Dispersed Accommodation Officer

Salary: £28,040.00, Contract: Fixed Term to December 2028 (may be extended subject to funding)
Hours: 35 per week (varied shifts)

Location: Nelson Street, Belfast

Geographical Scope, Belfast and Ballymena initially with potential expansion

The Bail Support Pilot is a high-stakes initiative delivered by the Depaul and NIACRO consortium. As the Northern Ireland justice system pivots toward housing-led, trauma-informed alternatives to traditional remand, this role facilitates the critical transition from custody to community stability. By managing dispersed property assets and providing intensive support oversight, the officer provides the judiciary with a credible, low-threshold alternative to imprisonment, directly addressing the Department of Justice mandate to reduce unnecessary remand. The efficacy of this role in balancing physical asset management with high-support participant engagement provides the essential foundation for the pilot's mandate.

To provide safe, supported accommodation for bail participants through a framework that prioritises immediate housing stability as a precursor to behavioural change. This role operates on the principle that secure housing is a fundamental requirement for court compliance and successful resettlement. Reducing
remand through Specialist Support.

Achieving this mandate requires the officer to master a dual-track responsibility involving both the physical integrity of properties and the person-centred support of the residents.

Employee Benefits

• Enhanced Annual Leave – 35 days per year, increasing as your length of service increases
• Paid Sick Leave
• Company maternity & paternity pay
• Contributory Pension scheme
• Health Cash Back & Rewards Plan
• Christmas Savers club
• Bluelight discount card

Plus, many opportunities to learn and develop within the organisation

Why work for us?

Depaul is a cross border charity supporting some of the most marginalised individuals, couples and families experiencing homelessness. Our mission is to end homelessness and change the lives of those affected by it. Would you like to help us to meet our mission?
We are a values led organisation and aim, at all times, to live and breathe these values in our everyday work. Our values are based on four key principles:

• We celebrate the potential of people
• We put our words into action
• We aim to take a wider role in civil society
• We believe in rights and responsibilities

We believe in rights and responsibilities If you choose to work for Depaul

Key areas of responsibility

Property Management & Safety

The officer oversees the integrity and operational readiness of the dispersed housing stock, ensuring all units meet the rigorous standards required for judicial approval.

• Collaborating with the Commonweal Housing partnership to identify and procure 2-bedroom dispersed properties.
• Specifically limiting procurement to 2-bedroom units to navigate and mitigate the risks associated with restrictive HMO legislation.
• Navigating the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) approval processes to ensure every property is sanctioned for use prior to occupancy.
• Conducting health and safety inspections and enforcing "Good Neighbourhood" policies to maintain the property’s standing as a "psychologically informed" environment and a pro-social community asset.

Participant Induction & Tenancy Sustainment

The officer manages the critical 72-hour window following a participant's release from custody, focusing on immediate stabilisation and the legal requirements of the tenancy.

• Subject to risk assessment, need and time of release, the officer provides transport and a "warm handover" to the accommodation to prevent early-stage bail failure.
• Administering the Licence Agreement and conducting a comprehensive induction to house rules, with a clear explanation of the consequences of anti-social behavior or bail breaches.
• Assisting with the immediate submission of Housing Benefit and Universal Credit applications to ensure financial sustainment and prevent "upstream" failure caused by poverty.
• Distributing "Welcome and Starter Packs" and Participant Handbooks to ensure immediate needs (food, ID, medication) are met upon arrival.

Multi-Agency Risk Management

The officer operates within a "Team Around the Person" model, serving as the vital information conduit between the consortium, statutory bodies, and community partners.

• Maintaining regular contact with NIACRO Key Workers and communicating compliance and risk data to the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) and the PSNI.
• Engaging with the ASFO (Accessing Services for Offenders) network to navigate the umbrella of community and voluntary organisations, ensuring a complementary provision of service and avoiding duplication.
• Actively identifying hidden risks such as signs of domestic abuse, coercion or escalating substance use that may impact participant safety or public protection.
• The Dispersed Accommodation Officer ensures that critical compliance data and emerging risks are shared across the consortium appropriately. By acting as the "eyes and ears" on the ground, the officer allows statutory and voluntary agencies to intervene early, preserving the integrity of the bail order.
• When risks escalates beyond standard management, the officer must transition into the crisis response framework.

Crisis Response & On-Call Framework

The officer participates in a tiered, 24/7 remote on-call framework designed to protect participants and maintain the organisation’s reputational integrity.

Personnel Requirments

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Supported Housing: Expertise in Licence Agreements and occupancy rights within a low-threshold model.
• Trauma-Informed Practice: Ability to recognise and respond to the impact of past trauma and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
• Knowledge of tenancy legislation and the strategic use of non-HMO units for project speed.
• Proficiency in the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) and Outcomes Star to track resettlement progress.
• Skills in overdose awareness and drug management plans (Naloxone administration is advantageous).
• Deep understanding of bail conditions, court reporting and PBNI/PSNI liaison protocols.
• Skilled in identifying "hidden" indicators of domestic violence or coercive control.
• Willingness to undertake mandatory training in various areas.
• Because women’s pathways into the justice system are disproportionately shaped by interpersonal factors such as trauma and domestic abuse, the officer must possess the skill to avoid re-traumatisation.

Circumstances

• A valid, full driving licence and access to a vehicle insured for business purposes (This requirement is waived for applicants unable to meet it due to a disability).
• Ability and willingness to participate in a 24/7 on-call rota system.
• Active registration with, or willingness to obtain registration with, the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
• Only female candidates will be considered for this role*.

Access NI

This Post is subject to an Enhanced Access NI check as well as a Counter Terrorist check (CTC) . Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with Depaul. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate.

NISCC

This post is subject to NISCC registration, if you do hold a valid registration this must be completed within your probationary period.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:

Depaul strives to create a diverse and inclusive programme and is committed to ensuring equality of access to our opportunities and equality of treatment for our staff in all our policies and practices. We welcome applications from individuals aged 18 and over from a diverse range of backgrounds.

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