

1.2 Provide advice and advocacy at court to people facing housing possession proceedings

1.3 Provide flexible cover, as appropriate for advice sessions, including court duty across a number of local authority areas.

1.4 Ensure that all casework records are kept up-to-date, accessible to other staff and that all local casework information systems are maintained effectively and accurately.

1.5 Identify all cases that qualify for legal aid and ensure that the necessary procedures are followed and recording systems maintained.

1.6 Actively participate in file review meetings and all other evaluation structures designed to maintain and improve the quality and standards of casework provision.

1.7 Identify opportunities to effect positive change to housing policy in Wales and pursue such opportunities in liaison with the line manager and other staff.

1.8 Engage positively and constructively with other services, including local authorities and housing associations, where it is in the best interest of our users and maintain good local relationships in line with agreed partnership protocols.

1.9 Participate in policy meetings and ensure that work in progress is communicated to other relevant staff.

1.10 Assist in the development and implementation of strategies to promote the housing rights service to other agencies and potential funders.

1.11 Assist in the development of team work plans, within the overall planning procedure, and to be responsible for individual performance against agreed team objectives.

1.12 Participate in policy conferences, seminars and events and to respond to requests for information from the media in consultation with the line manager and other relevant staff

1.13 Make a contribution to the public training programme and to undertake speaking engagements with outside groups as agreed with the line manager.

1.14 Identify opportunities to effect positive change to housing policy in Wales and to pursue such opportunities in liaison with the line manager and other staff.

General

2.1 To support the work of volunteers and other placements as requested.

2.2 Participate as and when required in team and one-to-one meetings, and undertake, as appropriate, courses/training/other developmental activities, relevant to the role.

2.3 Ensure, in the course of employment, complete confidentiality is maintained in respect of the Charity, its dealings, transactions, affairs and all other information relating to clients, participants, associates, staff and other subsidiaries etc.

2.4 Keep up to date with developments within Shelter Cymru and other sector-wide practices, which influence the day-to-day activities within the role, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and any other relevant internal/external factor(s).

2.5 Ensure all activities comply with appropriate legal requirements and with Shelter Cymru policies and procedures.

2.6 Demonstrate commitment to the aims and objectives of Shelter Cymru and the implementation of its Equal Opportunities policy and Welsh Language Scheme in the workplace.

In addition to the duties and responsibilities outlined, you must be prepared to undertake such additional duties which may result from changing circumstances, but which may not of necessity change the general character or level of responsibility to the post.

You will be subject to a performance review which will incorporate a review of the above duties and performance over the period.

As the post may involve working with vulnerable people, your employment will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Scheme check.

Role specification: Housing Law Caseworker (North West Wales)

Skills, Experience and Qualifications	ea		aaenso
Relevant prior work experience in the housing, legal or social welfare advicesectors, paid or voluntary			√
Knowledge and understanding of housing and housing-related benefits law,regulations and guidance			√
A belief that everyone has the right to a decent home	✓
A caring, non-judgemental and professional manner	✓
Clear verbal communication and the ability to connect with people	✓
Written skils suitable for writing letters to a range of recipients and for makinggood case records	√
Numeracy skills suitable for working out benefit entitlements, arrears and otherfinancial matters	√
Resourcefulness, research and problem-solving skills and attention to detail	✓
The ability to build a convincing legal argument from the evidence available	✓
The ability to cope with challenging and emotionally-charged situations	✓
Tact and diplomacy to deal with sensitive and confidential information	✓
Good organisational skills to manage a high caseload and competing demands	✓
Confident in use of word, email, internet and Microsoft Teams.	✓
The ability to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team	✓
The ability to establish and maintain good, respectful working relationships withother organisations and agencies, whilst advocating for clients' rights	√
Awareness of and commitment to equality and diversity issues	√
Able to work flexibly which will include travelling to other locations/surgeries inan acceptably time-efficient manner, and on occasion, working outside usualoffice hours.	√
Fluent in Conversational Welsh			√
A relevant qualification in housing studies, law, social/community work orsimilar subject			√

Core competencies

Listed below are Shelter Cymru’s core competencies. Each competency provides a list of positive behavioural indicators which we believe best describe what good performance looks like.

1. Leadership and Integrity

This is about being able to motivate teams and colleagues, having a clear vision for the team and acting fairly and responsibly in all circumstances. Also, where there is no formal leadership role, taking the lead on certain projects or initiatives.

2 Motivation and initiative

We believe that staff should make as many decisions as possible within their remit and concerning their roles and responsibilities without having to refer to managers.

3. Working co-operatively

Being able to work effectively with other team members and with other teams is essential in getting work done effectively.

4. Reliability

This is not only about being punctual and carrying through agreed actions to a conclusion, it is also about being able to perform the job with the minimum of supervision.

5. Change and adaptability

We want staff to be open-minded about new ideas and methods of working. We want staff to be proactive in improving their skills and knowledge in line with new developments and opportunities. We also want staff to contribute to ideas and innovations.

6. Respect

We expect staff to reflect the key organisation attribute of respect, which is both towards other colleagues, and users of the organisation.

7. Problem solving

We expect staff not to simply identify problems but to help solve them.

8. Budget and cost aware

Whatever staff do they must consider whether it is value for money. In addition staff should be aware of team and organisational budgets and adhere to financial rules and procedures.

9. Administration

Staff are expected to complete their own personal administration requirements on time and accurately.
Also, when required, to provide timely information for team or project reports.

Other Conditions

Salary	£29,561per annum
Contract type	Permanent(subject to continued funding)
Hours	Normal office hours are 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday, although alternative hours may be worked with line manager agreement. Work outside office hours may sometimes be necessary and will be compensated for by time off in lieu.
Annualleave	29 days plus 2 concessionary days at Christmas and New Year(excluding statutory and national holidays). Annual leave and statutory holidays are calculated on a pro rata basis where applicable.
Pension	Shelter Cymru operates a contributory pension scheme. Shelter Cymru will auto-enrol you into the scheme in accordance with its auto-enrolment obligations. Full details of the scheme will be provided to you once you are enrolled, including the minimum level of contributions that you will be required
Mileage	to make during your membership (current contributions - employer 4% and employee 5%). A fixed rate allowance is payable for agreed mileage undertaken on Shelter
	Cymru business in a private vehicle, over and above your usual journey to your workplace/s.
Location	We are developing a flexible and hybrid working approach for all staff, with an expectation that part of the week will be spent working in the office (Rhyl or

Please return your completed application by email to humanresources@sheltercymru.org.uk

An application form and guidelines can be found online on our Vacancies page

Registered Charity Number: 515902