Interim Scheme/Service Manager, Supported Housing

Salary £27,000 – £33,000 (TBA)

Hours:  36 per week

 Location:  Knowsley, Merseyside

SHAP is a homelessness charity that provides housing and support to young and vulnerable people across Merseyside.  We require an experienced Scheme/Service Manager to ensure the continued delivery of a high quality service at our supported housing schemes in Knowsley.  You will be responsible for leading an experienced staff team in providing accommodation and support for up to 62 young people.

The schemes are:

Octavia Court

17 one-bedroom flats for young homeless people aged 16-24 including young people who:

• are in care or leaving care
• are offenders or are at risk of offending behaviour
• are experiencing mental ill-health
• young parents needing accommodation for themselves and their child(ren)

Shelagh Delaney House

Shelagh Delaney House is an emergency accommodation project for young homeless people aged 16-21 who are homeless, leaving care or who are unable to live at home for any reason. Young people usually stay for up to 10 weeks, while they work with us to assess their needs and identify suitable move on accommodation.

During their short stay, staff work with them to secure more permanent accommodation – which can include our accommodation at Octavia Court.

Kirkby Scheme

Our Kirkby Scheme consists of 38 self-contained flats.  Seventeen properties offer self-contained accommodation for young homeless people aged 16-24 who are unable to live at home for any reason, or who are care leavers. They can stay for up to 2 years, while they work with us to assess their needs and we support them to become independent.

Twenty-one properties offer self-contained accommodation for homeless men and women who have support needs related to their mental health, use or misuse of alcohol and / or other substances, their offending behaviour or other needs.

The main responsibilities of the Scheme/Service Manager role are:

• day-to-day delivery of all aspects of intensive housing management, structured support and resettlement work
• ensuring that tenancy/licence agreements and housing benefit applications are completed and submitted within target timescales
• providing regular formal supervision for staff including oversight of casework to ensure that all risk assessments, support planning and other case management records are effectively maintained
• addressing any attendance, performance, training or conduct issues that might arise within the staff team
• making sure that at all times accommodation is maintained safely and in good repair
• being available to offer guidance and direction to staff out of hours – Scheme Manager will be fully involved in SHAP’s out-of-hours on call rota
• operating the scheme within budget, ensuring that rent and service charge income is maximised and that financial reporting is up-to-date and accurate
• maintaining effective working relationships with Commissioners and other stakeholders, particularly Housing Options service and referral agencies such as Children and Young People’s Services, YOS/Probation
• promoting SHAP’s commitment to diversity, social justice and challenging discrimination

In order to fulfil this role you must have:

• Experience of supported housing management
• Experience of supporting and supervising staff
• A good understanding of intensive housing management and housing related support
• A full clean driving licence and use of a car

Experience of using Mainstay or a similar shared information management system for referrals, admissions and support would be particularly helpful in carrying out this role.

To apply please send your CV with a supporting statement of up to 500 words describing why you think you would be suitable for this role to recruitment@shap.org.uk.  For an informal discussion about the role, please call Joanne on 07417 035 385.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday, 14th January 2022.