Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
Company Limited by Guarantee number 1741926 Charity Number 287779 Registered in England as Single Homeless Project
shp Single Homeless Project
| Job title: | Trainee Project Worker/Young Person's Worker |
| Delegated Authority: | Level 8 |
| Team: | SHP Client Services |
| Responsible to: | Service Manager/Team Manager |
| Responsible for: | N/A |
Job purpose
At Single Homeless Project (SHP), our services exist to make sure people facing homelessness, disadvantage and multiple barriers are met with safety, compassion and the right support to move forward. The Trainee Project Worker/Young Person’s Worker role is designed to bring new talent into this work, supporting our clients at a critical point in their lives whilst you develop the skills, confidence and frontline experience needed to build a career in supported housing and homelessness services.
The purpose of this role is to help create a safe, welcoming and empowering service environment where clients feel listened to, respected and able to take positive steps towards independence. Working alongside experienced colleagues, you will contribute to support that helps people understand their options, build on their strengths, manage risks and prepare for move-on.
This is a developmental role, with a structured plan to help you grow your knowledge, confidence and practice over time. You will be based in one of SHP’s services, with opportunities during your first year to broaden your experience across other sites in London, helping you understand the different ways we support people at different stages of their journey.
For SHP, Trainees play an important part in strengthening our services for the future. It supports our commitment to developing passionate, values-led practitioners who can grow within the organisation and help us deliver high-quality, person-centred support across our services.
Key accountabilities
Day-to-day shift delivery
Provide effective day-to-day shift cover, helping to create a safe, welcoming and purposeful service environment for clients.
Keep safeguarding, risk and clients’ immediate needs at the centre of your work.
Build positive relationships with clients through practical support, encouragement and day-today engagement.
Support clients to attend key appointments, meet statutory requirements, manage rent/service charge responsibilities and take part in activities that support their goals.
Provide one-to-one coaching around life skills, including budgeting, food and nutrition, tenancy management, routines and independent living.
Complete tasks agreed through shift handover, ensuring important actions and information are followed through.
Implementing support
Support clients to move into the service safely, including practical arrangements, accommodation checks, risk information and matching considerations.
Help clients’ complete forms, applications and referrals, while building their confidence to take on tasks for themselves.
Support clients to maximise income, review benefits and access grants, services and resources linked to their needs and interests.
Contribute to move-on planning by gathering key information, completing PURFs where required, and supporting clients to prepare for move-on assessments.
Encourage clients to use IT equipment and digital tools confidently, with support where needed.
Use coaching and one-to-one support to strengthen clients’ confidence, independence and readiness for future accommodation.
Assessment, risk and information management
Gather and share information that supports effective assessment, risk management and support planning.
Record client contact, activity, outcomes, needs assessments and risk information accurately on SHP systems, including Inform, and within required timescales.
Assist with referral administration and ensure information is clear, accurate and handled appropriately.
Follow SHP’s confidentiality, data protection and client always recording policies.
Partnerships and community links
Build positive links with statutory services, voluntary agencies, specialist organisations and community resources.
Support clients to access external services, including healthcare, specialist advice, education, training, employment, grants and move-on opportunities.
Advocate for clients where appropriate, helping ensure their needs, strengths and goals are understood.
Social inclusion and client voice
Support clients to develop life skills, take part in meaningful activities and build connections within the service and wider community.
Promote feedback routes, including complaints, suggestions and involvement opportunities, so clients can help shape the service.
Share feedback, observations and ideas with colleagues and managers to help keep the service responsive and relevant.
Health and safety
Work in line with SHP’s Health and Safety Policy, local procedures and legal responsibilities.
Help maintain the safety of clients, colleagues, contractors, visitors and yourself always.
Follow local procedures for lone working, fire safety, building safety and incident reporting, raising concerns promptly.
Teamwork, learning and development
Take an active role in team meetings, supervision, reflective practice, performance reviews and training.
Take responsibility for your own learning and development, making the most of internal and external training opportunities.
Work positively with colleagues to support a cohesive, professional and values-led service.
Participate fully in the rota, including early shifts, late shifts and weekends where required.
Miscellaneous
SHP is at discretion to amend your responsibilities and, in addition to these, you may be required to perform other duties as may be required for the efficient running of the organisation.
To create inclusive working environments and cultures to enable colleagues and clients to feel safe and empowered to achieve their full potential.
A willingness to work a rolling shift pattern on a rota.
Technical and professional know-how needed for position
When completing your application, you will be required to address (using examples) some of the points below
Experience and Knowledge
An aptitude for working with clients in a residential setting, including personal qualities that make you suited to work well under pressure in an environment where clients may present with difficult or challenging behaviours.
Skills and Abilities
The ability to use IT applications and basic keyboard skills, excellent levels of literacy and numeracy.
The ability to coach someone to undertake a range of practical tasks relating to living independently.
The ability to engage and relate positively to people from a range of backgrounds and cultures.
The ability to learn and apply the principles of planned support and goal setting
The ability to understand and apply the principles underlying a quality and customer focussed service and a willingness to work in a way that empowers our clients
The ability to be self-motivating, work under pressure and manage time effectively, prioritising different areas of work according to need.