---

Job description

This role requires empathy, resilience and a strong commitment to social justice. It offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives while contributing to wider systemic change.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with people in custody who have complex housing needs, providing a confidential, impartial specialist housing advice, advocacy and representation service for people entering and leaving Northern Ireland prisons.
• Provide a specialist casework support and consultancy service on housing, homelessness and related issues to those working in the resettlement disciplines within the prison system.
• Work closely with staff within the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS), and other prison-based colleagues and staff to encourage coordination and facilitating partnership working.
• Highlight strategic areas of your work which identify systemic barriers in housing policy and practice affecting people leaving custody.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A to C (or equivalent), including English and Maths.
• Evidence of relevant qualification in relevant discipline, for example, housing, law, advice.
• At least 12 months full time (or equivalent part time) experience gained in providing telephone, written and face-to-face housing or debt advice to the public in a social welfare context.
• At least 12 months full time (or equivalent part time) experience providing advocacy and representation, in the context of handling a challenging caseload i.e. beyond advice only, signposting, referrals.
• Demonstrated ability to see cases through to completion in accordance with organisational objectives.
• Demonstrated experience of achieving positive outcomes via legal, social security benefits or housing casework.
• Skills in the use of Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Teams, Outlook, Word)
• Appointment to a post is subject to satisfactory Northern Ireland Prison Service security clearance and an Enhanced Access NI check.

Desirable Skills

• Evidence of having completed other accredited qualifications (for example, housing, debt, social security benefits)
• At least 24 months full time (or equivalent part time) experience gained in providing telephone, written and face-to-face housing or debt advice to the public in a social welfare context.
• Awareness of main issues impacting the housing need of people in Northern Ireland.
• Experience in preparation and direct delivery of training or tutoring.
• At least 6 months experience of providing personal representation to clients, for example, Chancery Division of the High Court, social security appeal tribunal.
• skills in the use of computerised case management systems (for example, Advice Pro)

Further Information

Location: Northern Ireland Prisons (Maghaberry, Magilligan, Hydebank Wood College and Women’s Prison) / Skainos Centre, Belfast (with option for hybrid working) We are recruiting for a pool of Housing Advice Development Partners (Prisons) for full and part time, temporary, fixed and permanent vacancies arising in the next 12 months.