We currently have an opening for a housing advisor position for our Western Region. The successful candidate will be fully trained and will join a supportive and experienced team, committed to preventing homelessness across Ireland.
Benefits of working for Threshold include:
Hybrid working
22 days annual leave (plus additional leave over Christmas period)
Additional annual leave for long service
Contributory pension
Comprehensive induction programme
Employee Assistance programme
Training and Development support
Paid maternity and paternity leave
Paid sick leave and long term illness cover
Cycle to work and tax-saver commuter ticket schemes
Job Description
Job Title: Housing Advisor Galway
Reports to: Assistant Manager
Who we are looking for
The successful candidate’s values must be closely aligned to Threshold where a non-judgmental and empathetic approach is evident in your commitment to social justice in securing housing rights for people at risk of becoming homeless.
Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills and be committed to very high standards of work and customer care.
Ability to support and deal with challenging behaviour.
Effective writing skills, IT proficient, Excel, report writing, ability to research and applying theory to practice are essential along with the ability to respond to clients with empathy and a commitment to preventing homelessness.
Candidates will ideally possess a relevant or related third level qualification at degree level approved by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) e.g., Law, Social Care, Sociology, Social policy, or significant relevant work experience have some experience working in housing or a related sector and some understanding of housing law.
Practical experience of advice, support and advocacy is desirable for the role
Main purpose of the job
To work with those at risk of becoming homeless to solve their housing problems. To always seek to work in a respectful Trauma informed way with clients who are at risk of becoming homeless to solve their housing problems.
To work as part of a team, to provide an efficient and effective advice and advocacy service to clients who contact Threshold with housing issues with an emphasis on helping people to help themselves
To contribute to the overall development of Threshold as an agency working to address the underlying causes of housing problems and homelessness
Principal Duties
Provide and ensure the provision of a high-quality person-centred approach where effective advisory, advocacy and information support is offered to Threshold clients - in person, via outreach, over the phone, by email, webchat, video consultation and other emerging communication platforms.
Advise clients on all available options and assist them in choosing a solution focused course of action
Support and empowering clients to find proactive solution focused ways to resolve their housing issues.
Where appropriate, undertake follow-up work on behalf of clients including advocacy, negotiation and mediation work with landlords, letting agents and statutory organisations including Local Authorities and the Department of Social Protection.
Make appropriate mandated referrals to other Statutory agencies and be familiar with the Tusla process
Respond to social issues which may present i.e., addiction, mental health, domestic violence, child protection concerns or anti-social behaviour.
Ensure that the clients are aware of their rights and responsibilities as tenants.
Support Threshold clients in taking cases to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and the Work Relations Commission (WRC) and make appeals to the Social Welfare Appeals Office or to Local Authorities, and where appropriate provide representation.
Ensure that excellent interagency working relationships are maintained with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies and that signposting referrals to other support services are made as appropriate.
To manage a case load, ensuring that all work carried out in a timely and proactive manner
To accurately record details of clients and the actions taken on their behalf on Threshold’s database in a timely and accurate manner
Maintain client’s advice, advocacy and representation case files in accordance with relevant policies and procedures
Contribute towards providing the evening phone service on a rota basis for which time off in lieu (TOIL) is given
To maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and attendance at courses as appropriate.
Other Duties
To keep up to date with relevant legislation, policies and practice, in addition to other information resources and technology
To contribute to Threshold’s policy, research and lobbying function, particularly by identifying queries which have wider policy implications
To record case studies on a regular basis and as required for external messaging purposes and to inform services development
To attend support/supervision, case conferences, training sessions and staff meetings
To share in administrative tasks (updating information, filing, carrying out research, inputting data etc.)
To support in the administration and running of external facing events including fundraising ventures and policy events
To represent Threshold at meetings where necessary
Work in partnership with Local Department Representatives, in Galway City and Galway County Council.
To deliver training sessions and presentations to other groups and agencies
To keep up-to-date and comply with all Threshold policies and procedures
To report to the Assistant Manager and or Regional Services Manager and undertake other tasks which they may assign from time to time
Hours: The position is full time (37.5 hours per week) and while working hours are Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.30pm the service operates from 9am to 9pm and as a result the role requires flexibility from the post holder including some evening work.
Salary: €34,000 pa
Holidays 22 Days plus additional time off over the Christmas period and public holidays
Closing Date 23rd March 2025
Threshold is an equal opportunities employer
Garda Vetting will apply to this role
GDPR
All of the information requested from you and collected by Threshold during this application process is necessary and relevant to the performance of the job for which you have applied. Threshold will treat all information you supply with the utmost confidentiality and in line with current data protection law.
If you have any questions about the use of your data during the application process or wish to know how your data will be treated if you take up employment with Threshold, please contact us.