Support Officer (Rough Sleeping)

Spelthorne Borough Council; United States; Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

At least 23 days' paid leave per year

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Spelthorne Borough Council is seeking a Support Officer in the Community Wellbeing team to deliver outreach to rough sleepers and coordinate move-on support. The role combines office and home working with a rota for site visits and client contact.

Applicants should have customer-facing experience, be able to communicate effectively, and work with partner agencies to ensure sustainable move-on to accommodation or reconnection services. DBS checks and a valid driving licence are required.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer-facing role with a diverse client group.
• Ability to network with partner agencies and community groups.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated, flexible and responsive to client needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide assertive outreach to rough sleepers inside and outside office hours.
• Ensure contact is maintained and appropriate assessments/referrals are made.
• Engage clients with services to move from streets to accommodation or reconnection.
• Network with partner agencies and community groups to support clients.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Relationship building

Flexibility

Job description

It's an exciting time to join the Community Wellbeing team within Spelthorne with new supported accommodation to help with move on accommodation and an ambitious plan to purchase more properties. We aim to end the use of bed and breakfast accommodation, promote independence and wellbeing and maximise the use of the private rented sector for homelessness prevention and relief as well as keep rough sleeping as close to zero as possible.

As a Support Officer, you will undertake an assertive outreach service to rough sleepers both inside and outside of standard office hours, if required. You will ensure that contact is made and sustained with rough sleepers in Spelthorne, appropriate assessments and referrals are undertaken and that all clients are engaged with services in order to receive support towards ensuring they move from the streets, and into accommodation or reconnection services.

You must be able to network and build strong relationships with partner agencies, community and faith-based groups. Whilst you don't need to have direct experience of providing an outreach service to street homeless people, you must have experience of working in a customer-facing role with a complex and diverse client group.

Much of your work will be around communication, and so you must be able to communicate effectively. You must be self-motivated, flexible and responsive to the needs of the clients in your caseload.

This is an exciting opportunity to make your mark in Spelthorne, and in doing so, support some of the most vulnerable residents in our community.

This post is identified as a hybrid post supporting both office and home working in line with Spelthorne Borough Council's policy. The post holder will be required to attend the office in line with a rota and any service requirements. Flexible, and hybrid working subject to regular review. Postholder must be able to visit clients where they may be living or bedding down.

The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for customer facing posts. These posts fall within the scope of the Code of Practice on English language requirement for public sector workers. The Council, therefore, has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements.

Please note that as part of the employment checks this post will be subject to a Basic Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please note that as part of the employment checks, this post has an essential car user allowance attached to it. A valid driving licence, and access to a vehicle insured for business use will be required.

Spelthorne Borough Council use the Microsoft Authenticator app as a secure way of accessing our network. Successful candidates will be required to use their own mobile device to download and use Authenticator.

In return, we can offer excellent conditions of service with a benefits' package that includes

• flexible working hours
• pension scheme
• at least 23 days' paid leave per year (pro rata for part time)

Closing date: 30th October 2026 (12 noon)
Interview date: 16 November 2026 - Interviews will be held in person at the Council Offices.