Main purpose of job:

To be responsible for the day-to-day administration of our hostel and, as part of a team, help meet our clients’ personal, social, learning, work and housing needs.

Main duties: ·

• Reception: Providing a reception service at our hostel for clients and members of the public.
• Client induction: sign in new residents ensuring that all the relevant paperwork is completed
• Support: To give person-centred support for clients in a welcoming, safe, non-discriminatory and non-judgmental environment. To support the induction and supervision of volunteers.
• Acceptable behaviour: To issue warning and evictions as necessary in line with our policies and procedures.
• Cash handling: To collect service fees from clients and to accept donations from members of the public.
• Record keeping: Using our database to keep comprehensive records and logs up-to-date.
• Communicating: Following our procedures, policies and values and ensuring these are respected by our clients.

Examples of specific duties:

• Health and safety: Carrying out regular checks, including room checks, to ensure that the hostel is clean and safe for staff and clients.
• Maintenance: Supported by the team ensuring that repairs and replacements are undertaken in client accommodation and reporting larger maintenance issues to colleagues for action.
• Dispute resolution: Working to resolve issues of concern to clients in a professional way.
• Housing benefit: ensuring the housing benefit is claimed for each client and the appropriate documentation is retained.
• Teamwork: Playing your part in supporting HHP’s fundraising and promotional initiatives as part of the team.
• General: Any other reasonable duties that may be requested from time-to-time.

Person specification:

Essential:

• Ability to initiate and maintain constructive relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Experience of handling confidential information.
• An ability to follow company procedures.
• Good organisation and time management skills.
• Good IT skills.
• Willingness to work flexibly in response to the day-to-day requirements of the charity and our clients.

Desirable:

• A relevant qualification in supported housing, welfare advice, mental health, social work, health care, substance or alcohol misuse or similar.
• Experience working with homeless or vulnerable people and knowledge of the issues surrounding homelessness.
• An understanding of strategies for coping with difficult situations and minimising risk.
• Strong communication skills, organisational abilities and attention to detail.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Commitment to self development.

Reporting lines:

The postholder is responsible to the Head of Client Services.

Close working relationships will be with colleagues in the client services team and volunteers.