Housing Support Officer Jobs

A Housing Support Officer plays a vital role in helping vulnerable adults and young people navigate housing challenges and develop independent living skills.

Whether working in sheltered accommodation, supported living services, hostels for the homeless, or within the local community, this role requires compassion, patience, and practical skills.

If you are a strong communicator, digitally competent, comfortable with numbers, and able to understand complex information like housing legislation, this might be the career for you.

Key Responsibilities of a Housing Support Worker

Housing Support Officers help improve the lives of those they serve by supporting individuals with housing-related needs and promoting independent living. The service aims to help individuals improve their independent living skills, rehabilitate them back into the community, and foster their personal development and well-being through various supportive activities. Responsibilities include:

• Supporting people to access housing and helping them understand the housing benefits available to them.
• Ensuring safety by conducting health and safety assessments and helping residents live in a safe, secure environment.
• Carrying out risk assessments with individuals, particularly vulnerable adults, and helping them manage any anti-social behaviour issues.
• Administrative tasks, such as completing tenancy agreements, managing financial records like rent, arrears, and petty cash.
• Supporting young people and vulnerable adults to develop life skills and build positive relationships within their local communities.

Supporting Independent Living

As a Housing Support Worker, a significant part of your role will involve supporting young people in developing their independent living skills. This will enable them to live safely and securely in their own homes, with the confidence to manage their daily lives.

To achieve this, you will work closely with each young person to identify their individual needs and goals. You will then develop a personalized support plan, tailored to their specific requirements, which will focus on building their life skills and promoting independence.

Your role will involve providing emotional support and guidance, as well as practical assistance with tasks such as budgeting, cooking, and cleaning. You will also help young people to access local community resources and services, such as education and employment opportunities, healthcare, and leisure activities.

By adopting a trauma-informed approach, you will be sensitive to the needs of young people who may have experienced trauma or adversity. You will work to establish positive relationships, built on trust and respect, which will help to empower them to take control of their lives.

As a Housing Support Worker, you will be part of a team that is committed to supporting young people to achieve their full potential. You will work closely with colleagues, including team leaders and other support workers, to ensure that each young person receives a comprehensive and coordinated service.

In addition to your work with young people, you will also be involved in supporting vulnerable adults who may be experiencing homelessness or housing-related issues. You will work to provide them with the support and guidance they need to access safe and secure housing, and to develop the skills and confidence they need to maintain their independence.

By joining our team as a Housing Support Worker, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young people and vulnerable adults. You will be part of a dynamic and supportive team, and will have access to a range of benefits, including flexible working arrangements, an employee assistance programme, and opportunities for professional development.

If you are passionate about supporting young people and vulnerable adults to achieve their full potential, and are committed to providing high-quality support and guidance, then this could be the ideal role for you.

Skills and Experience for Support Worker

It might be useful to have prior experience working in housing support or with vulnerable adults. Experience can be gained through work placements, volunteering, personal experience, or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship. For more advanced roles, you might need qualifications in housing, community development, or social policy, many of which are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Additional useful skills include:

• A good understanding of safeguarding issues and the ability to deal with trauma-informed approaches when working with vulnerable individuals.
• Knowledge of local communities and the ability to support individuals within these environments.
• Experience in administrative work and familiarity with financial management systems like rent records and tenancy agreements.
• A full driving licence, as many roles require you to travel between different housing sites or community locations.

Career Development Opportunities for Support Workers

As a Housing Support Officer, there are multiple opportunities to grow and develop your career. These include:

• Completing vocational qualifications such as a Diploma in Health and Social Care, or further training in support work through CPD qualifications, such as an award or certificate in activity provision.
• Your employer may offer an employee assistance programme and support you with flexible working arrangements, including bank holidays and development opportunities through work schemes.
• You could pursue roles as a team leader or specialize in areas such as trauma-informed approaches to supporting customers.

In addition to helping people access housing, you’ll also be able to support individuals in improving their well-being and life skills, making a real difference in their lives. Helping individuals gain independent living skills and access to housing ensures they can lead fulfilling, stable lives within their communities.

Opportunities in the Sector for Local Communities

There are always exciting opportunities for Housing Support Officers. With an increasing focus on supporting vulnerable individuals and young people through complex housing challenges, demand is high. You may work with homeless populations or young people in transitional housing, helping them gain independent living skills and access to vital resources.

Your role is crucial in shaping the future of local communities and enabling individuals to maintain their independence. Housing Support Officers can take on responsibilities that extend to managing anti-social behaviour cases, supporting people with budgeting, and helping to secure long-term housing solutions.

How Prospero Health and Social Care Can Help with Independent Living

At Prospero Health and Social Care, we are committed to helping you start or progress your career in housing support. Whether you’re looking for guidance on developing positive relationships with residents or gaining the necessary qualifications to advance in your role, we’re here to support you.

We offer career advice, placement opportunities, and access to training and qualifications to help you succeed. Our team can also assist with creating a person specification or a covering letter to ensure your application stands out.

If you are interested in working with us, register for work, browse our current jobs, or get in touch directly with the team:

e: info@prosperohealthandsocial.com

t:020 3319 3619