Specialist Homeless Prevention Personal Advisor - 37 hours

Application Deadline: 25 August 2025

Department: Childrens Services

Location: Torbay Council

Compensation: £31,537 - £34,434 / year

Description Job Description & Person Specification > As part of Torbay’s commitment to care experienced young adults, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Specialist Homeless Prevention Personal Advisor on a 12 month fixed term basis. This role plays an essential part in supporting care experienced young people by delivering interventions and activities that contribute towards preventing young adults who were previously cared for by the Local Authority from becoming homeless. The role will involve working closely with young adults and housing providers when homelessness is identified as a risk. You will also work with a number of key agencies to ensure a joined-up approach is taken to meeting young people’s needs in a holistic manner. You will also support by designing and delivering a number of preventative programmes aimed at reducing the risk of young care experienced adults experiencing homelessness. To succeed in this role you will need to be a calm, dynamic and systematic worker who is able to develop and maintain relationships with young adults and professionals from partner agencies. You must be a good communicator and be able to work under pressure in order to ensure good outcomes for young adults. A creative and resourceful approach to problem solving is also a key trait needed within this role. It is essential that any applicant has a good knowledge of homelessness issues and housing issues along with knowledge of the key challenges that cared for children and care experienced adults face as they transition into adulthood. A comprehensive understanding of child and adult safeguarding mechanisms is also essential. Therefore, previous experience of working with cared for children and young people and/or care experienced adults along with experience of housing work is considered essential requirements of applicants. The Care Experienced Team consists of a broad range of practitioners with skills and experience in holistically supporting young people. The team works closely with partner agencies and is committed to community engagement and development by forming positive relationships with children, young people and their families. This position is for a fixed term of 12 months from the start date. This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.

If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/specialist-homeless-prevention-personal-advisor-2/

For an informal chat please contact Rebekah Shepherd on 01803208100 or rebekah.shepherd@torbay.gov.uk. Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 1st September 2025. Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.

Skills Essential: Ability to carry out timely and accurate assessments and develop and deliver needs based plans packages of support. Ability to engage and communicate effectively with young people and form positive working relationships with them, their families and carers, specialist services and colleagues. Ability to initiate, negotiate and maintain partnership-working relationships with young people, their support networks, and professionals. Experience of using Word, Excel and case management systems such as Liquid Logic. Ability to produce and maintain accurate records and reports. This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Knowledge Essential: Understanding of child and adolescent development and the needs of young people, including physical, emotional, cultural and social needs. Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Knowledge of Torbay and the available resources for young people. Knowledge of Children Act 1989/2004, the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Housing Act 2004. Knowledge of Health and Safety issues.

Experience & Qualifications Essential: Educated to GCSE / O level standard in English at Grade C or above or equivalent. Evidence of a consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience. Experience of working with young people and adults, within a health or social care or housing environment. Experience of working with young people at risk of homelessness. Working autonomously and as part of a team.