Hi ,

I have an interview with a homeless unit in 4 weeks time and It's an area of work I have wanted to get involved in for years but never had the opportunity until now.  I have started preparing but what I really need advice on is the type of interview questions they are likely to ask.  Besides the standard ones of 'Tell me about yourself' etc does anyone have any ideas of the questions I could be asked relating to the homeless sector?  I have experienced homelessness myself and now have over 4 years experience supporting vulnerable adults to live more independantly.

I would appreciate anything at all....

Many thank

 I've not worked in that area - but the things i can think of (which I'm sure are things you've already thought of yourself) would be something about discrimation and challenges faced by homeless people and also your ability to combat this - maybe with some examples from personal or professional life. 

Something about drugs/alcohol use and misuse and working with these issues - as well as mental illness.  Maybe some kind of scenario will be presented to you and you'd be asked how you would work effectively with a particular type of person i.e. with an alcohol dependency. 

 What difference will you, personally, be able to make in this role is another question that might be thrown up. 

Anyway, sorry it's not more specific but just some ideas!  

I currently work for an agency that rehouses ex offenders and homeless people and we stress the importance of multi-disciplinary working.

 Advocating on housing isues is another major task you may wish to explain regarding discrimination and unable to register as being no fixed abobe (NFA).

 Ive highlighted the oppressive nature of ASBO's regarding beggers and the street homeless.

 As previous poster stated. Substance misuse is a major topic and touching on that will not harm yourself.

 Slow_mo

Another thing you may be asked about could be 'health and safety' since you'll presumably be taking people who aren't exactly referred and so have no risk information.

An awareness of the 'Newby recommendations' might be helpful if this comes up. Look up 'Jonathon Newby' and 'John Rous' or 'Jacqui Porter House, Oxford' on the internet to get an idea of what happened and what should be in place now. The report's recommendations aren't fully implemented in all areas but knowledge of them would be useful in interview whether they're in place in the organisation or not.

Good luck.

Stuart

Many thanks everyone...great advice...

   x x

My one piece of advice would be 'don't take any wooden legs into the interview with you', No, not literally of course! What I mean is don't take with you any pointless reasons (i.e. carrying in a wooden leg with you) why you cannot do the job. Focus on what you can bring to the role, instead of discussing what you may 'lack'.

Good luck.

Good luck and some great advice above. An idea I have is asking about outreach and how they engage with hard to reach service users, but you may have thought about this. I was also homeless once too and built my life again by selling The Big Issue. It gave me that touch with society and the confidence to come out of the shadows. Therefore I would ask how they empower their service users and whether their remit is care or control, if you know what I mean but maybe find better words as i realise this may sound a bit challenging.

let us know what sort of things they do ask if you dont mind.

thanks