Health and Housing Officer

Here at Cheshire West and Chester Council, we are committed to providing excellent Adult Social Care services to residents. We are one team, putting what matters to people first and are investing in a number of roles, across our service areas to grow our dynamic, solution focused team. So, wherever you are in your life, there is something to suit you in Adult Social Care, whether that be meaningful work, feeling valued in your role, career progression, pay progression or a great work life balance, this is where you will find it. If you want to be a part of our welcoming, values driven service and are passionate about being part of a team that can make a real difference for local people, please take a look at the roles we have available.An exciting opportunity has arisen during our Adult Social Care team’s transformation journey to create a new statutory care and accommodation team, to ensure that we can enable the residents of Cheshire West and Chester to live great lives within thriving communities. The council is looking to recruit full-time temporary for months Health and Housing Officer into our Statutory Care and Accommodation Team. Cheshire West and Chester Council is a place where everyone can Thrive – through our core values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Value for Money and Empowerment.This innovative team will work with the local care and housing providers, alongside the council’s housing, strategic commissioners and adult social care teams who support people with learning disabilities, autism, neurodivergence and mental ill health to oversee and manage delivery of innovative housing solutions to help people find them a home for life, that can maximise their independence and enable them to live great lives.This new team will be responsible for the delivery of accommodation solutions for people with statutory care and accommodation needs. They will support social care, commissioning, and health colleagues to develop innovative housing solutions to better meet the accommodation needs of people with statutory care needs, or those at risk of admission or unable to be discharged from a healthcare setting due to a housing need. The team will project manage delivery plans for ‘properties’ once care providers have been commissioned overseeing & supporting providers to ensure that property developments are feasible and monitoring progress against plan; helping to navigate through councils’ requirements – acting as point of contact for any questions from providers and supporting projects through housing benefits; planning; environmental assessments etc. liaising between council teams and navigating internal and external management structures to ensure that projects are delivered smoothly.Proactively work with colleagues from across council directorates and traditional organisational boundaries to understand all potential routes to identification and matching with appropriate accommodation solutions.The council is currently looking to recruit a Health and Housing Officer on a temporary -month contract. This post will be hosted by Cheshire West and Chester’s complex housing options team, which is an NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board funded role. The funding for this role was secured by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as a pilot opportunity to ensure that assessments are completed under the Homelessness Reduction Act. This new development role provides a unique opportunity to innovate and create genuinely integrated ways of working across health, housing and social care to help people with statutory care and accommodation needs to find a ‘home for life’.The purpose of these roles is to better understand the current capacity of specialist supported housing across Cheshire West and Chester. To support forecasting and identify systematic issues and common barriers that hamper statutory care and accommodation provision and feed this back, making recommendations to the Adult Social Care Operational/Strategic Commissioning, Quality and Market management teams regarding Policy, practice and procedural changes. Produce and maintain records to capture housing with statutory care needs analysis; support development of robust toolkits and processes to manage the Accommodation with Care Needs to ensure accurate capacity/demand and forecasting. Ensure that practice informs commissioning intentions to address gaps in services.Our values are important to all of us, we live and breathe them, and they shape how we work together to create positive environments where both colleagues and people who use our services can be inspired to reach their potential. If you share our values and commitment, then you’re our kind of person.You will have the opportunity to; Work in a forward-thinking Council and within teams that have clear, shared valuesWork with local people to understand their care and support needs and help to identify options available to them.Be pivotal to ensuring people are connected to the support services and community assets they need to live great lives.Receive great support from our proactive and knowledgeable management team.Develop and progress in your career through training and development opportunities in a variety of pathways, including the opportunity to train as a Social Worker through our fully funded apprenticeship programme. You will have: GCSE’s (or equivalent) Grade C or above (Essential) Knowledge of information management and governance protocols including General Data Protection Principles (GDPR)Experience working with vulnerable people (Essential)Experience of managing a caseload and working with complex clients.Have experience of identifying risk levels, vulnerability and needs.Knowledge and understanding of the current Homelessness Legislation (Essential)Ability to develop a good working relationship with colleagues and partners to deliver a co-ordinated response.Knowledge of Trauma Informed and Strengths Based practices and a person-centred approach. (Desirable)Have the ability to manage time and prioritise work to meet deadlines and organise your own workload. This is a hybrid role where you will be based at our offices across the borough as well as the opportunity to work at other locations, complete visits and work from home.Come and join us, working in an authority that has an excellent reputation, great working culture and is an inclusive and dynamic place to work. We consider our workforce to be of high value, placing wellbeing at the forefront. The benefits of working for the Council go well beyond making a difference to people’s lives, as well as working within a supportive environment with people who share your values you will have access to a huge range of benefits including discounts on: High street and supermarket shoppingGym membershipHolidaysDays outCinemasChildcare vouchersCash back scheme on any medical treatment that you may require via MedicashCar lease scheme (Brand new fully maintained and insured car for years in return for a fixed monthly payment via salary sacrifice)Cycle Scheme (Save up to £ on the cost of a brand-new bike and equipment) We also offer: Competitive salaryA generous holiday allowance starting at days pro rata (plus bank holidays) increasing with length of service to days and the ability to purchase additional leave.An excellent career average pension scheme with employer contributions of (Employer contributions elsewhere are typically %)The opportunity to develop your skills and careerRewards and Recognition for going above and beyond such as additional annual leave and shopping vouchersSupportive team and cultureOpportunity to purchase up to days additional annual leaveAn Employee Assistance Programme, which offers free / confidential assistance, practical information, and emotional support.