The duties of the office shall be to give to the local authority under the direction and supervision of its appropriate officer such services of an executive, supervisory and advisory nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers and duties and shall include the duty of deputising for other officers of the local authority, when required, and such duties as may be required in relation to the area of any other local authority.
The role and responsibilities of the Homeless Accommodation Programme Co-Ordinator encompass the following key areas:
- Co-ordinate the functioning of and provide support to the homeless services team within the Local Authority.
- Liaison with the Regional Homeless Lead, Galway City Council and the Administrative Officer in Galway County Council Housing Unit.
- Co-ordination with other statutory and non-statutory agencies including but not limited to An Garda Siochána, HSE, Tusla, Intreo, Prison Service, Domestic Abuse services etc.
- Coordination of Housing First, Youth Services, Community Based Housing, MyHome and other relevant supported housing programmes.
- Preparation of funding applications for homeless services including Section 10 funding, in collaboration with Housing staff.
- Establishment and implementation of Cold Weather Response and Medium-Term Supported Accommodation in County Galway.
- Progression, establishment and implementation of Family Hub in County Galway.
- Reviewing emergency accommodation provision to ensure that there is adequate provision while ensuring that the best value for money solutions are achieved.
- Liaising with AHBs and service providers of temporary emergency accommodation and own front door including attendance at monthly review meeting and referral, admission and discharge meetings.
- Co-ordination with the aftercare services and attendance at aftercare steering group meetings to ensure that adequate resources and planning are in place to support the service.
- Co-ordinate the count of rough sleeper numbers within the County and ensure that Cold Weather initiatives are in place to ensure that adequate bed spaces are provided.
- Reviewing, revising, and implementing standard operational procedures and health and safety procedures for homeless staff.
- Co-ordinate and ensure provision of information on preventative measures for households at risk of homelessness including maintenance of accurate and up to date information on the Council’s website and social media channels.
- The coordination of housing and homeless assessments, advice and support to individuals/families in emergency accommodation and sleeping outdoors.
- Provide signposting, referral and support to individuals and families to link in with appropriate health, social and community services.
- Advocate to services on behalf of individuals/families experiencing homeless.
- Designated responsibility for Child Safeguarding in accordance with the Children First Act, 2015 and Children First Guidance 2017 for the homeless section (mandated person).
- Liaise with the designated SOLO officer of Galway County Council.
- To progress and operate protocols to exit households from homelessness in accordance with Government policy under “Delivering Homes, Building Communities Action Plan” to eradicate homelessness.
- Provide a case management service to homeless individuals/families with complex needs.
- Represent the homeless section/housing at case conferences and on relevant interagency forums.
- Provide support to Tenancy Sustainment Officer
- Linking persons to health and social services and assisting persons to avail of these services, as appropriate.
- Keeping accurate records including the oversight of the PASS system to ensure that records are up to date and accurate.
- Producing reports and presentations and presenting to Municipal Districts, SPCs, Councils Plenary or other fora as may be required from time to time.
- Production and return of homelessness figures for the Region, The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Management Report, Annual Report or for any other purpose requested by Council Management.
- Provision of relevant information in respect of statutory legislation such as Freedom of Information, Ombudsman and Data Subject Access Requests.
- Oversight in relation to payment of any invoices and preparation of recoupments relating to homeless services.
- Provision of up-to-date public information regarding homeless services and ensuring that there is a high level of understanding at community level of the services provided and supports available through the homeless team.
- Other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to, an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the Council.
The above represents the principal conditions of service and is not intended to be the comprehensive list of all terms and conditions of employment which will be set out in the employment contract issued to the successful candidate.
Each candidate, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms must:
- Hold a third level qualification in Social Studies or Social Care or Social Science or a related discipline;
AND
- Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience working in the area of homeless and/or housing service provision.
Applicants should at the date of applying hold a full unendorsed valid Irish /EU licence, for Class B vehicles, or a licence acceptable to NDLS for transfer to full Irish licence, (Link below) and will be required to have access to their own car.
https://www.ndls.ie/help/faq.html#exchange-of-foreign-driving-licences
Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.
Further Information is available in the Candidate Information Booklet available on our website.
