Introduction
Homeless women are particularly vulnerable - to drugs, physical
and mental abuse and health problems. They desperately need
help, and not the condemnation which society often heaps upon
them. All local authorities except for district councils run
hostels and care homes to provide emergency services for people at
risk. The hostel manager is called a co-ordinator in some
authorities and is located in the housing needs division of housing
services but there is considerable overlap with social
services.
Work Environment
The work takes place in a residential hostel. Sometimes
clients may be dirty and aggressive and conditions can be
distressing. There are special security arrangements for
coping with these problems and for any violence that might
occur. This is usually a live-in appointment and anti-social
shifts are required within a standard 37 hour week. Even when
it is not, the same working flexibility is expected.
Daily Activities
Within the overall responsibility for a 24-hour management of an
emergency facility such as a hostel for homeless women, managers
are required to:
- make maximum use of the accommodation available by a rational
allocation of rooms;
- help residents get all the benefits to which they are
entitled;
- deal with payment of charges - the accommodation is not free
unless there are special circumstances;
- organise the deployment of day and night staff, including the
operation of a shift rota system and be prepared to be part of it
when necessary;
- supervise staff and promote their development;
- build up effective teams to work within the statutory
legislation regarding the homeless;
- keep records and a daily log book analysis of
events;
- take decisive action when occupancy agreements are
contravened.
Managers are also responsible for:
- stock control, ordering equipment and food;
- ensuring that the property is kept in good order and that all
equipment - cosmetics, books, lamps, cooking utensils and so on -
issued to residents is returned when they leave;
- making sure that the hostel is kept clean by the residents and
the staff and that each room is thoroughly cleaned when
vacated;
- security of the building at all times;
- developing a good relationship between the hostel and the wider
community by helping the clients to conduct a normal life, as far
as possible, outside of the hostel gates - or, perhaps, by
arranging an Open Day and inviting the public in to see what is
going on.
The women are not encouraged to see the hostel as a permanent
resting place. The Manager helps them get used to the idea of
going back to some kind of normal life through arranging
appropriate housing. Rehousing schemes will be drawn up in
conjunction with other teams within the Homelessness/Advisory
Services Group, Housing Associations, Housing Management offices
and voluntary organisations such as the WVRS and Shelter.
Resettlement is undertaken according to the needs and wishes of the
individual and is supported by council and voluntary sector housing
schemes. Women who once were homeless are not suddenly
required to be fully self-supporting - it is a gradual process.
Skills & Interests
Hostel managers should be able to:
- supervise, support and motivate staff;
- communicate well - verbally and in writing - with residents,
colleagues and external agencies;
- liaise effectively with agencies in the public, private and
voluntary sectors;
- work with minimum supervision and on own initiative;
- solve problems constructively;
- encourage and develop a teamwork approach;
- show a respectful and caring attitude to the
homeless;
- demonstrate resilience, flexibility and adaptability.
They are also expected to have knowledge of:
- homeless legislation and code of guidance;
- the issues entailed in working with homeless people and the
provision of emergency services;
- recording and presenting statistical data in a clear
format;
- planning budgets;
- organising rotas to ensure 24-hour staff cover.
Entry Requirements
Some entrants have a degree in housing, business studies, public
administration or social sciences or a degree in Social Work.
A good general education with GCSEs A Grades in English and
Mathematics can be sufficient if you have the relevant
experience. Many authorities accept mature applicants with
experience rather than qualifications, for example through working
with Shelter or women's refuges or in any community care capacity
with substantial management responsibilities. All the skills
and knowledge outlined above would be considered essential
attributes for entry to this post. Knowledge of health and
safety issues, the NHS and Community Care Act and the Children's
Act would be helpful, as would experience of direct management
including recruitment and selection.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
The next step up is Emergency Services Co-ordinator and there are
opportunities in other areas of property/care management such as a
Housing Needs Officer. There are also opportunities to work
in Housing Associations, or move across to other housing
specialisms both within and outside the public sector. Within
social services, there are opportunities in community care work but
further training and qualification in social work would be
necessary. This is a growing area where the demand for
personnel often exceeds the supply. It is a testing
environment in which to work but there are structured professional
development programmes and in-service training.
Further Information & Services
Asset Skills www.assetskills.org
Care Council for Wales www.ccwales.org.uk
Chartered Management Institute www.managers.org.uk
Community Care www.communitycare.co.uk
Community Service Volunteers www.csv.org.uk/socialhealthcare
Health & Care Professionals Council www.hpc-uk.org
Inside Housing www.insidehousing.co.uk
Institution of Occupational Health and Safety www.iosh.co.uk
Social Care Association www.socialcareassociation.co.uk
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local library, careers office or school careers
library.