Outreach Worker

Salary £18,352 - £19,318

Location Wokingham

This is a Permanent, Part Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

The Vacancy

PART TIME - 28hrs

Mon-Fri - Four 7 hour days

This role will require flexibility to meet service needs for Outreach shifts and bi monthly street counts.
Outreach shift times - 06:00 - 13:30
Non outreach working days - 09:00 - 16:30 / 09:30 - 17:00 / 08:00 - 15:30 negotiable

Wokingham Outreach provides support to adults who are sleeping rough, helping them to access support and accommodation in Wokingham.

Our aim is to identify individuals who are sleeping rough, encourage them to complete activities that keep them safe and work in partnership with the councils and other housing providers to find housing options as quickly as possible. We then provide support to clients to maintain their accommodation.

If you’re looking for a fast paced, busy role, where you can make a real difference in the lives of those who you support, then this is the role for you!

JOB PURPOSE

To lead on the case management of clients and be part of a team that supports them in keeping them safe and helping them achieve their goals.

To provide people with homes and specialist support so they feel more valued and secure, and ready to take the next steps

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

To assess the needs of each client, helping to develop their individual support plan to achieve their goals
To produce and regularly review comprehensive client-based risk assessments
To manage a caseload of clients on a one-to-one basis, providing personalised, intensive support via assertive outreach to long-term rough sleepers in the local area
To engage with local authorities, health providers and other agencies, creating and maintaining constructive working relationships to maximise the opportunities available to clients
To work with individuals to create clear housing plans, and to support individuals to access support services around health and wellbeing, money, benefits and housing
To engage and support rough sleepers on the street working alongside local health care teams
To help keep clients safe by reducing their contact with police and emergency services
To identify barriers to accessing maintain safe tenancies and prevent eviction
To attend community meetings and presentations with managers to support additional funding
To support clients in trauma informed and psychologically informed ways
To adhere to safeguarding responsibilities, following our safeguarding policy and procedure
To help maintain health and safety, ensuring clients, visitors and buildings are safe in accordance with Health and Safety regulations, policy and procedures
To provide basic first aid assistance until help arrives (full training is provided)
To work confidently and efficiently when lone working
To maintain accurate records on our client management system and ensure these are stored in line with GDPR
To maintain confidentiality
To represent the organisation in a professional manner
To carry out any other reasonable duties required in the interest of the organisation

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

This role will require an Enhanced with Barred List(s) disclosure and barring service check is a requirement for this role. This would be completed on appointment of the role.
This role will require a full drivers’ licence and access to a vehicle
This role will require you to work flexibly across several sites
This role will require you to work with clients on a one-to-one basis
This role will require you to work nights and/or weekends
This role will require you to lone work

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA 

Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
Clear verbal and written English 
Good keyboard skills for data inputting
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word
Confident and assertive manner
Ability to self-motivate as you will work on your own
Effective team working
Ability to respond calmly to crisis
Deal promptly with and effectively react to challenging situations
Have an interest and genuine concern for homelessness and related issues

DESIRABLE CRITERIA 

Experience of managing a caseload of clients
Understanding of the complex support needs of people experiencing homelessness or those with complex needs
Knowledge of voluntary and statutory agencies, housing regulations and the benefits system
Understanding of risk assessment and person-centred, outcomes-based delivery

We reserve the right to close our adverts early if a successful candidate is found, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

About Us

We offer support to people who are homeless, vulnerable or at risk of becoming homeless and need help rebuilding their lives for a brighter future. Our services include safe, flexible and reliable client led housing and support with a focus on reducing homelessness, improving health and wellbeing and building on individual’s skills and resilience to break the cycle of homelessness, poverty and exclusion.

We work in partnership with multiple agencies and authorities to deliver support and accommodation needs across Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Dorset.

We are dedicated to safeguarding all young people and adults with our services. We follow safer recruitment practices for all our vacancies to assure that all successful candidates are suitable to work with our clients.

We’re committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce that embodies our values and promotes a tolerant and respectful environment where everyone can feel empowered to succeed.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and will support with any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

Our vision

To be a safety net for people in tough times and the springboard to a brighter future.

Our mission

To provide people with homes and specialist support so they feel more valued and secure, and ready to take the next steps.

Our values

Everyone matters
We know we’re stronger together
We do the right things, for the right reasons
We never give up

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