Outreach Night Support Worker – Rough Sleepers

Our client provides services which help people to cope with the physical crisis of being homeless, and address the underlying issues which may have caused the homelessness and/or arisen from it. They aim to help people rebuild their lives and move as far as possible towards independence.

Outreach NIGHT Support Worker – Trafalgar Square – £23,659, Fixed term contract until the end of March 2017

Summary of position:

To reduce rough sleeping and associated street activity in Westminster by providing rapid assessment and advice to rough sleepers enabling them to move off the streets

Main responsibilities:

In pairs within the borough of Westminster, provide street outreach across the whole City of Westminster, travelling by car where required.
Work to a rota of 4 nights on/4 nights off with shifts being conducted between 8pm and 7am Monday to Sunday
Conduct thorough, needs led assessments and offer informed, accurate action plans to rough sleepers both on the streets and in night centre.
Respond to referrals, contacting referral sources – e.g. rough sleepers, residents, businesses, members of the public – when possible to prevent rough sleeping as well as to feedback on contact outcomes
Facilitate supported reconnections of rough sleepers to the services and areas most appropriate for them
Assist partnership agencies as well as the Police and Immigration to reduce anti-social behaviour and rough sleeping hotspots in Westminster.
Provide appropriate advice and support to our clients to enable them to improve their health and wellbeing
Advise rough sleepers of, and assist them to obtain, their welfare, housing and related rights. Keep well informed of changes and developments in relevant legislation and benefits.
Refer people to specialist agencies, such as substance misuse, welfare rights, advocacy, medical and legal services as appropriate.

Experience required:

Essential
A full clean driving license for a manual vehicle
MUST HAVE experience of supporting vulnerable people with a history of specifically homelessness and complex needs such as drug or alcohol problems or mental health issues.
MUST HAVE experience of key working, support plans, risk assessments and face to face work with vulnerable people or socially excluded adults.
An understanding of the causes of homelessness and, in particular, the needs of people with multiple needs.
The ability to deal with challenging behaviour and be assertive in our response to hot spots and anti-social behaviour and manage the personal stress associated with this
The ability to prepare and present written reports, and to communicate information effectively, both verbally and in writing, with users and other workers.
The ability to undertake regular street work sessions through the night.
The ability to use IT packages including word processing, databases and spreadsheets.

How to apply:
If you feel that you fully meet the above outlined criteria for this role and would like to apply for this post, please forward your CV