Tenancy Sustainment Project Worker

Tenancy Sustainment Project Worker Hours of work:  Full-Time, 37.5 per week (5 days per week)

Contract:

2-year 9-months Fixed Term  Salary:  £28,000 per annum

Location:

Overstream House, Cambridge CB4 or at other locations within Cambridge
About Us
Wintercomfort works with people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or with a history of homelessness. We provide services to aid every stage of recovery - from immediate basic welfare needs to long term help in identifying and dealing with the problems which are undermining their stability, and enabling them to engage with education, employment and specialist health services. National statistics rank the numbers of rough sleepers in Cambridge within the highest 20 UK local authorities.
Wintercomfort is the only day-time service in the city, providing year-round advice and support for homeless or vulnerably housed people. Over the past three decades Wintercomfort has continued to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the homeless community.
Our specialist Housing Team provides expert advice and support to help people successfully navigate the search for housing and crucially, support them to sustain life away from the street.
About you and the Role
The  Tenancy Sustainment Project Worker  will provide targeted, practical and relational support to individuals who have recently secured accommodation or who are at risk of losing their tenancy. This is an outreach-focused role, working proactively with people in community settings, partner agencies, drop-ins and other accessible locations to maintain engagement and offer support where it is most appropriate.
The role may occasionally involve contact in or around accommodation settings, but this would usually be planned and supported alongside other services where appropriate. The role will focus on preventing repeat homelessness by helping people stabilise their housing, understand and manage the responsibilities of a tenancy, and build the confidence and skills needed for independent living. Working in trusted community settings and in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector services, the postholder will act as a critical bridge between vulnerable individuals and the support systems available to them.

Key Responsibilities
Provide outreach-based casework and practical tenancy support, working one-to-one with people who have recently moved into accommodation or who are at risk of tenancy breakdown, including proactive engagement in community settings, partner agencies, drop-ins and other accessible locations. Where accommodation-based contact is required, this would usually be planned in advance and supported alongside other services where appropriate.
Support clients with the practical responsibilities of sustaining a tenancy, including rent payments, benefits, income, household bills, budgeting, financial planning, accessing furniture grants, home furnishing schemes and other resources needed to establish a safe and settled home.
Develop clients independent living skills and confidence, helping them build routines, manage their home, solve problems, understand tenancy expectations and gain the skills needed to live independently over the longer term.
Provide housing information, homelessness prevention support and advocacy, supporting clients to understand their rights and responsibilities and liaising with landlords, relevant local authorities and local authority housing services where there is a risk of eviction or difficulty navigating housing systems.
Connect clients with wider welfare, specialist and community support, including benefits guidance, financial information, employment and training opportunities, Wintercomforts wider services, and specialist partners such as legal aid services where appropriate.
Work collaboratively and maintain effective outreach casework practice, building trusted relationships with people experiencing housing crisis, poor mental health or disengagement from services, using proactive and flexible engagement methods to maintain contact, while keeping accurate records and contributing to monitoring the impact of tenancy sustainment support.
To ensure that accurate…