Rough Sleeping Outreach Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

7.5% shift allowance

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council's Rough Sleeping Outreach team is seeking an outreach worker on a fixed-term contract or secondment to March 2028. You will search for people sleeping rough at varied hours, assess health and wellbeing, and link them to local services, with a trauma-informed, person-centred approach.

The role involves building trust, signposting to the Rough Sleeping Hub, supporting access to accommodation and partner services; a 7.5% shift allowance is included.

Responsibilities

• Find and engage with people sleeping rough, including early morning outreach
• Check the immediate health and wellbeing of people sleeping rough
• Gather information on each person's situation
• Provide advice, support and signposting to city services, including the Rough Sleeping Hub in Queen Street
• Build trust through a person-centred, trauma-informed approach
• Help people access accommodation and support through partner services, such as physical and mental health, drug and alcohol, legal support and advocacy
• Play a role in preventing and relieving homelessness for the service's customers
• Assess housing and support needs in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Housing Act 1996 and the Allocations Policy
• Follow internal safeguarding policies

Job description

The Rough Sleeping Outreach team sits within Portsmouth City Council's Housing Needs Advice & Support service, on a fixed-term contract or secondment to March 2028. Outreach workers search for people sleeping rough at varied hours, including early mornings, check their health and wellbeing, and link them to support. The approach is person-centred and trauma-informed, drawing on partners in health, drug and alcohol and legal services, with rota working and shift allowance. Secondees need their line manager's release, and right to work is required.

What the job involves

• Find and engage with people sleeping rough, including early morning outreach
• Check the immediate health and wellbeing of people sleeping rough
• Gather information on each person's situation
• Provide advice, support and signposting to city services, including the Rough Sleeping Hub in Queen Street
• Build trust through a person-centred, trauma-informed approach
• Help people access accommodation and support through partner services, such as physical and mental health, drug and alcohol, legal support and advocacy
• Play a role in preventing and relieving homelessness for the service's customers
• Assess housing and support needs in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Housing Act 1996 and the Allocations Policy
• Follow internal safeguarding policies

Checks & eligibility

• Right to work in the UK

Other

• Personal statement showing suitability against each point in the job profile, using examples from experience or transferable skills
• Line manager's permission for secondment applicants, stated on the personal statement

What's offered

• 7.5% shift allowance on top of basic salary