Housing Support Volunteer - Swansea

Location: Swansea

When: Weekdays 9-4pm initially for half a day a week with potential to increase

Role reports to: Housing Coach

You will contribute to ending homelessness by

Helping our members to develop the skills and resources to move in to and sustain their tenancy. Our housing coaches support members out of homelessness and into their own home. As part of our support package we empower members to develop the skills to sustain their tenancies independently and end their homelessness for good. We understand that it can be daunting in those early months of managing your home, and so provide support to members to help them feel confident and in control. Your role will be support this process, you may source essentail household items for the members, support with moving into and visiting members in their own home. Other tasks may include being a listening ear; supporting them in making phone calls to landlords or services including benefits and completing a series of checks to ensure there are no issues arising which may require further support from the housing coach to keep the member in their home. This volunteer role will play a vital part in our mission to end homelessness.

 

  • Be passionate about ending homelessness and able to communicate with our members in a non-judgemental and supportive way. You will have good communication skills, particularly around listening and asking appropriate questions to be able to identify support needs.
  • Ideally, have experience of providing tailored support to meet client’s needs, preferably in a home visiting setting, although training around this will be provided.
  • Have knowledge about how to manage a tenancy and understand housing issues – this may be from a professional setting or from managing your own tenancy/home.
  • Be organised, with admin/IT skills to ensure support can be provided to the member and records are updated. You should also have an understanding of data protection and how to manage an individual’s information in line with this legislation and confidentiality.
  • Have the ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Be committed to attending training for the role and participating in supervision and group supervision sessions. You will also be required to complete e-learning on data protection under the new General Data Protection Regulation, Safeguarding and Diversity and Inclusion within one month of starting.
  • Be flexible in terms of the tasks you complete to support our members and have the ability to work under your own initiative, but also to take instruction. You will be able to manage your role within the boundaries of it.
  • Be enthusiastic, patient and respectful
  • Have good time keeping and be reliable
  • Access to a vehicle with a clean drivers licence and insurance
  • The knowledge that you have helped someone to end their homelessness by developing the skills to live in their own home
  • An opportunity to be part of a friendly team who are committed to ending homelessness including opportunities to attend member celebrations and volunteer events
  • Regular meetings with your supervisor to discuss how your volunteering is going and what other opportunities and training may be available to you, together with an induction to your role
  • A reference from a reputable organisation
  • You will support the housing team and the member to prepare to move into thier own home, carry out home visits to a small number of members and assist with needs that may include:
    • Explaining how to clean and maintain their home, ensuring it is safe and looked after
    • Liaise with our housing/progression team to source items/advice and guidance/signposting
    • Deliver moving in package, food items etc on move in date
    • Support members with making calls, writing letters and dealing with bills
    • Support members with any landlord issues such as making disrepair calls and/or liaising with our housing coaches to resolve these
    • Supporting members to settle into their local community
    • Making wellbeing phone calls to members
    • Referring to other internal services if additional support needs to housing are identified
    • Ensuring updates are provided to the office on the progress of the member
    • Managing own personal safety whilst out on visits and following Crisis lone working policies and procedures
    • Managing information in line with Data Protection legislation
    • Keep a log of household items we provide members and replenish and source additional items as needed

We expect volunteers to comply with Crisis policies including health and safety, data protection and code of conduct at all times. 

  • Travel and lunch expenses are reimbursed where appropriate
  • We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and from people with disabilities 
  • This role requires an enhanced DBS check
Apply now

Role details

Time Commitment:

Weekdays 9-4pm initially for half a day a week with potential to increase

Location:

Office based at Crisis Skylight in Swansea and some community based time across Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.

How to apply:

Please complete the online application form below and the reasons you would like to volunteer for this role.

Apply now