Support Officer - REQ004062

Job title: Retirement LIFE Support Officer

Salary: B3 £26,403 - £28,142

Hours: 37 hours

Contract: 4 Full Time positions

Location: Citywide Service - successful applicants will be allocated to 1 of 7 geographical teams, based in offices within Retirement LIFE buildings with occasional work from home.

Retirement LIFE – ‘Living In a Friendly Environment’ is at the heart of the services we deliver, using person centred Better Conversations principles to ‘work with’ older people to support their health and well-being.

As a Support Officer you’ll thrive on a fast-paced role supporting older people with their health and wellbeing to remain independent.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Support Officer, you will bring to the role:

Passion to work with and support older people
Patience and understanding for customers
Organised approach to your work managing a variety of queries each day
Strong record keeping to maintain welfare records and support files
Ability to work well as a team

About the role

As our next Support Officer, you’ll be fundamental in ensuring tenants within our 4000 Retirement LIFE properties are maintaining their independence and can access support they need through your referrals and signposting.

You will experience a varied role of housing related support, support file planning, facilitating activities and promoting social interaction, and maintaining safe buildings for customers.

You will be supporting the citywide Age Friendly Strategy ambition to make Leeds the Best City to Grow Old in.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

We will be reviewing applications while the advert is live and may close it early if we receive a high number of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered and to avoid disappointment.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Grace Kenning, Housing Manager 0113 378 8945 or grace.kenning@leeds.gov.uk.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job description

Job Purpose:

To deliver an efficient, customer focused service which maximises performance levels and achieves continuous improvements in all areas of Retirement Life housing management services.

Responsibilities:

To deliver housing related support to older people living in Retirement LIFE housing schemes and associated floating support schemes.
Undertake regular contact with older people, including visits, telephone calls, email and text messaging to support and enable tenants to live independently whilst promoting dignity, choice and confidentiality.
To work with tenants to develop and review support plans and risk assessments to promote independence in a safe environment - identifying practical, domestic and budgeting support needs.
To assist in providing a range of housing management services to support tenants moving into and leaving Retirement LIFE housing.
To make referrals to other agencies and Council services and advocate on behalf of tenants, where appropriate, and support tenants to liaise with area housing offices.
To ensure the Council’s safeguarding procedures are utilised where appropriate.
To work within Council policies and procedures, including data protection and financial regulations.
To ensure the Council’s health and safety policies are adhered to.
Work flexibly to meet service requirements.
To support the achievement of equality and diversity in both employment and service delivery, including the promotion of equality of opportunity.
To promote and deliver the priorities, values and objectives of Leeds City Council at all times.
To maintain accurate records and track progress of work.
To assist with the induction of new staff including the demonstration of duties.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD Programmes.
To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

None required

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

Ability to communicate with the general public in a responsive manner.
Ability to demonstrate patience and understanding with customers.
Ability to deal with relevant procedures and maintain standard documentation.
Ability to advise service users on relevant procedures.
Ability to work within a team.
Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively face to face, in writing and by telephone.
Ability to demonstrate customer care
To adhere to LCC Financial Rules and Regulations and Standing Orders.
Ability to use computerised systems.
Ability to record and maintain information received from all sources accurately.
To provide a welcoming environment to customers.
To assist other members of staff with duties when required.
A good level of numeracy and literacy skills
Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.

Knowledge Required

Knowledge of the role of the Council Housing Service and its responsibilities in managing homes and communities.
An awareness of housing and support needs of older people
An awareness of customer care

Experience Required

Of providing housing related support to individuals
Of working as part of a team
Of working with the public

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

Committed to continuous improvement.
Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

#EXT #LI-DNI

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